Khris Davis, A's agree to 2-year extension

OAKLAND -- Khris Davis fell in love with Oakland the minute he arrived in a trade from Milwaukee in 2016. The slugger made it clear he wanted to remain a member of the A's beyond 2019, and now, it looks like he'll be sticking around a little longer.

The A’s and Davis, baseball’s most prolific home run hitter since the start of the 2016 season, finalized a two-year deal Thursday afternoon. The contract is worth $33.5 million, a source told MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.

Davis, 31, expressed his desire to remain in Oakland for the long term during Spring Training, when at the time he was set to become a free agent after the 2019 season. The extension allows Davis a chance to continue his home run tear with the A's through the 2021 season, as he was set to be part of a big free-agent class that keeps on dwindling, with Nolan Arenado, Chris Sale, Xander Bogaerts, Justin Verlander, and Paul Goldschmidt having all signed contract extensions in the past couple of months.

"Oakland has been a special place for me since I arrived,” Davis said. “I love playing here in front of our fans, and my teammates make this feel like a family. I never hid the fact that I wanted to stay in Oakland because that is how I feel, and I'm glad that I can continue to call the city of Oakland my baseball home. This team has a bright future, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it."

After a reign as MLB’s 2018 home run king with a career-high 48 to help the A’s reach the playoffs for the first time since 2014, Davis already looks primed to defend that throne as he currently leads the Majors with 10 home runs through 20 games.

The power tear Davis has been on in recent years is truly remarkable. Davis has averaged 44 home runs and 112 RBIs over his past three seasons. Since the A’s acquired him in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers before the start of the 2016 season, Davis has been the most productive power hitter in baseball. His 143 home runs are the most of any player in Major League Baseball over that span. The next closest is Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton with 124.

To show just how rapidly Davis’ power has risen to elite levels, he launched his 200th career homer at Baltimore last week in his 2,784th at-bat -- the fewest for any active player to reach the milestone, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Davis provides plenty of pop in the middle of the A’s order, but his value goes beyond his ability to launch baseballs into the upper depths of the Oakland Coliseum. His lack of ego and selflessness embodies the type of culture the A’s have established in their clubhouse. He brings a blue-collar work ethic, one that rubs off on younger players and symbolizes what the city of Oakland is all about.

"Khris is a special talent who has made a tremendous impact both on and off the field during his time here,” A’s executive vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane said. “He’s become one of the most beloved players to have worn an A’s uniform, and his commitment to Oakland has never wavered. He made it clear from the beginning that he wants to play, and win, right here. We're thrilled that Khris will continue to be an A.”