Josh Donaldson, 3B, ATL
2018 was an injury-ridden season for Josh Donaldson. Between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Cleveland Indians, the slugger only played in 52 games.
Last offseason, the Braves and Donaldson agreed on a one-year, $23 million deal, the same amount as his previous contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
This was a “prove your worth deal.”
Donaldson certainly proved his worth this season, and he is definitely worth the risk of a multi-year contract. His health is no longer a concern, as he was impactful and healthy this whole season.
In 155 games in 2019, the 33-year-old hit 37 home runs, drove in 94 runs and had a .900 OPS. He was an explosive cleanup hitter for the Braves. It would be dangerous if the Los Angeles Angels batted Donaldson behind Trout. His RBI would certainly rise.
He will be looking for a deal of at least two years and close to the annual salary he made last season. The 2015 AL MVP returned to superstar status after his impressive 2019 campaign. A return to the American League could be realistic since the Angels need another bat and have money to spend.
The Angels can slide David Fletcher over to second base, where he can start. Keeping Fletcher in the lineup is important and his versatility will be beyond valuable. Fletcher’s ability to play multiple positions gives the Angels more flexibility when it comes to signing free agents.