There is room for Ike Davis and Lucas Duda in New York after all — just not with the Mets.
The Yankees and Davis have agreed Sunday to a major league contract, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed. He will join the team in Colorado, where it begins a two-game series against the Rockies on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old Davis, a former Met who fizzled out after a hot start and failed to stick with the Pirates or A’s after he was traded out of Flushing in 2014, was released from his minor league deal with the Rangers on Sunday. The Mets’ first-round pick in the 2008 draft is expected to platoon with rookie Rob Refsnyder at first base, at least until Mark Teixeira returns from a right knee injury that has him on the disabled list with no return imminent.
“Ike Davis is a great guy. He’s a guy that knows how to play first base and also has power,” said Carlos Beltran, who played with Davis when the two were Mets.
Manager Joe Girardi couldn’t comment directly about Davis because the move wasn’t official yet.
“[General manager Brian Cashman] is working on some things,” Girardi said. “Obviously, we want to add a position player going into a National League city.”
The Yankees could have added fan favorite Nick Swisher from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but again passed on the veteran. Swisher, whose average fell from .340 through April to .238 through Friday, went 5-for-9 and hit three homers — two Sunday — this weekend.
The Yankees hope Davis, who once hit 32 home runs in a season, can rediscover his stroke. The short porch in right field does seem made for the power-hitting left-handed hitter’s swing. And the Yankees could use the added punch, not to mention a sure-handed glove at first base.
First base has been a cursed position for the Yankees, with injuries to Greg Bird, Dustin Ackley, Chris Parmelee and Teixeira forcing them to use Refsnyder out of position. Backup catcher Austin Romine has seen some time there as well.
Combined, Yankees first basemen have the lowest batting average, third-fewest home runs and worst on-base and slugging percentages at that position in the AL.
“Refsnyder is doing a real good job,” Beltran said. “I know he’s trying the best he can and he’s doing a real good job and he’s swinging the bat well, but having a guy that has knowledge of how to play that position, that helps.”
With the A’s last year, Davis — the son of ex-Yankee reliever Ron Davis — batted just .229 with three home runs, 20 RBIs and a pedestrian .654 OPS in 74 games. He was hitting better in the minor leagues this year, .268 with four homers, 25 RBIs and a .786 OPS in 39 games with Triple-A Round Rock.
Davis’ season ended last year in August, when he underwent surgery to repair a torn hip labrum. He was signed to a minor league deal in February by the Rangers.