Toronto Blue Jays looking to trade Josh Donaldson when healthy

The Toronto Blue Jays are hoping that they can make one more deal in the coming weeks as Josh Donaldson is nearing a rehab assignment.

In the days leading up to the trade deadline, Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson was one of the hotter names on the market. The Blue Jays were essentially dead in the water, and had waved the white flag on 2018. Donaldson, with his power bat and track record, was expected to be quite the prize at the deadline.

That would not come to pass. The Blue Jays third baseman suffered a calf injury at the end of May, and has not suited up for a game since. As the deadline drifted closer, and eventually passed, Donaldson had still not returned to the diamond. Toronto had seemingly missed the boat on being able to get anything for him.

However, the Blue Jays have not given up hope that they can get something for Donaldson after all. As he is about to start his rehab in the coming days, the Blue Jays are hoping to find a taker now that he is getting closer to a return.

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Toronto may not get the return they had been hoping for, even if they were to be able to trade Donaldson. Even though he is getting closer to a rehab assignment, it has still been close to three months since he was in the lineup. This is not likely to be a quick return to the majors, as Donaldson will need to work his way back to being major league ready.

Even if his rehab progresses at an accelerated pace, Donaldson was not exactly playing to his accustomed level prior to his injury. In his 159 plate appearances over 36 games, he produced a .234/.333/.423 batting line, hitting five homers and 11 doubles. His 107 OPS+ is his lowest mark since 2012, when he broke into the majors to stay.

There is a chance that Donaldson could return to form. If he gets hot and becomes the player he was over the past five years, he could be a difference maker. But does he have enough time left to become that player once again?

The other problem with trading Donaldson comes from a probable lack of a market. Of the teams that are realistically in the postseason picture, only the Red Sox and Phillies could potentially use a third baseman. And yet, even those two teams may not have such a desperate need. Maikel Franco has been better since the All Star Break, producing a .307/.333/.545 batting line with seven homers in 105 plate appearances. Rafael Devers may be on the disabled list for the Red Sox, but Brock Holt and Eduardo Nunez could hold the fort down until he returns. Donaldson could be a fit there, but Boston resisted making a deal back in July when Devers was scuffling.

The Toronto Blue Jays are still holding out hope that they can deal Josh Donaldson. The problem is, there is not much of a market for his services, even if he does start his rehab assignment soon.