The thought long was that Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson would be a major trade chip for the team if things went awry in 2018. While the Toronto organization is well into a sell-off, however, Donaldson remains. That’s due largely to the fact that he hasn’t played since the end of May, with a setback in his rehab from a calf injury keeping him on the shelf through the non-waiver trade deadline.
Donaldson has “made a ton of progress” of late, per GM Ross Atkins (via Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith, on Twitter), so he seems likely to feature heavily in August trade talks. Indeed, the Jays have already had plenty of talks involving the star third baseman, Atkins also noted (via Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, on Twitter). Of course, we’re still talking about a player who was perhaps the best in all of baseball (non-Trout division) over the prior three seasons. If he can get back to full health, Donaldson could be a difference-maker down the stretch and into the postseason for the right organization.
Given the complications of dealmaking in August, though, how might all this play out?
[RELATED: How August Trades Work]
There are innumerable variables at play here. Donaldson will need not only to get healthy — he also dealt with significant shoulder problems earlier in the year — but restore his performance in order to bring back real value. Through 159 plate appearances on the season, he was hitting a respectable .234/.333/.423 while playing average defense, levels at which he’s a quality but hardly world-beating performer.
Before organizations considering Donaldson can get a look, though, they may first face a decision on whether to roll the dice on claiming him. This is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the entire situation for the former AL MVP.
Since he has already been on the disabled list for sixty days, Donaldson can be placed on waivers once he’s ready to play on a rehab assignment. At that point, which may come sooner than later, the pending free agent will be expensive (around $7MM of his $23MM salary remains to be paid as of this writing) and plenty risky. Rival teams will know that he’s at least healthy enough to get back on the field, but won’t be sure he’s over the injury and up to full speed (let alone that he’s in top form).
At first glance, the presumption would be that non-contenders wouldn’t have any reason to place a claim on such a player. Then again, as the Phillies showed last year, it may be unwise to assume that a creative front office won’t see an angle here.
It’s important to note that Donaldson will be available first to American League teams, in reverse order of record at the time the request for waivers is submitted. If none of the non-contenders intercede, the Indians are quite likely to have the first crack at him. The Cleveland organization presently sits 3.5 games behind the Mariners and A’s (the club that memorably dealt Donaldson to Toronto). As it turns out, the Indians could certainly still stand to add a major piece to their lineup and could easily slot Donaldson in at third base while bumping star Jose Ramirez to second and pushing Jason Kipnis into a utility role.
Of course, the remaining salary is a hefty sum — particularly for the Indians — in light of the multiple elements of uncertainty here. If the Cleveland org passes, then the rest of the American League contenders could win the claim instead, or Donaldson could be claimed by an organization on the NL side (who’ll also be ordered from worst to best in priority).
Winning a revocable August claim, of course, doesn’t mean that a team gets the player. Rather, it only gives the claiming organization a chance to work out a deal with the team that sought waivers, which has the election of pulling the player back (after which point only irrevocable waivers may be sought), working out a trade, or simply letting him go for free.
In this case, despite Donaldson’s struggles and injury questions, the Jays could well hold out for a real return. The organization won’t likely be desperate to dump the salary. And it may view a qualifying offer at season’s end as a reasonable alternative to a deal. After all, Donaldson would represent a nice risk even at the hefty single-season QO rate (likely in the $18MM range this offseason). And if he declines the Jays would stand to pick up some draft compensation in a year in which they’ll have some decent draft capital to work with.
[RELATED: The New Qualifying Offer Rules]
Supposing that Donaldson does end up passing through waivers unclaimed, we’ll end up watching his rehab and eventual return quite closely. If that occurs, the Jays will be able to auction the star third bagger off to the highest bidder at the end of the month. While it was quite a different situation in many respects, the Justin Verlander trade last August shows that it’s still possible to get notable returns in August. Donaldson would be a pure rental asset who lacks no-trade protection, so he’d be much simpler to market than was Verlander.
