White Sox: Where Does Matt Davidson Fit in 2018?
By Matt Manetti
Matt Davidson hit 26 home runs in his first real action in the majors. Where does he fit in 2018 for the White Sox?
Matt Davidson was somewhat of a surprise for the Chicago White Sox in 2017. He hit 26 home runs and drove in 68 RBIs. However, he only hit .220 with a .260 OBP. He showed the power many thought he had. But he didn’t hit for much average. The question remains where does he fit in the organization’s plan for 2018?
Davidson’s power was a welcome sight for Sox fans. There were a lot of question marks surrounding the offense heading into 2017. In year’s past, the White Sox have been built on power and hit a lot of home runs. That really hasn’t been a trend recently. The emergence of Davidson really helped the offense.
More from White Sox News
- The Chicago White Sox might have had a season ending loss
- The Chicago White Sox are expecting Tim Anderson back soon
- Miguel Cairo’s words spark life into the Chicago White Sox
- Dylan Cease should be the favorite for the AL Cy Young Award
- Ozzie Guillen speaks the whole truth about Tony La Russa
With all the talent in the minors, the obvious question is where does he [Davidson] fit in all this? He’s only 26 and is under team control for two seasons before entering arbitration in 2020. He won’t be an unrestricted free agent until 2023 when he will be 32. That means the organization can have him for five more seasons if they wish.
We didn’t see a lot of him in the field. He mostly served as the designated hitter and that might be where he sticks. The White Sox have other options at third base, where Davidson primarily plays, that may offer better defense. It’s tough to measure his defense since he only played 34 games at third base and 19 games at first base, but he wasn’t the best defender. The value he brings to this team is hit bat.
Next: How Good Was James Shields' 2017 Season?
If Davidson can continue to hit home runs and drive in runs, then he will be a valuable asset to this team. He could easily serve as the DH and occasionally play first base or third base when guys like Jose Abreu need a day off. If Davidson can improve on 2017, he offers more power in the lineup. That’s really what this team lacked last season. Davidson will carve out a role on this team with hits bat. It’s his best weapon and something that will definitely benefit this team moving forward.