Matt LaPorta or Chris Davis

by Zabat on Feb 22, 2026 2:14 PM EST Comment 24 comments

I recently did a trade in my fantasy league that involved both of these players and I wondered which one of these 1B's with different obstacles blocking there long term spot at 1B was more highly regarded.

Chris Davis has put up some great numbers with his bat and was a 3B most of his time in the minors, but was poor defensively, so a move to 1B was inevitable for him. Davis is a candidate for the 1B spot on the Rangers, he also has top prospect Justin Smoak breathing down his neck.

Matt LaPorta was a top C/1B/OF prospect for the Brewers. Now with the Indians, after being traded in the CC Sabathia deal. LaPorta was going into the season as the leading candidate for the 1B job on the Indians, but with the Indians recent signing of Russell Branyan it is probably more likely LaPorta will see more action at LF than at 1B unless Branyan is injured.

Both players haven't really shown much with their bats at the MLB level posting these numbers:

Davis: 686ABs .258/.304/.488 38HRs 114RBIs

LaPorta: 181ABs .254/.308/.442 7HRs 21RBIs

I would love to hear your reasoning for liking each player so please post your opinion.

Poll

Davis or LaPorta

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Read More: 2010 spring training, Matt LaPorta (LF - CLE), Chris Davis (1B - TEX), Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers

Comments

Laporta

Worried about Davis’ Ks.

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by ravensfan3 on Feb 22, 2026 2:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

+ for everyone else who doesnt have to not say +1

yep

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by PHGold09 on Feb 22, 2026 3:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Davis

Similar players with the bat, Davis probably has the edge in power and defense and upside, which is enough for me.

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by Kenan and Kel on Feb 22, 2026 3:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1

More power potential, better park, and even if Smoak comes up next year he can DH so it’s not that big of a deal to me. For fantasy I pretty much always go upside unless they are terrible far away, and neither are obviously.

by hybrid on Feb 22, 2026 7:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This.

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by Frederick0220 on Feb 22, 2026 7:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think theyre similar with the bat at all

Davis has a touch more power, but LaPorta’s ability to hit for AVG and ability to take a walks are so far ahead of Davis that he can’t even see LaPorta from where he is.

by alskor on Feb 22, 2026 9:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree LaPorta has better ability for avg, as he makes more contact. That said they both walk at seemingly close rates in AAA/MLB, Laporta was better in AA but also a year old. Pitches per AB where also identical last year in the majors.

by hybrid on Feb 22, 2026 10:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough

I should have said “approach.” The K numbers arent all that similar. There is also a pretty big scouting difference.

by alskor on Feb 22, 2026 11:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

no complaints from me on that front

by hybrid on Feb 23, 2026 12:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If LaPorta Ever Plays Catcher

regularly in the majors then it’s a landslide for LaPorta, but because he is now a COF candidate, his value diminishes significantly.

Davis’ proven power in the majors and currently unblocked playing time at 1B is much more valuable.

by usmccowboysfan on Feb 22, 2026 4:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Catcher

LaPorta’s only real experience as a catcher is in college. I don’t think anyone is seeing him as a major league catcher.

He has much more experience as an OF than I thought he did. Looks like he didn’t switch to 1B till he reached AA in Brewers’ organization.

by Zabat on Feb 22, 2026 5:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I like Davis' raw power....

But LaPorta’s floor is higher. I think LaPorta should be a league average first baseman this year and maybe get a little better as he matures. I think LaPorta should consistently put up an 830-850ish OPS in future and its difficult to take Davis over that unless he strikes out less than 40% of the time.

by Alex Trebek on Feb 22, 2026 4:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Davis

Davis has done it in the bigs before. He was a good player and struck out less after his recall in late August.

He also took only 2 weeks off this off-season before getting back to his off-season work out program and says he learned a lot from last year. I’m not expecting him to be an all-world first baseman, but defensively he’s a great player (which will at least keep him in the lineup, see 2009) and I see something like .260/.330/.500 with a chance to be much better than that in 2010.

Nothing against LaPorta, but it looks like Branyon is the 1B and LaPorta will have to A) prove it in Spring Training and B) find a position other than first. Pronk is at DH and they have several outfielders they like already.

by Rossome on Feb 22, 2026 5:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I put absolutely no stock into hype over workout programs

Yes, guys probably should work out and stuff, but every year tons of players are in “great shape” and they still suck at baseball.

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by thejd44 on Feb 22, 2026 7:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Does my vote count?

I might be slighly bias towards my side of the deal :)

by Bud Light on Feb 22, 2026 8:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hey Bud

Our deal got me thinking cause both these players have had such similar paths to the majors.

by Zabat on Feb 22, 2026 11:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LaPorta easy

Much better hitter all around.

by alskor on Feb 22, 2026 9:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1

RIP Nick Adenhart

by gatling on Feb 23, 2026 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

neither

baseball rules.

by doublestix on Feb 22, 2026 10:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Took LaPorta

I’m a little surprised it’s this close.

by nivarsity on Feb 23, 2026 12:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I take Davis

After his demotion to AAA in July, Davis busted his butt to get better with the strike zone.

Here are his splits from the two months in OKC:

July 22 games, 90 abs, 29 hits, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 4 hr, 9 bb, 19k, .322
August 22 games, 75 abs, 25 hits, 4 doubles, 0 triples, 2 hr, 16bb, 20k, .333

Here are his splits from after his late-season promotion to TEX:
Aug/Sept. 36 games, 142 abs, 41 hits, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 6 hr, 7 bb, 36 k, .308

His k rate was cut in half upon his return to TEX. His walk rate was approximately the same.

The kid understands his holes and he’s working hard to fix them. I like that in a young player. I am not a Rangers guy at all … but I really like watching Davis evolve.

"Most overrated prospect in the minors." -- Bravesin07 on Madison Bumgarner

by criminal type on Feb 23, 2026 10:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

His k rate was cut in half upon his return to TEX

and yet, still terrible…

by alskor on Feb 23, 2026 11:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

True, but ...

His production was strong and had been strong for two months. I don’t think he’s going to be a walk guy at any point, but it’s clear that he’s making progress.

"Most overrated prospect in the minors." -- Bravesin07 on Madison Bumgarner

by criminal type on Feb 23, 2026 11:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Slight edge to Davis

LaPorta has the bigtime D-1 college pedigree and will definately hit for a higher average, but Davis’ power and defense (if he can stick at first) give him the edge. Davis is over a year younger as well. Not saying this is a runaway, but Davis’ upside is worth the risk to take him over LaPorta

by DJ 15 on Feb 24, 2026 1:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs