Atlanta Braves
3B, Josh Donaldson
After starting the offseason as one of the most active teams on the FA market — making several moves to reinforce its bullpen as well as re-sign a few MLB free agents– GM Alex Anthopoulos and the Braves have stood idle since late November when they signed catcher Travis d’Arnaud to a two-year, $16 million contract.
Right now the issue is the length of the contract, as Anthopoulos has no interest in giving 34-year-old Donaldson a four-year deal, but considering the team’s current depth chart, the former MVP seems like a no-brainer.
The Braves are in need of not only a competent third baseman but also a cleanup hitter, as Donaldson provided both for the team in 2019, on his one-year, $23 million pillow contract. The risk of a long term commitment to a mid-30s player is nothing to take lightly, but the Braves have no choice.
Given how much Donaldson enjoyed his time as a fan favorite in Atlanta, not to mention his healthy relationship with Anthopoulos, I think he and the Braves make a compromise.
Contract prediction: 3 years, $90 million