Reliever Wade Davis retires after 13 major league seasons
Free agent pitcher Wade Davis is retiring at age 36 after 13 major league seasonsNOVEMBER 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas City Royals fans, others show love for retiring World Series hero Wade Davis Wade Davis was one of the cornerstones of the Kansas City Royals’ run to the World Series championship in 2015. His retirement on Wednesday...
NOVEMBER 24, 2021 • KANSASCITY.COM
Wade Davis, 2015 WS champ with KC, retires Right-handed pitcher Wade Davis who was a three-time All-Star and won a World Series championship with the Royals in 2015, announced his ret...
NOVEMBER 24, 2021 • MLB.COM
Announces retirement Davis announced his retirement from baseball Wednesday.
Impact Davis served mainly as a starter across his first five major-league seasons before transitioned to the bullpen. He found his most success as a closer or late-inning arm, accruing a 63-55 record, 155 saves and 3.94 ERA across 13 seasons in the majors with the Rays, Royals, Cubs and Rockies. Davis was named an All-Star three times during his career, and he captured his lone World Series ring with Kansas City in 2015.
NOVEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Elects free agency Davis (shoulder) elected free agency Wednesday.
Impact Davis finished the 2021 campaign on the Royals' 60-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him available for spring training in 2022. However, the right-hander's struggles continued in 2021, and he's now posted an 8.33 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in 95 appearances across the last three seasons.
NOVEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
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Done for season The Royals transferred Davis (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
Impact Davis' move to the 60-day IL officially spells an end to his season, even though he likely won't need the full two months to make a full recovery from right shoulder inflammation. Before being shut down with the injury last week, Davis went 0-3 with two saves, two holds, a 6.75 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 42.2 innings across 40 relief appearances. If the 36-year-old is eager to keep his career going in 2021, he'll likely have to settle for a minor-league deal in free agency.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Out with shoulder inflammation Davis was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with right shoulder inflammation. The move is retroactive to Sept. 12.
Impact Davis surrendered three runs on three hits and three walks over an inning during his last appearance Saturday, and he'll now be sidelined for at least the next week. The 36-year-old will have a difficult time returning this season if he's forced to be shut down from throwing for more than a few days.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Clean inning Saturday Davis struck out the side in a perfect inning in Saturday's 10-7 loss to the White Sox.
Impact The 35-year-old has had some inconsistent performances lately, allowing seven runs (six earned) in his last seven innings. Davis was able to put in a good effort Saturday, but he's remained on the outside looking in when it comes to high-leverage opportunities. He owns a 6.42 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 36:16 K:BB with two saves, two holds, a blown save and an 0-3 record through 40.2 innings this year.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Handed third loss Davis (0-3) allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits and a walk while failing to record an out, taking the extra-inning loss Thursday versus Houston.
Impact Davis wasn't able to get anything going in the 10th inning, and Ervin Santana let two inherited runners score before finally escaping the jam. After an eight-inning scoreless streak coming out of the All-Star break, Davis has allowed five runs (four earned) across his last three appearances. His ERA ticked up to 6.81 with a 1.46 WHIP and 30:16 K:BB across 35.2 innings overall.
AUGUST 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
In good form Davis has allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out five in his last seven innings.
Impact That scoreless stretch spans eight appearances, and he's collected one save in that time. Davis hasn't been considered for much high-leverage work this year -- he has two saves, one hold and a blown save in 30 appearances -- but he's pitched well enough lately to warrant such work. His season numbers paint a less rosy outlook, as he has a 6.34 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 27:13 K:BB in 32.2 innings.
AUGUST 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Collects second save Davis struck out the only batter he faced to record his second save of the season in a 9-8 win over the Tigers.
Impact Greg Holland got the call to begin the ninth inning with the Royals holding a three-run lead, but after he fell apart, Davis has to bail him out by fanning Jeimer Candelario to end the game. Josh Staumont has worked the eighth while Scott Barlow has pitched on three of the previous four days, which left Davis to pick up the pieces. The 35-year-old has put together two straight scoreless appearances since returning from the IL after the All-Star break, but his 7.67 ERA and 1.56 WHIP on the year don't suggest he's going to see regular high-leverage work.
