The Brewers have signed Josh Donaldson to a minor league deal, per Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The third baseman will report to Triple-A Nashville. By joining the organization prior to September 1, he will be eligible to play for the Brewers in the postseason.
Donaldson, 37, spent almost a decade one of the best third basemen in the league but has fallen on hard times of late. From 2013 to 2021, he hit 241 home runs and slashed .272/.373/.514 for a wRC+ of 141, indicating he was 41% better than the league average hitter in that time. But after being traded from the Twins to the Yankees prior to 2022, his production started to fall off. Last year, he hit .222/.308/.374 for a wRC+ of 98. His strikeout rate jumped to 27.1%, after being at 19.8% in that aforementioned stretch of excellence.
This year, he has hardly been able to take the field. He has twice gone on the injured list, first due to a right hamstring strain and then a right calf strain, only getting into 34 games on the season. He hit 10 home runs in that time but slashed just .142/.225/.434. He suffered through a tiny .076 batting average on balls in play in that time but his strikeout rate remained high at 26.7%.
He most recent IL stint began in mid-July, meaning he’s been out of action for about six weeks at this point. He was ramping up lately and nearing a rehab assignment but the Yankees released him earlier this week, giving him a chance to catch on elsewhere as they use the remainder of their lost season to get a look at younger players. Donaldson has now found that new chance with the Brewers.
Milwaukee has been using Andruw Monasterio as its primary third baseman in recent months, but he has cooled off lately. He was hitting .288/.369/.410 through August 14 but just .149/.216/.149 in his past 13 games. Brian Anderson has also seen some time at the hot corner but has experienced a similar cooldown. He was hitting .229/.317/.373 when he landed on the injured list in July due to a lower back strain. Since returning earlier this month, he’s hit just .150/.190/.250. Donaldson could also possibly nudge Carlos Santana, who has hit .219/.281/.419 since being acquired by the Brewers, from some time as the designated hitter.
Perhaps the Brewers will add Donaldson to their roster and try to catch lightning in a bottle to improve their output at third. Donaldson’s overall results haven’t been great but he’s still been good on defense and he won’t be able to sustain that tiny BABIP going forward. Active rosters expand from 26 to 28 tomorrow but Donaldson will need a 40-man spot if the Brewers decide to add him. Since he was set to go on a rehab assignment anyway, perhaps he goes to Nashville for a few days to get back into game shape.
The Brewers are currently atop the National League Central but the Cubs and Reds are within three and six games, respectively. For now, they are taking a no-risk look at Donaldson to see what form he’s in and if he can help them with their playoff push or maybe in the playoffs themselves. If they add him to the roster at any point, they will only owe him the prorated league minimum, since the Yanks are on the hook for the majority of what remains of his contract by releasing him.
Good move worth the minimal risk involved.
Absolutely. It’s hard to be mad at a minor league deal in most cases.
If he shows any sign of still having some pop at the Triple A level, his bat is worth it for the playoffs push.
Sorry acoss13, if he is not added to the active roster by midnight he is not eligible for the playoffs!!!
last sentence in the write up as of now
“By joining the organization prior to September 1, he will be eligible to play for the Brewers in the postseason.”
So is this MLBTR article wrong? Maybe he just has to be added to the 40 man?
Right didn’t think about that thanks jaysfansince1977!
I guess this will just be a showcase to other teams, and maybe the Brewers, for an offseason deal.
@jaysfan, is it added to the active roster, or just added the to 40 man roster for playoffs? Because if it’s 40 man, they can still send him down.
Has to be on 40 man roster by midnight tonight to be eligible for playoff roster.
perhaps Darragh got it wrong??? Or i could be wrong (which is highly unlikely LOL) Thought i was wrong once, turned out i was mistaken!!!!
He signed a minor league contract that does not put him on the 40 man roster.
Well, that’s not true
I need to correct eariler post: he can be added to 40 man anytime in September and still be post season eligible, as long as he is under contract by midnight tonight. So I dont think they necessarily have to add him to 40 man yet today, but they still might. Question is who gets bumped, or do they maneuver players on IL? Either way, he is eligible for post season roster even on a minor league deal. Whether they want him on the playoff roster is a whole different question. Seems a bit of a stretch to me, but who knows, maybe he finds a groove in aaa.
Players have to be in the organization, not on the 40-man roster, to be eligible for the playoffs.
I believe the Brewers have 1 open spot on the 4o man due to designating Bennett Sousa last week. Donaldson can be added at anytime. If Gasser ends up being the starter on Saturday I would suspect they would move Mejia to the 60 Day DL.
Steven that is correct. Being in the minor leagues counts as being in the organization.
More likely they’ll call up Rea or activate Teheran than add Gasser.
I read the first paragraph of the article and actually thought it was pretty clear. Then I started reading comments and was like wtf? I wasn’t even sure if water is wet anymore…
They have to be on the 40 man, or the 60 day. If they are not on either they can only be added if you file with the commissioner for a exemption. Does anybody even bother Googling something when unsure? If they have been suspended for peds they are not eligible.
