Thanks to the latest injury setback, the Toronto Blue Jays may not be able to trade Josh Donaldson by the July 31st deadline
Some guys excel in their contract year. Others have a tougher time than that. Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson belongs in the latter category. Josh Donaldson has had nothing but injury woes all season long, and they are just getting worse.
Donaldson has suffered another setback in rehabbing his calf injury and will be reevaluated in three weeks.
"“The previous week, we thought there was a chance [he was ready to come off the DL],” manager John Gibbons said. “He was moving along, and then something happens. What are you going to do? It’s been a frustrating year for him. He’s hanging in there OK, considering, but he’s frustrated.”"
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The 32-year old former MVP has played in just 36 games, hitting .234 with a .757 OPS, five homers and 16 RBI.
That three-week timetable is just before the All-Star game, meaning he may not even get back into a game until after the Midsummer Classic.
That will positively impact his trade value, as not many contenders need a third baseman and other players like Adrian Beltre and Mike Moustakas will undoubtedly be available.
This could mean that Donaldson is more of a trade target come the August 31 waiver deadline for a club. Maybe a team wants a veteran bat to help their club as a DH or off the bench. Maybe a club suffers an injury at third a needs another bat.
Donaldson has played five games at first base in his career, maybe that’s something he can add to his skillset with the issues throwing he has had in the past.
No one is going to want to give up anything of value for an injured player, so Donaldson is going to have to prove himself before the Toronto Blue Jays can move him.
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For the Toronto Blue Jays, Josh Donaldson’s best asset is him getting healthy and then trying to get something for him, either for July 31 or in August. However, with this latest setback, it may be that the club can’t get anything for him until August.