J.D.

Davis

Davis suited up for Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, so it’s a minor league deal for the 31-year-old veteran, who could wind up being an option for Baltimore at the hot corner in the near future, but only if top prospect Coby Mayo can’t get it going. He was released last week by the Yankees after batting .105 (2-for-19) in seven games for the Pinstripes.

It’s unclear whether it’s a major or minor league deal, but we’re guessing the latter, since it doesn’t look like there’s room for him on the major league roster right now. Davis could contribute against lefties if given the chance.

New York designated Davis for assignment last week to make room for Jazz Chisholm. Davis cleared waivers and is now a free agent. He hit .218 with four home runs and six RBI in 46 games between Oakland and New York this year.

The Yankees needed to free up a spot on their roster in order to activate Jazz Chisholm Jr. on Sunday night and Davis was the unfortunate casualty. The 31-year-old slugger hit just .105/.227/.158 with one RBI and a 9/3 K/BB ratio in 22 plate appearances with the Bombers. He should be able to latch on elsewhere.

DJ LeMahieu will start at first base and bat eighth while J.D. Davis will be the designated hitter and bat seventh. Rice has acquitted himself well at the MLB level, but has gone just 4-for-44 over the last few weeks, so the Yankees are dialing back his playing time.

Davis was place on the injured list prior to the All-Star break with an illness, but now he’s back and the Yankees will try to get him some at-bats against left-handed pitching. It’s unlikely that he’ll be part of a strict platoon with Ben Rice at first base given the rookie’s early success and Davis’ struggles this year. Davis is hitting .221 with four home runs and six RBI in 136 at-bats this year.

Davis, who has the stomach flu, is the corresponding move for the Yankees calling up second baseman Jorbit Vivas, who has been on fire at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Davis has hit .221 with four home runs and six RBI in 44 games with the Athletics and Yankees this season.

Soto will sit after being scratched from Saturday’s lineup with a contusion in his right hand. The 25-year-old outfielder had his imaging come back clean, but he’ll need at least one more day off before having a chance to return to the starting lineup later in the week. J.D. Davis is in the lineup as Soto’s replacement as the designated hitter while Aaron Judge patrols right field.

Rice takes a seat on New York’s bench with Mets southpaw David Peterson toeing the rubber. It’ll be newly-acquired veteran J.D. Davis drawing his first start at the cold corner on Tuesday night in his place. The 25-year-old prospect is batting .294 (5-for-17) with one RBI in 21 plate appearances over six games since getting the call to the majors last week.

Davis provides New York with some additional experienced infield depth moving forward after being designated for assignment earlier this week by Oakland. The 31-year-old corner infielder holds a pedestrian .670 OPS with four homers and five RBI in 135 plate appearances in 39 games this season. He figures to get some time at third base or designated hitter against left-handed pitching while Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) is on the shelf.