Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson announced this morning that he went for an MRI on his ailing right hamstring (relayed by Bryan Hoch of MLB.com). Specifics of the injury still aren’t clear, though he’s being shut down for an indeterminate period of time.
It’s a disappointing setback for a player who was initially expected to return to the majors this week. The Yankees sent Donaldson on a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset yesterday. He took three plate appearances but apparently felt renewed discomfort. Manager Aaron Boone told reporters last night that Donaldson was still experiencing some hamstring tightness (via Chris Kirschner of the Athletic).
Donaldson has been out since April 6. He’s gotten into only five games this year. While he’s been out, the Yankees have given the majority of the third base reps to DJ LeMahieu. Utility players Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Oswaldo Cabrera have also gotten some action, but they’ve each seen more playing time in the outfield in the early going. Donaldson is hoping to get back on track after a down first season in the Bronx, in which he hit only .222/.308/.374 across 546 plate appearances.
In other Yankees’ injury news, the club announced that offseason pickup Carlos Rodón is still being bothered by back soreness. He started the year on the 15-day injured list with a forearm strain, but it’s now the back that seems to be giving him trouble. Boone called the issue a “minor, nagging thing” this evening (relayed by Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News).
Meanwhile, Boone pegged the hopeful recovery timeline on Giancarlo Stanton at six weeks last night (Kirschner link). Stanton suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain over the weekend; initial reports pegged the absence at four to six weeks, but it seems the longer end of that timetable is likely.
The Donaldson trade isn’t going to end well for the Yanks
Didn’t start well either.
Like the other 7 teams regretting him
I say the A’s, the Jays and even the Twins had no regrets with having him.
Cubs regret trading him back then and the Yankee fans regret getting him from the Twins but that is the past.
He was good with the A’s and Jays.
Those days are long over with.
It’s bad juju wishing ill on any1 but I bet there’s many happy yankees fans right now … the ol pulled hamstring
I remember Rafael. Kate 70s early 80s.
The one foul ball I ever caught at an MLB game was hit by Rafael Landestoy
Saw em pinch hit late in gm @Dodger stdm n he won it w/rbi single, fleeting moments frm our youth lol
I remember Rafael. Late 70s early 80s.
Yes, hopefully that hamstring is like a guitar string. I’m ok with a combo of DJ/IKF playing 3rd for the rest of the year. Bye Bye, Donny.
I don’t wish him ill.
I just wish him gone.
Cashman was never good at making trades.
I wouldn’t say that’s accurate.
He’s had a bad run recently, but he made quite a few good ones.
Just think back to getting Wandy for Tauchmann, for example.
The 2017 trade that brought us DRob, Kahnle, and Todd Frazier was genius.
There are quite a few good ones on his résumé.
The JD one was a flop but he didn’t give up much. Flipping Chapman for Gleyber was really good. Also bullpen building.
He’s been terrible lately.
Since he ran Gerardi out of town.
Nobody cares about Josh Donaldsuck. He’s been washed up since he signed with the Twinkies
*got traded to
Donaldsuck signed with the Twins. He was never traded to them. If that’s what your comment means that is.
He doesn’t like people that R different than him … needs a hug n alota work on that long flail he calls a swing
“We appreciate what Gio has done, but he’s not Josh Donaldson.”
Brian Cashman (glol)
that quote is aging about as well as josh donaldson
Gio was better then.
Gio is better now.
Trade Cashman.
.261???? I wish he hit .261 last year.
.261???? I wish he hit .261 last year…
IKF is the perpetrator of that crappy slash line.
The slash line attributed to Donaldson actually belonged to IKF.
take as long as you need, josh. really. there’s absolutely no rush. maybe take the rest of the year to recover
In this space was my comment made earlier in this thread and excised by some nameless, faceless moderator.
*you let someone make a comment and when I called him on it, my challenge was removed. But truth crushed to earth will rise again.
Call the whaaaaambulance.
El Mago ?
Totally wrong stats on Donaldson in this article. He was worse – .222 .308 .374 over 546 PAs. The trade was not ideal from the start, but it moved Sanchez out. I do miss Urshela, but I think the Yankees were hoping that between Falefa and Donaldson they would get the same level of defense at 3rd with potentially better production and I think they were hoping Rortvedt would pan out as a ripped left handed hitting catcher.
The Yankees should have just dumped Sanchez. Of course, that would be Cashman admitting he screwed up. So instead he did this nonsensical albatross nightmarish trade, compounding the mess.
Cashman is the smartest guy in the room if the room is empty.
Hurry back Josh, the rest from the teams miss you, especially when they are on the field against the Yankees
Donaldson and Giancarlo both stand at the plate, admire their would-be HRs bounce off the wall, and pop hammies because they’re not used to running anything out.
Get rid of them.
Cashman really traded away a lot of talent in the last calender year. Montgomery , urshela , waldichuk, Hayden wesinski ,sears and a few other decent prospects for
Effross- out for the year
Donaldson – out and awful when plays
Montas – awful and out probably for the season
Bader – played in a dozen games
Ben rortvedt – yet to play a game in the Bronx
Ikf – healthy but virtually useless
Trivino – sadly probably the biggest contributor but out
Benintendi – played 2 weeks then out and signed with the white Sox
Let’s not forget signing rodon and kahnle who have yet to play this year due to injury
It’s amazing this team has a winning record in spite of this array of horrible decisions.