Well, according to Steve Adams (I assume he’s not the NBA player) who runs this site, they can get an exception if there’s an injury to be on the postseason roster (he replied to a comment below with that info).
Also was mentioned IN THE ARTICLE that by ‘joining the organization prior to September 1 he is eligible for the postseason.’ So I’m wondering why there was so much confusion in the first place..and continues to be.
He has the pop he’s hit 10 bombs in 40 games. But that might be all he has.
I’ve been reading that the Brewers need an overpaid injured guy.
that may be the case but Brewers have multiple guys batting around the mendoza , so adding a former mvp can’t hurt
If dunderheaded GM hadn’t traded Luis Urias to the Red Sox, there would be no need for this scrub derelict Donaldson…what a malfeasance!!!!
Your name says all anyone needs to know about you.
Urias time was done in Milwaukee. He failed every opportunity he had to play full time.
I was being sarcastic but Thanks, that’s why I chose the name.
You shouldn’t be sarcastic if you are going to be so bad at it.
Not my fault if you’re too dumb to understand sarcasm.
I understand sarcasm fine. It’s only when it’s executed poorly where there’s a problem. So, again, don’t try sarcasm if you are crap at it.
Wow that was fast! Surprising move by the Brewers, we’ll see how it works out for JD!
Well, that is that!!
And as I said, Slim left town
How funny would it have been if he signed with the white sox
As a White Sox fan, considering how dreadful the team is, I wouldn’t mind some awkward moments between him Tim Anderson.
Do they high-five after a homerun, do they fist bump after a win?
Anderson only fist bumps with his jaw
Makes sense for the price.
That’s the only way Donaldson was going to go to the playoffs.
Tribe, he is not going to the playoffs unless the Brewers add him to the active roster before midnight!!!
He doesn’t have to be on active roster by midnight to be eligible for postseason play. If that were true anyone on the IL today couldn’t play in playoffs.
In order for a player to be eligible for a playoff roster, they must be on either the 40-man roster or the 60-day IL by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 31.
No. A player has to be in the organization, not on the 40-man, to be eligible to be on the playoff roster.
Correct the only way they are ineligible is if not in an organization before September 1
Google before answering
It’s the 40 man, not active roster. As stated in the article, he is eligible for the postseason.
He still could be added if there’s a player injured heading into the playoffs.
Also, Donaldson was on the 60-day IL when he was released. He was due to go on a rehab assignment. I wonder if they transfers? Likely not.
Just the 40 man
You are wrong. Only has to be in the organization to be eligible for playoffs.
No you are wrong. Google before you answer if you don’t know geez
He’ll pull a calf getting off the plane
he can add to the trevor rosenthals and justin wilsons of signees that never saw\threw a pitch!
Donaldson 2023 NLCS MVP calling it right here folks , you can tip my Venmo when it comes to fruition
Tear his rotator lifting his suitcase out of the trunk.
And for those Yankee fans who thought a contender wouldn’t sign Donaldson…he’s now in 1st place.
Well, his team is!
Yeah but got to ask what are the Brewers and they’re fans really expecting from Donaldson? Please let me know.
To be honest, nothing. But for a month’s worth of the MLB minimum salary (basically $120K) it’s worth taking a look.
So maybe you’ll get some lightening in a bottle? It’s definitely possible. We’ll see what happens. I wish the Brew Crew and the fans my absolute best.
appreciate the sentiment! looking forward to seeing you giys soon!
Nothing from him. This is a buy low hope for high. Stearns made a career out of it. This is another Trevor Rosenthal deal waiting to happen.
Personally I’m not expecting anything. It’s a minors deal, so if he doesn’t do squat in the little time he’ll have in triple a, he may not even see the light of day on the MLB roster.
And if he hits well enough in the minors to get onto the mlb roster and doesn’t hit? Well he’s only the pro rated amount of league minimum for the time he’ll be there, so all it’d cost us is a roster spot where he’d just replace someone else who wasn’t hitting either.
Another Brewer signing of a typical Counsell type guy. What a waste of time and space. Canha, Donaldson, Frelick, Tellez, and O.Miller are Counsell’s idea of a “Murderer’s Row.”
They scored 12 last night. But may not get a hit tonight!! It’s a roller coaster offense. Those have Stearns and now Arnold stamp all over them.
They can add him to the 40 man and he can still he in the minors. We don’t know of they added him already or not based on this article
“He looks like a plucked chicken” on a thread someone commented on the other day is the single funniest thing I’ve heard in a while. He really does look like one and he acts like a petulant little brat. Who wouldn’t want him?
2 Homers this weekend against the Phillies
But goes 2 for 12 with 7 strikeouts and only 2 RBIs leaving 8 runners in scoring position and ground into a double play for good measure. Then pulls a calf muscle and is out until the end of the season.
He pulled his calf for good measure.
lol. Excellent context.
And he gets a WS ring for all that. I think he will take that.
But what happened with Cisnero?!