The optimal outcome from the Blue Jays’ perspective is for Donaldson to clear waivers, return to action, put up vintage JD output for a few weeks, and then draw huge interest from a variety of contenders at the end of the month. That’s plausible, though by no means guaranteed.
slider32
A healthy Dpnaldson would be a huge addition to any contender, it would also help the Jays rebuild and get him a big contract next year.
kreylix
Any contender? Not the A’s. Where would he play?
PopeMarley
It’s a shame when hitting .234 is considered respectable.
Jeff Todd
By itself, it’s not. The rest of the slash line is what’s carrying my characterization.
CardsNation5
It’s a shame in today’s game sir. 10 years ago, a player would be in the minors or DFA’d
Joe Kerr
I get what you are saying and somewhat agree but I think he meant the overall line with the OPS being .756 as the respectable part.
Phillies2017
For $23 million, I wouldn’t necessarily consider it to be a respectable line. While its around league average, his defense has been meh and lets face it, the age at which he is seeing these issues is a bit worrisome. With the luxury tax, the only teams who I can see shooting for him on a waiver claim or buy low deal are the Braves and Nats and even they don’t strike me as inherently likely. With Philly, Milwaukee, Arizona, Boston and LA all suring up their infield, not a ton of plausible options.
Samuel
“Through 159 plate appearances on the season, he was hitting a respectable .234/.333/.423 while playing average defense…….”
– –
Respectable? is right.
So a contender is going to cover $7 million to get this guy for a bit over 2 months. Where the first 4-6 weeks will be his Spring Training as he works to get his timing down against major league pitchers and hitters……with no guarantee that he will be successful in doing so, or that he will remain healthy playing.
If contenders are that hard up for a 3B they can call the Tigers about Jeimer Candelario – .227 / .319 / .416 with a full year salary of $548,300, due for arbitration in 2021; or call the Royals about Rosell Herrera – .279 / .321 / .402 with a full year salary of $310,580, and under team control for another 5 years. Both those guys are healthy, and both would bring back the same in trade.
stan lee the manly
None of the guys listed were just crowned AL MVPs. You would be paying for his ceiling as well, which is miles above these other options, at least for this year
Bob Stoops
This is not happening, those guys are controllable players for teams rebuilding and those guys would be claimed instantly by lesser teams which would force the team waiving them to only deal with that lesser team. The trade deadline for cheap young controllable prospects past on July 31st.
flippinbats79
Jays will likely pay down the rest of his salary for a better return.
ThePriceWasRight
Samuel you don’t understand how August trades work do you? you seriously think a) those teams are giving up controllable cheap players and b) candelario even gets past Baltimore or the white Sox for a claim?
Samuel
You don’t understand that $7 million for 2-2.5 months is an exorbitant amount to pay for a guy that has demonstrated nothing to assure his MVP form is returning. Two other points:
1. Forget August trades – teams could have had him 2 days ago, no one was interested.
2. The only teams that can afford to take on his salary are up against a tax threshold. They will be impacted in 2019 and possibly beyond to take this risk.
Have Donaldson play 2-3 weeks in August and perhaps a desperate team will talk.
Meow Meow
It’s a shame when people look at batting average in isolation, here in 2018
thegreatcerealfamine
Harold Reynolds said it well…Try having a low average like that in High School and “you ain’t playing College baseball”. Having an average like that and you’re not getting picked in the draft. It’s a shame people like mediocrity also.
Meow Meow
Batting .230 in high school/college and batting .230 in the majors are pretty different things. The level of competition is wildly different, and you don’t see many people in their 30’s playing college ball. The fact of the matter is that a slash line like .234/.333/.423 (over a whole season, not necessarily in Donaldson’s limited number of games in this injury-shortened season) is above-average. The batting average is offset by the on-base and power numbers, and I feel like you probably know all this.
Picking one number, which is easy to understand, certainly, but lacks the inclusion of SEVERAL important factors regarding run generation is at best poor analysis (see: Harold Reynolds’s entire body of work for MLB Network) and at worst being willfully ignorant.
