Athletics sign Ike Davis and Fernando Rodriguez, avoiding arbitration; Kyle Blanks and Andrew Brown non-tendered

The Oakland Athletics signed first baseman Ike Davis and right-handed relief pitcher Fernando Rodriguez to one-year deals, avoiding arbitration, the team announced. Davis signed for $3.8 million, according to MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo, representing a $300,000 raise from his previous year's salary. Fernando Rodriguez signed for $635,000, according to Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors, a small raise over the $600,000 he earned on his return from Tommy John Surgery.

On four years, 155 days service time, Davis would have been entering his third arbitration cycle, as a previous Super-2 player. Matt Swartz, writing for MLB Trade Rumors, had projected he would have earned $4.4 million at arbitration. As I wrote Monday, signing Davis makes a trade involving Brandon Moss, John Jaso, or Josh Reddick significantly more likely.

The Athletics also declined to tender contracts to Kyle Blanks and Andrew Brown. Blanks was designated for assignment to clear space on the 40-man roster for Brett Lawrie, Sean Nolin, and Kendall Graveman. Brown was designated for assignment after the A's traded for Davis.

The A's tendered contracts to the 12 other arbitration-eligible players: Fernando Abad, Jesse Chavez, Ryan Cook, Sam Fuld, Craig Gentry, John Jaso, Brett Lawrie, Brandon Moss, Jarrod Parker, Josh Reddick, Jeff Samardzija and Eric Sogard. Last year, most arbitration settlements were resolved in January and the A's did not have any arbitration hearings.