NEW YORK — Right-hander
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Third baseman J.D. Davis was released by San Francisco on March 11 after winning $6.9 million in arbitration and got $1,112,903 in termination pay from the Giants. He agreed five days later to a $2.5 million, one-year contract with Oakland that allows him to earn $1 million more in performance bonuses.
Bickford was designated for assignment by the Mets on Sunday to open a roster spot for designated hitter J.D. Martinez, who agreed to a $12 million, one-year contract. Bickford was 3-2 with a 4.62 ERA and one save in 25 games with the Mets, who acquired him from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 1. Overall, Bickford went 5-5 with a 4.95 ERA in 61 games last year, striking out 76 and walking 39 in 67⅓ innings.
A four-year major league veteran, Bickford is 11-8 with a 4.43 ERA and two saves in 179 games for Milwaukee (2020-21), the Dodgers (2021-23) and the Mets.
Salary agreements for arbitration-eligible players became guaranteed in the 2022 labor contract.
The Mets also released first baseman Luke Voit from a minor league contract. The former AL home run champion hit .118 with one homer and four RBIs in 34 at-bats over 14 spring training games.