All that said, I don’t think anyone should make a move for Donaldson unless he’s basically free. The injury is really a bigger concern for me than the lower numbers (and I doubt those two things are unrelated).
SoCalBrave
when you start your argument with “Harold Reynolds said it well”, you’ve already lost.
Meow Meow
I didn’t want to go right there but I’m glad someone did xD
carlos15
Isn’t that the truth.
acmeants
That’s what I thought. I’d say mediocre. Honestly, don’t why expectations are so low. A pitcher is credited with a quality start for 6 innings allowing fewer than 3 runs. That’s a pitiful 4.50 ERA. Hardly quality.
Bone4233
Cardinals
snotrocket
They already sold
baseballpun
They really raised the white flag when they let Tyler Lyons go.
bighiggy
Hahaha
cards81
Please explain how the cardinals sold?
thegreatcerealfamine
Pham…
nymetsking
When a MLB team trades MLB talent for prospects, that’s called “selling,” the past tense of which is “sold.”
baseballpun
You’re overvaluing Pham’s impact on the team.
cards81
Lol they traded Pham because there were two players…Bader and Oniell, (in which if you watched last nights game you would understand this) ….that were better than pham and ready to play…they didn’t trade pham because of a prospect haul…they traded him to make room for better players that were on the team….that is not selling…they made the team better when they traded pham….that is not selling…that is making your team better
CardsNation5
Cards81, Super facts
baseballpun
They’d have to really make up some ground over the course of August, otherwise they’ll just make him an offer in free agency, if they even think he’s worth it anymore.
stan lee the manly
Most of their games in August are against the wild card teams above them and sub 500 teams, so the schedule is in their favor to do that. The new bullpen has been much better so far, so we will see if that’s enough to vault them over a couple of teams and get them within striking distance for September.
c1234
The Cardinals did not put out the white flag, okay? Besides that point I don’t think Donaldson is going anywhere. I don’t believe in august trades
Joe Kerr
What is there to not believe? They happen, plain and simple. They are more difficult but they do happen. Verlander was traded in August to Houston just last year. I would say that worked out quite well for them.
Chewbacca
“I don’t believe in August trades.”
what a weird thing to say.
acmeants
Right, as in Verlander to the Astros last season.
Skin Blues
I don’t know why the Cardinals always get mentioned in Donaldson rumours. They already have Carpenter, Gyorko, Wong, and Martinez to share 1B/2B/3B, why would they need Donaldson? 5 guys sharing 3 positions makes no sense. Not to mention Yairo Munoz. Their playoff odds have also fallen below 10%. Can’t see them adding anybody.
c1234
I agree they don’t need Donaldson it doesn’t make sense. But what’s up with the playoff percentages? Teams can go on streaks.. makes no sense
TheBoatmen
Can a team like the Orioles or Rays put in a claim and choose not to make a trade simply to slow down the Jays rebuild?
66TheNumberOfTheBest
Happens all the time.
timm-2
Yes at the risk of the jays not revoking the waiver and this sending Donaldson and his remaining salary to them. This happened with canseco to the Yankees several years ago.
TheBoatmen
Although not much of a risk knowing the Jays would rather give him a QO next year and get compensated that way.
nymetsking
Unless they don’t think he’d be worth 17+ mil and that he’d accept.
Solaris601
I think Donaldson jumps all over the QO at this point. We’d all love to believe he’s coming back this month as vintage Donaldson, but based on the way the first 4 months of the season have gone I’d be surprised.
TheBoatmen
17M would be worth it to them just to trade him for the prospects after.
SoCalBrave
not if he continues to be hurt and does not return to form.
jdgoat
If he accepts the QO they’d be ecstatic. 17 million is definitely a gamble I’d take if it allows them a shot at a potential difference maker.
jimmertee
On this one JD we agree 100%.
its_happening
Yep. Agreed JD.
deadline63
I believe if the O’s/Rays claim him and no trade can be made, the Jays can simply let the claim go through and the O’s/Rays would be on hook for remaining contract. So the Jays get no prospects back but are out of a big contract.
