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A pair of prominent former Oakland A’s are continuing their careers internationally.
Slugger Khris Davis and pitcher Mike Fiers have signed to play in the Mexican League for the 2022 season, their new teams announced. Fiers joined the Leones de Yucatán on March 24, and Davis became a member of the Diablos Rojos de México this morning.
Both players had a tough time in the majors last summer. Fiers was limited by injury and only made two starts, while Davis was traded to the Rangers, cut by them in June, and returned to Oakland, finishing the year with just three homers. But they’ve both put together impressive MLB careers, including memorable highlights with the A’s, and they’re out to show they’ve got something left in the tank in their mid-30s.
Fiers will pitch for the Leones de Yucatán, who finished runner-up for the league championship each of the past two seasons (2019 and 2021, with the 2020 campaign canceled during the pandemic). Before that they won a title in 2018, in the spring half of a split-season, with former A’s hurler Chad Gaudin recording the save in the clinching victory. In the club’s tweet announcing the signing of Fiers, they leaned hard into the cat-tail beard, as one should.
¡BIENVENIDO A LA MANADA!
— Leones de Yucatán (@leonesdeyucatan) March 24, 2022
Presentado por @tecate
Lleva más de 11 años lanzando en Grandes Ligas, Campeón con Astros, y 2 juegos sin hit ni carrera
¡Bienvenido Mike Fiers!
¿Listos para la temporada 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣2️⃣?#VíveloComoFiera pic.twitter.com/ivu14o7A1U
Fiers credentials: A decade in the majors, over 1,100 innings of league-average work worth around 11-12 WAR, two no-hitters, a ring* with Houston, and helped lead three Oakland teams to postseason
Meanwhile, Davis brings his bat to the Diablos Rojos de México. They last won the league championship in 2014, but they’ve been a winning team ever since and have been climbing up the postseason bracket over the past few years. The club notes that Davis is the first MLB home run champ to play for them.
Es de nuestro agrado informarles que Khris Davis es Diablo y es del México #HagamosH1S7ORIA @interceramicMX pic.twitter.com/UGkeMKwcJ3
— DiablosRojosMX (@DiablosRojosMX) April 5, 2022
Davis credentials: Nine years in majors, 221 homers and a 117 OPS+ worth around 10 WAR, led MLB in homers in 2018 (with 48), only player in Oakland history with three straight seasons of 40+ homers, won 2018 Edgar Martinez Award as best DH, and helped lead three Oakland teams to postseason
Best of luck to Davis and Fiers in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol!
PODER. TALENTO. FLOW.
— DiablosRojosMX (@DiablosRojosMX) April 5, 2022
UN DIABLO ROJO #HagamosH1S7ORIA @interceramicMX pic.twitter.com/qvBA7caHtu
With Opening Day just a couple days away, here’s the updated list of A’s free agents, including info for those who signed somewhere:
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LHPAndrew Chafin(DET, 2/$13m) -
LHPJake Diekman(BOS, 2/$8m) -
RHPMike Fiers(to Mexico) - RHP Yusmeiro Petit
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RHPSergio Romo(SEA, 1/$2m) - RHP Trevor Rosenthal
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RHPBurch Smith(to Japan) -
CYan Gomes(CHC, 2/$13m) -
UTJosh Harrison(CHW, 1/$6m) - 2B Jed Lowrie (RE-SIGNED, OAK, 1/$1m)
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OFMark Canha(NYM, 2/$26m) -
OFStarling Marte(NYM, 4/$78m) -
DHKhris Davis(to Mexico) - DH Mitch Moreland
One of the remaining available names, Rosenthal, is drawing interest around the league lately.
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