Down On The Farm: New York Mets First Base Prospect Ike Davis

Last week Mets GM Omar Minaya signed first baseman Mike Jacobs to compete for the first base job with Daniel Murphy. In his column over at ESPN, Rob Neyer discussed the move, quoting Brian Costa from the Star Ledger. Here is what Costa said about the move:

Minaya told me first base will be "an open competition" between Daniel Murphy and Mike Jacobs, who signed a minor-league deal with the Mets last week. Murphy is still the pre-camp favorite to win the job, but if he struggles over the next seven weeks and Jacobs impresses, the Mets could alter their thinking.

"He'll compete for the job," Minaya said of Jacobs. "I think it's fair to say that Murphy has proven himself worthy of being considered, but he's going to have to continue. It's an open competition."

 Costa also mentioned Mets first base prospect Ike Davis:

Whether it's Murphy or Jacobs, the Mets' starting first baseman in 2010 may just be keeping the spot warm for prospect Ike Davis, anyway. Davis, 22, will be in camp as a non-roster invitee.

Neyer went on to put Ike Davis on keeper league owners radar with the following quote:

Davis is probably going to win the job, eventually. But with only 55 games above Class A, that eventually is late this summer at the earliest, and probably sometime in 2011. So, considering that the Mets will have a large payroll in 2010, but will enter the season picked to finish second or third in their division, they can hardly afford to just punt a position.

Davis certainly won't see any time in New York in 2010, but he is one to consider for those of you who play in keeper roto/fantasy leagues or in dynasty leagues. Davis put himself on the Mets prospect radar by going 20-71-.298-.381-.524-.905 in 2009 at High A Port St. Lucie and AA Binghamton. He actually hit better at AA Binghamton than he did in High A which is a positive, but he had a 60/26 K/BB ratio in 207 at bats.

I know he is available in the UBA keeper league I participate in, and am curious where he gets selected in this year's minor league draft. I have the #2, 7, 10, 13 and 19 picks in the minor league draft, and I think he will be available at 7 and possibly 10.