OAKLAND — Khris Davis will not be a free agent until after next season, but the A's have already begun discussions about signing him to a contract extension.
"We've had some preliminary conversations about keeping him around longer," executive vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane said Friday. "The good thing is Khris is going to be back next year for sure, no matter what. But we're also aware of the fact that he's going to be a free agent after that. We're aware of his value to the club."
Davis, 30, is under team control for 2019 and is eligible for arbitration. Last year, the two sides avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal worth $10.5 million.
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Davis figures to get a significant raise to at least $15 million after leading Major League Baseball with 48 home runs and finishing second with 123 RBI, while incredibly hitting .247 for the fourth straight year.
"I know he's going to hit .247 next year," Beane joked. "We can count on that consistency. We also know he's going to hit 40 home runs. I'm a big fan of the home run."
Indeed Davis has hit 40 or more home runs in each of his three seasons with the A's, joining Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx as the only players in franchise history to reach that number in three straight seasons. Since 2016, he leads all of baseball with 133 homers.
Davis has said he enjoys playing in Oakland and hopes to stay with the A's for years to come.
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"I envision myself winning a championship in Oakland," he told NBC Sports California earlier this season. "We've got a great group of guys I like to be around and just grow with them on a daily basis. I like where I'm at right now."
