Atlanta Braves sign Josh Donaldson
The former American League MVP will be heading to the National League to reunite with his former general manager and the Atlanta Braves, according to multiple sources.
According to Steve Phillips of TSN, Josh Donaldson, who recently played for the Cleveland Indians, is heading to Atlanta on a one-year contract. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic quickly added that the deal is worth a reported $23 million.
With this, one of the most puzzling free agents is being grabbed off the market. Though Donaldson, 32, had a bit of a down year, slashing a measly .246/.352/.449, he still managed to secure a deal with a good amount of money, despite the lack of longevity within the deal.
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Now, the enigmatic Donaldson will return to play for Alex Anthopoulos, the general manager who brought him to Toronto from the Oakland Athletics just four short years ago. After a troubling and somewhat confusing tenure with the Blue Jays, Donaldson was dealt to the Indians, where he limped to the end of the season and reluctantly primed himself for free agency. He was previously connected to the St. Louis Cardinals before reportedly signing this deal.
The Atlanta Braves, an exciting, young team, add some veteran presence to their youthful locker room, as Donaldson, a veteran of seven big league seasons, has appeared in over 850 big league games. In addition, he’s a career .275 hitter, and a three-time American League All-Star.
It remains to be seen just how Donaldson will be used, though, with no designated hitter position in the National League, he’ll likely the bulk of his innings at the hot corner, while also occasionally filling in at first base. He’ll also be just another dominant bat to add to an already devastating Braves offense.
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More details about the nature of the contract, including incentives and a potential option, should become available soon.