JULY 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
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Clean inning in return Davis pitched a perfect ninth inning in Sunday's 5-0 loss to Baltimore.
Impact Davis had been out with a right forearm strain since June 29 prior to being activated Saturday. In his first appearance back from the injured list, he logged a perfect inning, just his fifth such performance all year. The right-hander owns a 7.76 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 22:11 K:BB across 26.2 innings, but he could work his way into the closer committee if he can pitch well now that he's healthy.
JULY 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Activated from IL The Royals reinstated Davis (forearm) from the 10-day injured list Saturday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
Impact The veteran righty had been sidelined since June 29 with a right forearm strain. Davis, who allowed multiple runs in three of his last six appearances before the injury, has an abysmal 8.06 ERA in 25.2 innings this season. Anthony Swarzak was designated for assignment in a corresponding move Saturday.
JULY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Out with forearm strain Davis was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained right forearm Tuesday.
Impact David has allowed 11 runs on 14 hits over his last 8.1 innings of work, striking out four while walking five. It's unclear if that statline is related to his injury. Richard Lovelady was recalled in a corresponding move.
JUNE 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Clean inning Thursday Davis pitched a perfect inning and struck out one in Thursday's 8-1 loss to the Yankees.
Impact Scoreless innings have been a rarity for Davis, who's given up at least one run in 11 of his 21 outings this year. The veteran right-hander has a 7.99 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 21:10 K:BB across 23.2 innings. While Davis initially saw some high-leverage work, his inconsistency has led to more appearances in the middle innings lately.
JUNE 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
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Throws 2.1 scoreless innings Davis allowed a hit and a walk with one strikeout in 2.1 scoreless innings during Monday's 8-3 loss to the Angels.
Impact Davis got the last out of the fifth inning and then pitched two more frames. He remains inconsistent -- the right-hander has allowed at least one run in nine of his 18 appearances. He's posted a poor 6.53 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB in 20.2 innings. While he's picked up a save and a hold this year, Davis isn't currently in the mix for closing opportunities given the Royals' strong bullpen depth.
JUNE 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Records two scoreless innings Davis allowed a hit and struck out three over two scoreless innings in Thursday's 7-2 loss to Tampa Bay.
Impact Davis was efficient in the sixth and seventh innings, throwing 21 of his 29 pitches for strikes. It was just the seventh time in 15 outings the right-hander has kept runs off the board. The 35-year-old has a 6.61 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB across 16.1 innings this year. The fact that he pitched in Thursday's lopsided loss indicates manager Mike Matheny isn't likely to consider Davis for many high-leverage assignments in the near future.
MAY 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Blows save, takes loss Sunday Davis (0-2) blew a save opportunity and was tagged with the loss Sunday against the White Sox after giving up two runs on three hits across two-thirds of an inning.
Impact Davis entered the game with the Royals holding a two-run lead but was unable to close things out. In fact, the only out he recorded was a sacrifice bunt from Adam Eaton. Davis has gone 1-for-2 in save opportunities, but he's been throwing poorly of late and has allowed runs in four of his last six appearances.
MAY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Abreu scores on Davis wild pitch, White Sox beat Royals 4-3
Wade Davis bounced a wild pitch that allowed José Abreu to dash home with the game-ending run, and the Chicago White Sox rallied in the ninth inning to beat the Kansas City Royals...MAY 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Takes loss in ninth inning Davis (0-1) was tagged with the loss Wednesday against Cleveland after giving up a solo home run in the ninth inning while fanning three.
Impact Davis allowed a solo home run to Josh Naylor in the top of the ninth, and that would prove the difference in the game. The veteran reliever bounced back and struck out the next three batters he faced -- Harold Ramirez, Andres Gimenez and Austin Hedges -- though the damage was already done. Davis has been struggling badly of late, and he has given up runs in five of his last seven appearances.
MAY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
