Yankees dump infielder for J.D. Davis, who won’t be warming bench

The Yankees didn’t trade for a veteran right-handed hitter with power on Sunday just to add corner infield depth.

With Anthony Rizzo breaking an arm last week, J.D. Davis was acquired from the Athletics to play first base against left-handed pitching.

Davis, who hit 22 homers playing for the Mets in 2019 and 18 last season for the Giants, figures to share time at first with rookie Ben Rice.

A left-handed hitter, Rice was called up for the first time last Tuesday and hit .294 (5-for-17) in his first six big-league games, five as a starter at first.

“He can fit into a platoon situation,” manager Aaron Boone said of Davis after the Yankees’ 3-1 loss to the Braves at Yankee Stadium. “Hopefully come in here and give us a little spark.”

The Yankees need a spark. Their 52-28 record is the best in the American League, but they’ve lost three series in a row and dropped seven of their last 10. The Yankees are off on Monday, then on Tuesday night begin a two-game Subway Series against the Mets in Queens.

Davis might start both games at Citi Field with the Mets scheduled to start two left-handers, first David Peterson (3-0, 3.97) and then Sean Manaea (4-3, 4.16).

“Get him in there against left-handed pitching,” Boone said. “He’s hit left-handed pitching well over the last couple years.”

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Davis has had more success this season against left-handers (.265) than lefties (.225), but his average was almost the same last season (.249 vs. righties, .247 vs. lefties) and that’s been the case for his career (.260 vs. righties, .258 vs. lefties).

Yankees GM Brian Cashman completed the deal for Davis during Sunday’s game. The Yankees gave up minor-league infielder Jordan Groshans.

Davis was designated for assignment last Tuesday. The Yankees also are receiving cash considerations.

The Yankees opened a roster spot for Davis after Sunday’s game by optioning infielder Oswald Peraza back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after a one-day call-up.

Peraza was summoned in on Sunday to replace designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain that occurred in Saturday night’s game, an 8-3 win over the Braves.

Davis, 31, was a disappointment with the A’s this season after signing a one-year, $2.5 million in March. In 39 games, he hit .236 with four homers and five RBI. He was on the injured list from April 15 to May 3 with a right adductor strain.

Davis was a free agent the entire offseason and into spring training because he was hoping for a bigger contract after putting up good numbers with San Francisco last season. Playing 144 games, he hit .248 with 18 homers and 69 RBI.

He’s a career .259 hitter in eight MLB seasons with the Astros (2017-18), Mets (2019-22), Giants (2022-23) and Athletics (2024). His best year was his first the Mets when he batted a career-best .307 with 22 homers and 57 RBI in 140 games.

A negative to Davis’ game: He strikes out a lot.

Davis whiffed 152 times in 546 plate appearances last season, a 27.8 percent rate. It’s dropped to 22.5 percent this season (30 K, 135 PA). For his career, he’s at 27.1 percent.

“Hopefully where we are, a couple injuries down, (Davis) can give us a little shot in the arm and be a piece to us winning some games,” Boone said.

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Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com.