Khris Davis: A's ‘seem a Little Flat' After Trade Deadline Losses

Editor's note: The above video is from Aug. 12, 2016.

Khris Davis believes the A's clubhouse is feeling a void left by the trade of some of the team's veterans, particularly outfielder Josh Reddick.

That was among the thoughts that Oakland's left fielder shared when he sat down with me for the latest edition of The A's Insider Podcast.

[RELATED: The A's Insider Podcast]

"I didn't think we processed it really well after ‘Red' left," Davis said. "Just things seem a little flat around here, and it's hard to look to someone to pick that up. It's hard to replace that."

Obviously, the A's 60-79 record contributes greatly to any "flat" vibe that he's referring to. And the A's poor on-field performance in the first half was what spurred the Aug. 1 trade of Reddick and lefty Rich Hill to the Dodgers in the first place. But Reddick indeed was one of the more energetic, fiery characters the A's had, and Davis said the leadership issue is one that needs to sort itself out looking ahead toward next season.

"I think we need to work through it," he said. "I think the leaders have to step up and know that they have to fill that void."

Perhaps the 28-year-old Davis, in his first season with Oakland, will be among those looked to next season on that front. He's under team control for the next three seasons, and his 35 home runs are already the most by an A's hitter since 2006. He would seem to be a piece the A's build around.

We covered a whole lot of terrain in the podcast, and here's some other highlights:

-Davis wants to play for Mexico in this spring's World Baseball Classic, a desire that he's expressed previously this season. His mother was born in Mexico, making him eligible to play for the country, and Davis has connections to the coaching staff of Mexico's national team.

"They had heard that I was half-Mexican and my Mom's from Mexico," Davis said. "They thought I could make an impact as far as being a threat in the middle of their lineup."

-It took Davis a while to get acclimated to the A's following his February trade from the Milwaukee Brewers, and that played a part in his early-season struggles.

"Just self-inflicted pressure, and getting to know my surroundings."

But he considers himself a Bay Area guy now, and he enjoys it here so much that he plans to make it his offseason home.

"I feel like I am Oakland, like this is a good city for me."

Check out the full podcast for much more…

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