For Josh Donaldson, signing with the Atlanta Braves was a homecoming of sorts on two fronts.
Speaking publicly for the first time since signing a one-year, $23-million deal with the Braves, Donaldson said his motivation for coming to Atlanta was two-fold.
First, there was his history with Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos, who acquired Donaldson from the Oakland Athletics in Nov. 2014, bringing him to the Toronto Blue Jays where he would go on to enjoy an MVP 2015 campaign.
Once Donaldson hit free agency, he believed there was a chance Anthopoulos would come calling again.
“I knew coming into the off-season there was a possibility of Alex and I linking back up,” Donaldson told the assembled group of reporters in Atlanta. “He was very determined to get me from Oakland, and he was very determined to get me again.”
Though Donaldson’s time in Toronto started with an MVP season and ALCS run, it ended unceremoniously when he was traded to the Cleveland Indians at the August 31 waiver trade deadline after spending the majority of his 2018 campaign on the disabled list.
The injury concern with Donaldson still exists, especially now that he’s about to turn 33 and still expected to play third base every day. But in coming to Atlanta, Donaldson isn’t just reuniting with Anthopoulos; he’ll also reconnect with former Blue Jays trainers George Poulis and Mike Frostad, who worked with him in Toronto.
“I’m excited to be back with Alex and a lot of the training staff with the Toronto Blue Jays because they know me and they know how to keep me on the field,” he said.
Despite these injury concerns, Anthopoulos saw enough from Donaldson down the stretch to believe that he’s still an impact player. Donaldson posted a .920 OPS in 60 regular season plate appearances with the Indians while throwing more comfortably from third base.
“He looked like the Josh that we’ve always known,” Anthopoulos said.
In addition to his shared history with the Braves’ general manager, Donaldson also has some history with the Braves themselves. Born in Pensacola, Fla., Donaldson followed the team he now plays for.
“I was a huge Braves fan growing up,” said Donaldson. “My first favourite player was Ron Gant.”
So aside from the reunion with Anthopoulos, signing with the Braves was also a homecoming for Donaldson, who went to school at nearby Auburn University.
Now, with Donaldson in the fold, Anthopoulos and the Braves hope they have a fearsome roster in the NL East.
“What an add for us. What a piece for us. He just made our team so much better,” said Anthopoulos. “Expect big things in 2019.”
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