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NICK CAFARDO | ON BASEBALL

Chris Davis would have a powerful effect here

Baltimore first baseman Chris Davis has 42 home runs this season.Gail Burton/AP

BALTIMORE — We know the impact slugging lefthanded hitters have had in Boston.

Ted Williams. Carl Yastrzemski. Mo Vaughn. David Ortiz.

So we offer you this name: Chris Davis.

Already we’re getting, “Nah, don’t need him. Would rather see Travis Shaw and Blake Swihart at first base and devote the money to pitching.”

We’re not talking about the Tampa Bay Rays here, folks. We’re talking about the Boston Red Sox. They can do both.

Whether you believe in Shaw or not, you have a guaranteed 40/100 guy in Davis. He’s as pure a slugger as you’ll see in baseball. He strikes out a ton (191 times this year to lead the majors), but he has top-echelon power.

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He’s also tied for first with Nelson Cruz in homers (42), and third in RBIs (107), eighth in OPS (.914), and 28th in WAR (4.4).

He can play first base, left field, and right field, and even take a turn at third base. He could be a DH when Big Papi retires. But first base is where we envision him.

Realistically, he won’t be in Baltimore next season, though lately the Orioles have shown more of an inclination to get something done with a player who is a favorite of manager Buck Showalter. It would be a sign that the Orioles are serious about competing and using the significant resources they have coming in from Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.

For the Orioles to cry poor-mouth would be like Donald Trump eating at Burger King every day. The Orioles already lost Cruz last offseason. To lose Davis over money would be a slap in the face to their fans and set the team back who knows how many years.

Scott Boras, who represents Davis, said, “I won’t be talking any more about Chris Davis and free agency until after the World Series.”

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Boras doesn’t have to say much, and he won’t have to work hard to sell his client. It’s just a matter of how high the bidding gets. Davis won’t be 30 until next March, so he could warrant a contract similar to the one Boras got for Prince Fielder.

Put it this way: If Hanley Ramirez makes $88 million over four years, with a fifth-year option for another $22 million, where do we start with Davis, a gamer who plays almost every day?

This year, Davis was cleared to use Adderall to combat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder after failing two tests for using an amphetamine without the consent of MLB. His second failed test brought a 25-game suspension and forced him to miss the final 17 games of the 2014 regular season and all seven of the Orioles’ playoff games. He served the 25th game on Opening Day this season.

It all led to a below-average season in 2014: 26 homers and 72 RBIs in 450 at-bats.

His ability to hit homers in bunches first became apparent in 2012 when he hit 33, while knocking in 85 runs. He had come to Baltimore in July 2011 along with Tommy Hunter from Texas for Koji Uehara.

He had his best year in 2013, when he whacked 53 homers and drove in 138 runs while compiling a 1.004 OPS. He is liable to be close to 50 homers before the season is out.

He’s also effective against lefthanded pitchers, hitting .300 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 160 at-bats.

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Davis doesn’t like to talk about his impending free agency while the season is going on. Smart choice on his part. He would want a future employer to know that he’s dedicated to the season at hand and the team he is playing for.

So Davis will be the most sought-after free agent hitter. Some scouts are assigned to gauge the number of years a free agent should get in a contract. The consensus among a few I’ve asked for Davis is five to seven.

“He strikes out a lot, but the production is off the charts,” said a National League scout. “He’ll get paid because he will produce. The only time he didn’t is when he didn’t apply for his exemption the proper way and it had an effect on him.

“He makes you pay for mistakes and he’s a good enough pure hitter where he can identify those and takes full advantage.”

A Boston lineup with two slugging lefthanded hitters in Ortiz and Davis? That would be impressive.

As for other potential landing spots?

The drooling starts in Yankee Stadium. Would the Yankees put an exclamation point on their lineup with Davis as the right fielder, to go with Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Brett Gardner?

Both Beltran and Teixeira have one more season remaining on their contracts. Beltran will make $15 million next year and Teixeira $23.1 million. Teixeira had a fabulous season until he fractured his shin. Beltran could be moved to another team or take a backup role.

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An intriguing spot is Houston. Davis is a Texan, and the Astros could use a veteran power hitter in the middle of their order.

Other possible candidates could be Toronto, Los Angeles (Angels), Texas, Cleveland, San Francisco, New York (Mets), St. Louis, and Washington.

The other factor with the Red Sox is Dave Dombrowski. He loves power bats. And there’s no better one than Davis. What the Red Sox need to navigate is what to do with Shaw, Ramirez, and Allen Craig.

Is Davis a priority? Probably not. But he is a luxury worth pursuing. If the Sox take care of the ace and replenish the bullpen, then you start thinking about an offense that can generate runs from Day 1 of the 2016 season.

While Davis won’t say it himself, those who know him place Boston high on his list. And the Red Sox need to take a good long look at the impact he could have in the middle of the order.

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com.