Blue Jays’ Josh Donaldson returns to field in rehab game Thursday

Jeff Blair explains why there would be no reason for the Toronto Blue Jays to make the situation with Josh Donaldson more of a mess than it already is.

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson has returned to the field for the first game of a double-header for single-A Dunedin on Thursday.

Donaldson connected on a home run to left centre field in his first at-bat of the evening.

Donaldson would’ve missed Wednesday’s game (which was eventually postponed by rain) due to soreness in his calves and legs after returning to action for the first time since May 28 on Tuesday night as part of a rehab assignment. The ailments put a serious wrinkle in the Blue Jays’ reported plans to trade the former American League MVP.

The Blue Jays reportedly “want Donaldson gone” and were hoping to place the slugger on waivers Wednesday in order to deal him by the Aug. 31 deadline.

Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi has more on what the developments over the last 24 hours mean for both Donaldson and the Blue Jays.

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