MrStealYoBase
I don’t think they do that since the draft pick compensation is better than not paying that contact down.
Yarpyarp
zero chance
66TheNumberOfTheBest
What about the Mariners?
They could use him at DH and 1B so he wouldn’t have to play 3B and unlike Cano, he’d be playoff eligible. They have the money to eat his contract.
sacko
Is it possible to offload a contract (Martin or Morales) with Donaldson for a mid-level prospect? Once they are passed through of course. To me it sounds like a good ploy but is that realistic?
Yarpyarp
to be honest I think it might be possible to unload Morales but I think Martin is very doubtful
SoCalBrave
Right now, Donaldson by himself may get you a mid level prospect and nothing more. He needs to get back on the field and perform at a high level, but time is running out.
downsr30
This has the Indians written all over it.
longlivethechief
Agreed. If healthy I think they’d love to pull that off. And they have a good position in the waiver wire to do it.
MrStealYoBase
Totally agree. I think this could push them up to AL favorites if he plays even at 80% of his old self and Miller returns to form.
yankeesarethebest
1/6.5million deal if lucky.
MrStealYoBase
He’ll get a Moustakas type deal. Some decent money for a guaranteed year and an option for year two.
metseventually 2
Wait, he’d go from 23 to 6.5? I don’t think so.
Solaris601
Who’s gonna be willing to go $20M+ per year even on a 1-year deal after seeing his injury-marred 2018 play out? Donaldson may not want to take $6.5M, but if that’s all he’s offered he won’t have much choice.
Yarpyarp
every team in MLB. have you watched him play ever? Geez
stan lee the manly
May be worth a look by St. Louis if he gets through enough teams. They are going to need to address the left side of their infield if they want to compete the rest of this year and next year, so this would present a fairly low cost (albeit high risk) option.
cxcx
Prime target for the Brewers.
stan lee the manly
They already have more infielders than spots after acquiring both Moose and Schoop, where could he possibly fit on that team?
MrStealYoBase
They already added two infielders?
Besides that’s only possible if all the AL contenders pass and that just isn’t going to happen.
stan lee the manly
They already have more infielders than spots after acquiring Moose and Schoop, where could he possibly fit on that team?
thecoffinnail
Agreed. 2 starting 3rd basemen isn’t enough. 3 is definitely what they need.
MrStealYoBase
Everyone talking about NL teams going for him should remember that that’s only possible if every AL contender passes first. Don’t see that happening. My money is on the Indians as it stands.
stan lee the manly
Maybe, but that would be a lot of money for them to take on if it comes to that for a guy that is such a high risk health wise, they may balk at the price. You gotta think someone will do it though so it will be interesting to see where he ends up
Solaris601
I think the Tribe will swallow hard and take on that $7M. That decision would be a whole lot easier if they’d found a taker for Kipnis, but these days you have to package a top prospect with an albatross to get them off your payroll (like the Giants did with Austin Jackson). Kipnis will just have to be a $15M bench piece if Donaldson comes aboard.
bleacherbum
The Padres are going to be a sneaky play for Donaldson in the offseason. Villanueva is a flash in the pan, can only hit LHP, and he defense albeit it’s gotten better, still is a work in progress.
I’ve heard Hosmer talk about his relationship with Donaldson and they are pretty tight. They both rely heavily on the rubber band technique, for those who aren’t aware YouTube Eric Hosmer takes swings with Sean Casey in spring training 18’. Maybe the Padres can get him on a 2 year deal similar to the one Moustakas signed with the Royals.
Just an idea to keep an eye on.
thegreatcerealfamine
This guy is not gonna be the cornerstone people (including himself) once thought he’d be, due to injuries and age. The only thing he should get back is a couple of middling prospects, but they’ll be someone dumb enough to go over that. This off season someone should give him a 1-year contract, but again someone will go for more years.
