The New York Yankees released third baseman Josh Donaldson on Tuesday, following a trying season from the former MVP. In a lost season, the Yankees moved him primarily for roster space, freeing up a spot for a young player to get experience at the big league level.
Prior to tonight’s game, the Yankees released INF Josh Donaldson from the roster.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 29, 2023
Donaldson’s Fall from Grace
Though the Yankees have struggled beyond Donaldson this season, the third baseman has drawn the ire of the fanbase for the past two years. In March 2022, New York traded catcher Gary Sanchez and third baseman Gio Urshela for Donaldson, utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and catcher Ben Rortvedt. Donaldson has slashed .207/.293/.385 in his Yankees career with 25 home runs and 77 RBI. He has been a below-average hitter by OPS+, putting up a 91 mark in 165 games in pinstripes. Donaldson’s steep decline as a Yankee was not unexpected, playing in his 13th primary league season, but it has come more quickly this season. In 120 plate appearances, Donaldson managed a paltry .142 batting average before landing on the 60-day injured list with a right calf strain. He sustained the injury on July 16th, after returning from the IL in June with a right hamstring strain.
A Generationally Disappointing Season
Though Donaldson is not entirely at fault, the 2023 Yankees will go down as an overall failure. At 62-68, New York will likely miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016. They currently face an 11-game deficit in the Wild Card standings and sit 19 games behind the first-place Baltimore Orioles in the American League East. New York is likely headed toward their first losing season since 1992. The root cause of this is the offense. With a strong pitching staff, the Yankees have struggled to run production since Opening Day. Donaldson became one of the faces of those trials, and with his release, the Yankees have taken a step to tear down the roster going into the offseason.
DJ LeMahieu will likely take over the third base spot semi-permanently. However, rookie Oswald Peraza has spent time at third base all season in the minors because of shortstop Anthony Volpe‘s emergence in the starting role. Peraza has put up similar stats to Donaldson in his 25 major league appearances this season, hitting .153 in 72 at-bats. The difference is that Peraza is a young prospect who needs time to adjust to major-league pitching. The youth movement is the most critical factor in the season’s remaining month, and the Donaldson release was a move toward that goal.
Does Donaldson Play Again?
Following his release, the question for Donaldson becomes whether there is a market for his services. Most teams in playoff contention have entrenched players at the hot corner. However, veteran depth is valued highly for a reason. The division rival Toronto Blue Jays have struggled with infield injuries over the last six weeks and placed third baseman Matt Chapman on the IL on Monday. Despite a few teams in need, it’s still being determined whether Donaldson will be coveted, given his struggles. Overall, this could mark an abrupt end to a once-high-flying career for the three-time All-Star. Donaldson won the AL MVP in 2015 with the Blue Jays.
Main Photo Credits: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
