The New York Mets and New York Yankees are set to face off in the first installment of the 2024 Subway Series this weekend. After encountering Tomas Nido at Wrigley Field while he was with the Chicago Cubs, the Mets now have the opportunity to reunite with another former teammate, J.D. Davis.
Davis was traded to the Yankees by the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, coinciding with the news of Giancarlo Stanton landing on the IL. Davis struggled to find his place in Oakland, having been DFA’d by the San Francisco Giants earlier in the preseason. Despite his move across the Bay to the Athletics, Davis posted a .236/.304/.366 batting line in 135 plate appearances.
Having seen regular action at first base for the Athletics this season, the Yankees may seek Davis to fill in more than just the designated hitter role during Stanton’s absence. With Anthony Rizzo also unavailable, Davis is likely to slot into first base, a position he started 17 times for the A’s. Davis notably criticized the Mets last season for their utilization of him, which coincided with a decline in his performance shortly thereafter.
The shifting landscapes for former Mets extend beyond Davis and Nido. Max Scherzer returned from the IL and delivered an impressive outing against the Kansas City Royals, throwing five shutout innings with just one hit allowed. Meanwhile, Daniel Vogelbach’s stint with the Toronto Blue Jays ended abruptly after hitting .186/.278/.300 with one home run in 79 plate appearances, reminiscent of the frustrations Mets fans endured with him. However, Vogelbach hasn’t played first base since his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022.
Looking further back, Steven Matz faced a setback in his rehab, extending his absence with the St. Louis Cardinals by another 4-6 weeks. Despite a solid performance last season, Matz has struggled in 2024, posting a 1-2 record and a 6.18 ERA in six starts for the Cardinals.
As the Mets prepare to confront Davis in his Yankees debut, the question arises whether he will exact revenge on his former team or succumb to their pitching staff.
