The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed shortstop Blake Davis to
a minor league deal. He is a 30-year-old, who played part of the 2011 season
with the Baltimore Orioles. Davis was a fourth round draft in 2006. He spent
his first seven seasons in the Orioles system before signing with the Milwaukee
Brewers last year. In 2013, he hit .256/.297/.352 for AAA Nashville, seeing the
majority of his playing time at shortstop, though he has also played all three
outfield positions, as well as second base and third base. In both 2008 and
2009, Baseball America rated Davis as the best defensive infielder in the
Baltimore Orioles farm system.
With the Orioles in 2011, he had a .713 OPS in 25 games
while filling in at second base for Brian Roberts. During his brief major
league stint, Davis was splitting playing time at second base with Robert
Andino, who was also signed this off-season by the Pirates as a minor league
free agent. Davis will provide the Pirates with another depth option around the
infield.
