From the time a lumbar strain sidelined Chris Davis near the start of Orioles camp, the possibility existed that the injury would force Davis to begin the year on the injured list. Now that’s looking more and more probable.
O’s manager Brandon Hyde said Monday the team is considering opening the year with Davis on the 60-day IL, delaying his 2021 debut until at least the end of May. Davis hasn’t played since injuring his back during Baltimore’s spring opener Feb. 28.
“I think it could be a possibility,” Hyde said.
Hyde was light on additional details, given the fluidity of the situation. But with every passing day, the chances for Davis to ramp up into game shape get slimmer. Davis has not spoken publicly about the issue, and the Orioles haven’t provided an update since Davis consulted a specialist in mid-March.
The situation does provide the O’s some roster flexibility given how they’d already committed to Davis, the 2013 and ’15 American League home run champion, in a reserve role going forward. He hit .115 without a homer in 16 games last season and was sidelined for much of ’20 with a left knee issue. Davis is owed roughly $46 million through ’22, and has hit just .185 with a .615 OPS since the start of ’17.