JaysForDays
The better question is…. when do the jays put him on waivers? At first opportunity before he’s proven healthy to try to sneak him thru waivers? Or after he’s shown he has value again incase hes claimed right away and needs to be dealt within 48 hrs. It’s a double edged sword.
stan lee the manly
My guess is as soon as possible. You would think his reputation alone would be enough for someone to take a flyer on him
bleacherbum
Yeah, and for that reason someone will. He is a guy that can put a team on his back for weeks at a time when he gets hot.
He is the closest thing to the real life version of Jack Parkman that we have in the game right now. That’s why some love him and some hate him.
JaysForDays
Right. My thoughts were put him on right away…1st game off dl so that you limit the likelihood that another team claims him to block a potential trade elsewhere. If they wait and he’s healthy, no chance he goes thru unclaimed. May still not happen, which would keep his value super low to the 1 team making the claim.
stan lee the manly
Plus the longer you wait, this higher the risk of a recurring/additional injury crops up. Because he spent 60 days on the DL, he can even be put on waivers the day he starts rehab, so I personally would post him the second he starts his first rehab game
CJCue
His career is done. He’ll bounce around for a few more yrs. But he’ll never be a major threat again. You see it time and time again with these guys who bust out in their late 20’s. Their run of success is rarely long.
thegreatcerealfamine
Depends on what they’re willing to take. Might want to reach out to Colon.
its_happening
Keep him, QO him and then offer a 2-yr deal plus an option. Then deal Smoak to a team needed a 1B (Minnesota, maybe?), Donaldson goes to 1B/DH to open 3B for Vlad Jr in mid-April next year.
The time to deal JD was 2017. They didn’t. He’s still beloved in Toronto. Keep him around and maybe he can be a mentor to Vlad.
TheBoatmen
I think this is the most likely option except I think Vlad will end up at first and JD at third. JD will be more marketable as a 3B. Ultimately Vlad will end up at first at some points but anyways.
its_happening
Doubtful, Boatmen. Only because JD’s shoulder has become a question mark. Plus the calf. If not for those two issues, I would agree. More likely Vlad moves to LF than 1B at this present time. The Jays will want to prolong Donaldson’s time in the lineup for a potential trade at the 2019 deadline.
jimmertee
Amen been saying that or putting Tulo over at first for 2 years now. When the Jays didn’t trade Donaldson in 2017 as called, they blew it bigtime. It had to do with not correctly assessing the correct poor overall caibre of the club.
Ross Atkins has to go.
its_happening
Jimmer it will be difficult to play Tulo at first base when he’s on the DL. That said, once he is healthy the Jays will have to sort out where he will play. 3B could be an option, depending on his foot, as his arm and glove is still solid. Foot speed is what prevents him from being an elite defending SS.
I want a GM that is willing to back the brinks truck up for Harper. Deal Grichuk, deal Teoscar, do not care. Jays payroll should be at least $180 next year with JD, Harper and Vlad in the middle of your order. Harper (and Machado) are young enough to make a legitimate longterm deal.
Then the Jays will need SP. Badly. Either by a signing or trades. Nothing but pitching. That would allow the Atkins “we’re not rebuilding” rhetoric to ring true.
jimmertee
I would like to see that type of a rebuild. Dombrowski and Cashman would push for it. I am not sure Shapiro or Atkins are strong enough. The new Rogers CEO wants to focus on core assets and he doesn;’t see the Jays as part of that.
He wants the $billion+ that would come from a sale of the team. Therefore salaries are kept low; term on deals is low, minor league building is emphasized etc etc….
its_happening
Good luck on finding a buyer, Rogers.
jimmertee
I think that Donaldson is parked here. Given the current regimes obsessive compulsive disorder about the minor league system and drafting, it’s a given he is here for a draft pick or here because they can’t get anything for him.
They will evaulate all trade considerations against the lens of a compensation pick, which means to them he stays.
I’ll put one caveat on my projection, that is he comes back in AUgust and is immediately superstar level again and tradeable. But that is a longshot and not likely.
sufferforsnakes
My guess on how things will play out for him?
