Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Sources: Twins land Donaldson for 4 years, $92M

Written by 
Published in Baseball
Tuesday, 14 January 2020 16:59

Third baseman Josh Donaldson has agreed to a four-year deal with the Minnesota Twins, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.

It will pay him $84 million over the first four years and includes a $16 million club option with an $8 million buyout. In total, the deal includes $92 million in guaranteed money, with a chance to increase to $104 million in value if Donaldson hits escalators on the option.

Donaldson, 34, is a three-time All-Star and the 2015 American League MVP. He rebounded from two straight injury-riddled seasons to hit .259 with 37 homers and 94 RBIs in 155 games for the Atlanta Braves last season.

He was a National League Gold Glove Award finalist at third base and fit into a powerful middle-of-the-lineup trio with Freddie Freeman and Ronald Acuna Jr. that combined for 116 home runs and helped propel the Braves to their second straight NL East title.

Donaldson, who grew up in Alabama as a Braves fan, earned $23 million on a one-year contract last season that gave him a chance to show that he was healthy and back to near-MVP form, setting him up for a much more lucrative payday in the current free-agent market.

The slugging third baseman won his MVP award in 2015 after hitting 41 homers and leading the majors with 122 runs and topping the AL with 123 RBIs in his first year with the Toronto Blue Jays after arriving from the Oakland Athletics in a blockbuster 2014 trade. He hit .297 with 41 doubles to help the Blue Jays reach the playoffs for the first time since they won consecutive World Series in 1992 and '93.

Although Donaldson followed that with two more seasons of 30-plus home runs, a hip injury in 2016 and a strained right calf in 2017 cut into his production. During the 2018 season, Donaldson was limited to 52 games due to shoulder inflammation and more calf issues, hitting .246 with eight homers and 23 RBIs. He was dealt to the Cleveland Indians on Aug. 31 and played 16 games, enough to persuade the Braves that he was fully recovered from his health issues.

Donaldson spent the first four years of his career with the Athletics and is a career .273 hitter.

After striking out on the top-tier starting pitchers on the market, settling for bargain-rate deals with Homer Bailey and Rich Hill, the AL Central champion Twins decided instead to double down on their offense.

The Twins set a major league record with 307 home runs last season on the way to the division title and were second in baseball with 939 runs behind the New York Yankees, who swept them in the AL Division Series.

Donaldson will give the Twins a sixth 30-home run hitter from last season, one of two with designated hitter Nelson Cruz who've topped the 40-homer mark at some point in their career. Cruz went deep 41 times last season, his fourth such time meeting that milestone.

The Twins made a big impression on Donaldson in their pitch meeting, sources told Passan, and Donaldson's connection with manager Rocco Baldelli was immediate and strong.

The acquisition of Donaldson will allow the Twins to move third baseman Miguel Sano across the diamond to the opposite corner. Sano has a powerful arm and is agile for his size, but the 26-year-old slugger who's listed at 6-foot-4 and 272 pounds ought to be better suited for the long term at first base.

Sano was at Target Field on Tuesday to finalize a three-year, $30 million contract and told reporters he was more than willing to switch spots, noting he's worked out at both positions during the offseason. The Twins created a vacancy at first base by not tendering a contract to C.J. Cron, who hit 25 homers in 125 games in 2019 but was hampered by a thumb injury that required offseason surgery. Cron signed with division rival Detroit.

MLB Network first reported Donaldson's agreement with Minnesota.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Read 292 times

Soccer

Ronaldo's $260m tops Forbes highest-paid list

Ronaldo's $260m tops Forbes highest-paid list

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCristiano Ronaldo topped Forbes' list of highest-paid athletes for...

Kanté in France's Euro squad despite Saudi move

Kanté in France's Euro squad despite Saudi move

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFrance coach Didier Deschamps included midfielder N'Golo Kanté in h...

Marsch: Wasn't treated well in USMNT coach hunt

Marsch: Wasn't treated well in USMNT coach hunt

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNewly appointed Canada coach Jesse Marsch has criticized U.S. Socce...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sixers' Maxey wins NBA Sportsmanship Award

Sixers' Maxey wins NBA Sportsmanship Award

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPhiladelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey was named the 2023-24 NBA Spo...

Wemby tops France's preliminary Olympics roster

Wemby tops France's preliminary Olympics roster

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPARIS -- With Victor Wembanyama as the focal point, France coach Vi...

Baseball

Dodgers pitcher Sheehan undergoes UCL surgery

Dodgers pitcher Sheehan undergoes UCL surgery

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Emmet Sheehan, an important starting pitching depth...

Suit: Bad Bunny's agency hit with 'death penalty'

Suit: Bad Bunny's agency hit with 'death penalty'

EmailPrintRimas Sports, the agency founded by recording artist Bad Bunny, has accused the Major Leag...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated