Washington Nationals should stay away from Josh Donaldson

Free agent third baseman Josh Donaldson is still a solid ballplayer, but probably not the best match for the world champion Washington Nationals.

Josh Donaldson – when healthy – is still a very good baseball player. That doesn’t mean he’s the right fit for the Washington Nationals.

The World Series champion Nats are facing the possible departure of All-Star third baseman Anthony Rendon. Reports indicate that Washington’s front office has expressed interest in adding Donaldson should Rendon sign elsewhere.

On the surface, Donaldson seems like a logical replacement. He had a surprisingly strong, healthy season on a big one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves, who won the NL East before fizzling out in October. The Nats not only won it all, but did so with key contributions from a pair of former Braves signed last off-season: Kurt Suzuki and Aníbal Sánchez.

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Some believe the Washington Nationals improved by bidding farewell to the suddenly low average, high strikeout bat of Bryce Harper. More importantly, Harper’s absence from the clubhouse might have enhanced team chemistry. Donaldson not only shares some of the same traits as Harper, but is six years older and far more injury prone.

Donaldson’s 37 home runs and 155 games played in 2019 were tied for his highest marks since the third baseman’s MVP-winning 2015 season with the Toronto Blue Jays. His 94 RBIs and 100 walks were Donaldson’s best since that banner year. He also played mostly stellar defense.

On the other hand, Donaldson’s 155 strikeouts were by far the most of his career. He never hit below .270 in Toronto until his injury-riddled final half-season there, yet managed only a .259 clip with the Braves. Donaldson also struggled in the postseason, hitting just .158 with 3 RBIs in five games as Atlanta’s cleanup hitter.

Last Spring Training, Donaldson asked a reporter “Have you ever seen the back of my baseball card?” in response to a question about his then-recent struggles. Some Donaldson fans call that “swagger,” while some – including yours truly – thought it displayed arrogance. This past July, Donaldson also ignited a near-brawl with the Pittsburgh Pirates over what seemed like a clearly accidental hit-by-pitch.

Some love Donaldson’s style of play while others don’t. What’s not debatable are the clear similarities to Harper. After failing to win a playoff series with Harper in the locker room, the Nats immediately won all three following his departure. Why turn around and add a similar personality and offensive player who’s also much older?

No third baseman in baseball would be an improvement over Rendon. At the same time, the Nationals would have plenty of options until the arrival of stud infield prospects Luis Garcia and Carter Kieboom, the latter of whom might be ready right now.

While Mike Moustakas is the next biggest name, the best choice might be Starlin Castro, who had a solid 2019 season on a very bad Miami Marlins team. The 29-year-old infielder played all 162 games this past year, including 45 at third base. His ability to move between second and third could allow the Nats to try Kieboom at both positions, while also bringing back either Asdrúbal Cabrera or postseason hero Howie Kendrick.

Of course, all Washington Nationals fans are hoping for the return of Anthony Rendon. If they end up with Josh Donaldson instead, it might represent a championship team pushing the panic button instead of avoiding an unnecessary risk.