He’ll come back, play a few games, then get hurt again. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before…..
majorflaw
“The Cleveland organization presently sits 3.5 games behind the Mariners and A’s . . . “
That’s an unusual way of presenting things, Jeff. Cleveland isn’t competing against Seattle or Oakland for anything atm. Nor will they until and unless one of those two teams 1) wins the WC game, and 2) wins their Division series.
While what you say is factually correct, Cleveland’s record is 3.5 games worse than the other two teams, it isn’t clear that Cleveland is “behind” those teams in any meaningful way. As a division winner Cleveland would always host the division and LC series vs. a wild card team. It wouldn’t appear to make the slightest difference whether Cleveland wins its division with a record twenty games better or worse than the wild card team. Am I missing something?
stan lee the manly
Yes, he is pointing out that because of their worse record, they would be able to claim Donaldson before either the Mariners or the A’s. So in relation to waiver claims, they are essentially “3.5 games ahead” of these two teams for a Donaldson trade.
majorflaw
Ah. Thanks.
Journalist Benge
What would be the team of best fit for Donaldson come free agency?
julyn82001
Josh is a tremendous player with lots of tools to provide to any team willing team take a chance on him. He was just great with the A’s…
bradthebluefish
QO Donaldson or try to trade him in August. That’s the only two options. Personally, I’d rather QO him and hope it hurts his market enough that the Blue Jays can get a discount for his services.
KD17
If you are a Blue Jays fan why would you want Donaldson back next year at any cost? Vlad Jr. is the future and I’m guessing the only way Donaldson comes back is if he’s happy being a DH or 1B because his days in Toronto at 3B are pretty much over. I love Donaldson and I think he will make a comeback but he’ll make it at 3B with some other team next year. If you look at the big Market or contending teams … The Red Sox like Devers but should consider Donaldson since Devers can’t field. The Yankees are in a similar situation with Andujar. The Astros have Bregman. Seattle has Seager. Oakland has Chapman, Cubs have Bryant, Nats have Rendon, Dodgers have Turner, Milwaukee has Moustakas and Shaw, Atlanta could use Donaldson, Philadelphia might consider Donaldson over Franco, SF has Longo so they might want him and Arizona has Lamb whose been hurt allot and can’t hit lefties so they might want him. That leaves Cleveland and Jeff suggested a workable situation for them.
Next year, there will be a market for Donaldson. This year, there aren’t too many places that make sense except Atlanta, Cleveland, Phillie and Arizona. When he comes back his running will be the key because his hitting will be there if he is healthy despite his average this year. He wasn’t healthy. He is a top 10 player when healthy with a MVP to prove it. It would be a huge risk so the team that takes it will need to be borderline getting into the playoffs and looking for something to push them past their close competitors. Cleveland doesn’t fit that profile as well as Atlanta, Philly and Arizona but they may be wanting him to get by Houston in the first round so it’s a reasonable hypothesis that they take a chance on getting him.
Jeff …. Good stuff!!
its_happening
Why would a Jays fan want Donaldson back next year?
1 – If he were to return and remain healthy, the team would net a better return in a trade.
2 – Who better to mentor Vlad Jr at 3B than Donaldson? If the Jays were smart they’d have Vlad play 3B and Donaldson moves to 1B. I would trade Smoak in the offseason as he has value.
3 – Donaldson is a fan favourite. He will sell merchandise. From a business perspective, re-signing him is a good thing.
4 – Can his value get any worse at this point? May as well try and keep him around as clubhouse presence. It’s a gamble worth taking when your team is going nowhere next year.
5 – Conceivably, Jays could be in the mix for Bryce Harper. They probably won’t be serious about it, but they have the capital and the room to spend. With Martin and Morales coming off the books after 2019 they’ll be in-line for another splash signing while Vlad and Bichette have reached the big leagues.
6- A simple thank you from the fans and organization for putting the team on his back many, many times.
baseballguru
2JD’s on the same team. Come snag a Ring in Beantown Big guy! Go Sox!