Sure, why no have him on minimal risk but he’s gotta be on the roster in like 4 hours and 15 minutes from now EST TIME
Not really. If he’s in the org by Sept. 1 but not on the 40-man, they just need to petition to the league to add him to the postseason roster in place of an injured player. Teams do it every year. Alex Kirilloff, Shane McClanahan and Adalberto Mondesi made their MLB debuts in the postseason, and they all had their contracts selected during playoff play. You can find multiple examples of veterans signed to minor league deals in late August, selected mid-September, and carried on a postseason roster pretty much every year.
Thanks
You can’t polish a turd or put lipstick on a pig .
U can to put lipstick on a pig: ppl in Kentucky and other southern states been doing it for years lol
Who’s the turd & who’s the pig I’m confused , or are they one in the same?? Hmmm.
Most misunderstood player in the game.
Sorry but just because he’s out of the Bronx he can hit. He’s worse than Rhys Hoskins
I like this for the Brewers
Betcha a $1, Donaldson becomes O’hearn/Hicks 2.0.
New team, New opportunity
For sure
Truth be told, several of Donaldson’s advanced metrics, like hard hit percentage, have been improved this season over 2021 and 2022. Assuming the BABIP corrects at all, he could provide a real jolt. Canha, Adames and Tellez have been showing signs of life recently.
A .067 BABIP is flukishly low. Would I exercise next year’s option had he not been released? No. But he might be a valuable source of power for a Brewers in the playoffs.
He’s not wrong about the hard hit balls though. Out of his 15 hits this year, 10 of them are home runs. The 32 k’s in 120 at bats is seemingly where he’s hurting the most along with BABIP. Essentially he’s making contact, it’s hard contact that’s either right at someone or goes over the fence. Some added luck on the BABIP and a reduction in k’s could at least flip him into a more useful player at least for a hot streak.
Donaldson was money player with the Jays. It was a pleasure to watch him play. He did okay with the Braves too. The only question: Is he done or is there more in the tank?
Look at his stats and you’ll have your answer
this waiver dump period is like a second trade deadline. i wonder if teams will start incorporating this into their deadline strategy (holding off on a trade if they think there’s a chance they can snag similar value off of waivers without giving up prospects)
Or they will do like the Halos and give up the prospects and then give up the players they just acquired for nothing. hehe
This wasn’t a waiver claim though. He was already released by New York, which everyone, especially New York fans, felt was overdue. He was already released and free to sign with any team. He just happened to sign at the same time as the people had been claimed, but for the same reason. To be on a contenders roster before September 1st for a chance to make the playoff roster, if he’s even able to crack the MLB roster.
If he can just partially find it again and get league average production from the bat for another month plus, and stay healthy, he can have one more glimpse of the best part of baseball. He’s lucky to have one more opportunity. Eventually the game passes them all but he’s got a shot at one last ride.
he’s done and it doesn’t matter which uniform he wears.
Bobby “Thigpen” McKernan
Your comment takes idiotic comment of the year. Congratulations.
Retired/ advisory role
What is it you don’t understand about taking a chance on JD? If he hits he hits, if he doesn’t there is nothing lost on the chance taken. by Milwaukee. How does that equate to “weirdo move”?
It’s a minor league deal. They don’t HAVE to call him up if he looks like junk down there. They’re also getting very little from the 3B position right now, so it’s not like they’d be replacing prime Arenado or something if they do. And he’s costing the mlb equivalent of minimum wage.
Personally I doubt this turns out positively for MKE, but at the same time, unless he commits multiple felonies it’s basically impossible for it to go wrong.
retired/advisory role
I did not answer your question with a question. I am asking you what you do not understand about taking a punt on JD, as this is what you asserted…
It’s not a question per se, I want your clarification on what you’re asserting..
You’ve also asserted it’s a “weirdo move”, how is that a “weirdo move”?
It’s a minor league deal, if it fails there’s nothing lost, there’s nothing weird about that whatsoever, if it succeeds for a while it’s still ok.
JD has had a lot of injuries lately, that’s true, but there’s never anything wrong with a roll of the dice on a veteran player. Good day to you.
He is as white as a sheet.
I see this move as a win win for the Brewers. You add a veteran player with playoff experience for a cheap price. From what I am hearing, it will only cost the Brewers somewhere between $120,000 to $150,000 for the remainder of the year. That is cheap! If it works out great. If it doesn’t, you are not out of anything. The Brewers made a few trades this year where the return back to Milwaukee was cash for the player. Use that money to pay Donalds. Plus, where did all that Disney money go to? Lastly, Milwaukee might be the perfect landing spot for Donalds. Yes, his batting average is terrible right now. However, as most of you know, if you don’t perform right away in New York, it can be fairly brutal The fans are not as forgiving in New York, and a lot of players cannot handle the constant booing. In Milwaukee, Donalds gets a fresh start, with fans that are a little more forgiving.
Is t Josh Donaldson injured? How can he be in the lineup for MIL if he was on the IL for NYY?