Yankees trade for J.D. Davis to add corner infield depth

NEW YORK — The Yankees added an experienced corner infielder on Sunday, acquiring J.D. Davis and cash considerations from the Athletics in exchange for infielder Jordan Groshans.

Davis, 31, was batting .236 (29-for-123) with four home runs and five RBIs in 39 games for Oakland this season, appearing defensively at first base and third base. The A’s designated Davis for assignment on June 18.

The Yankees have been searching for help at the infield corners. First baseman Anthony Rizzo fractured his right arm on Sunday in Boston, prompting New York to call up rookie catcher/first baseman Ben Rice, the club’s No. 12 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. The 25-year-old Rice had five hits in 17 at-bats (.294) through Sunday’s action.

The Yanks have also been platooning DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera at third base. Davis should be in the lineup for Tuesday’s Subway Series opener, spelling a return to Citi Field for Davis, who played for the Mets from 2019-22.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he envisions using Davis mostly as the right-handed-hitting half of a platoon with Rice at first base, noting that Davis has posted solid numbers against lefties (.779 career OPS). The Mets are scheduled to start left-handers David Peterson and Sean Manaea against the Yanks this week.

“Hopefully he can come here and give us a little spark, especially if I get him in there against left-handed pitching,” Boone said. “Just where we are, a couple of injuries down, hopefully he can be a little shot in the arm and be a piece to help us win some games.”

A .259 career hitter over parts of eight big league seasons, Davis has been cut loose twice already this season. He signed a Major League contract with the Giants in February before being released on March 11, then signed with Oakland five days later.

Davis is earning $2.5 million this season, with another $1 million in potential incentives.

He played last season with the Giants, batting .248/.325/.413 (105 OPS+) with 23 doubles, a triple, 18 homers and 69 RBIs in 144 games. He has previously been with the Astros (2017-18), Mets (2019-22), Giants (2022-23) and A’s (’24).

Groshans, 24, has played this season at Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In 50 games, Groshans was batting .232/.310/.280 with five doubles, a homer and 15 RBIs.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees transferred right-hander Nick Burdi to the 60-day injured list.