We’ve now had a full weekend to digest the trade that sent Josh Donaldson to the Cleveland Indians with a player to be named later heading back to the Toronto Blue Jays.
In Donaldson, the Indians acquired a former MVP for their playoff run at minimal cost. The 32-year-old’s health remains a question mark, but if he’s operating at anywhere close to his potential he can be a major difference-maker down the stretch.
Here’s a sampling of what the United States media is saying about the deal.
Time is of the essence for Cleveland Indians, Josh Donaldson and it’s in short supply – Cleveland.com
When [Indians president Chris] Antonetti talked to reporters just before Friday’s midnight deadline, he talked about the element of risk in the trade. He was mostly talking about the money involved. He said the trade was constructed to give the Indians as much protection as possible. Toronto will reportedly pay $2.7 million of the remaining $4 million on Donaldson’s deal.
So they’re getting a month of Donaldson – and however deep they get into the postseason – for just over $1 million and a player to be named. Donaldson will be a free agent in November.
The competitive risk seems even less. Either Donaldson can play or he can’t. One way or the other, a guy who hit .297 with 41 homers and 123 RBI in 2015 was worth a look. If Donaldson, 32, can come close to being that player, the Indians could be a force headed into the postseason…
Should Donaldson’s injury linger, and his play prove ineffective, the Indians have lost little. Ramirez can return to third, Kipnis to second. Maybe Donaldson makes the postseason roster as a bat off the bench
Josh Donaldson might not be ready, but the Indians are the contender that can most afford the gamble – The Athletic
Baseball people were buzzing Friday that Josh Donaldson, for some reason, did not want to be traded. The better way to put it, a source said, was that Donaldson was not ready to be traded. Not ready physically, or emotionally.
The emotional aspect might prove to be a non-issue — Donaldson wanted closure with the Toronto Blue Jays, a final opportunity to play before their fans, and his new team, the Cleveland Indians will visit Toronto for four games starting Thursday.
The bigger concern, the wild card in Friday night’s trade, is whether Donaldson will be healthy. Not necessarily by Thursday; as long as Donaldson is present at Rogers Centre, he can take his final bows. But by the postseason, when the Indians will need him most.
The Indians — leading the AL Central by 14 1/2 games, preparing to use September as a working laboratory for injured and under-performing players — were the contender that could most afford to wait.
Donaldson’s arrival to force defensive shuffle – MLB.com
Indians manager Terry Francona announced Saturday that Donaldson will become the team’s everyday third baseman once fully healthy, forcing potential MVP candidate Jose Ramirez to shift to second base and Jason Kipnis to center field.
Given the breakout season Ramirez is having, Francona has repeatedly expressed his reluctance about moving his current third baseman. The same went for Kipnis, an infielder by trade, whose only Major League outfield experience came during an 11-game experiment last season.
Cleveland is well aware of the offensive boost Donaldson, a career .275/.366/.507 hitter, could provide, and Ramirez and Kipnis assured they’re OK with moving if it helps the team reach the World Series.
“I think we’ve talked to everybody that can be affected by this,” Francona said Saturday. “I talked to Jose back a little while just because of my feelings on it and some of my concerns, and he assured me that he would willingly do this.
“I talked to Kip, and we knew this would affect Kip more than anybody. I don’t think he was jumping for joy, and I don’t think we expected him to. … I don’t think it’s fun to hear that, but Kip’s a pretty good competitor, so we’ll see how it goes.”
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Josh Donaldson trade makes September more compelling and complicated for the Indians – The Athletic
The Indians have one month to prepare for the postseason, to cure their ailments and to fit together the proper puzzle pieces. They need answers on Cody Allen (who took a step forward with a clean eighth inning Friday) and Andrew Miller (who could initiate his throwing program later this holiday weekend) and Trevor Bauer (who has walked around the clubhouse and field sans boot or scooter this week).
Donaldson adds another riddle to the position-player side of the roster. A left calf strain has sidelined him since May 28. He has played twice on his recently started rehab assignment, and the Indians observed his rehab work in Dunedin, Florida, this week.
But he isn’t quite ready to form a daily daunting top five in Francona’s lineup, alongside Ramírez, Francisco Lindor, Michael Brantley and Donaldson’s former Toronto teammate, Edwin Encarnacion.
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