Yankees release Josh Donaldson after two atrocious seasons
DETROIT — Josh Donaldson’s brutal Yankees tenure is finally over.
The team on Tuesday released the 37-year-old third baseman, who had been on the 60-day injured list with a high-grade calf strain and was not eligible to return until mid-September.
Donaldson had hoped to play again this season, and while manager Aaron Boone had continued to leave the door open for that to be possible, the Yankees have since turned their attention to the future.
There were not going to be opportunities for Donaldson to get at-bats (or take up a roster spot) once he was able to come off the IL, so the Yankees decided to release him and give him a chance to latch on with another team.
If there is interest in Donaldson, teams would have to sign him by Friday to have him eligible to be on their postseason roster.
“Basically just felt like it was the right thing to do,” Boone said Tuesday at Comerica Park. “Give him the option, or the possibility, of even catching on with someone. Just felt like it was the right thing to do that now as opposed to continuing to drag it out.”
Boone said Donaldson did not ask for his release.
The transaction officially puts an end to Donaldson’s underwhelming tenure in pinstripes after he arrived on the eve of spring training in 2022 with Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ben Rortvedt in a deal that sent Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela to the Twins.
In parts of two seasons with the Yankees, after coming over in that ill-fated trade, Donaldson hit just .207 with a .678 OPS, 25 home runs and 180 strikeouts in 666 plate appearances.
“Obviously it didn’t go the way he or we wanted it to go,” Boone said. “We dreamed of bigger things.
“Coming out of the lockout, he might have been a little bit behind physically last year. Then had some struggles. Felt like he came in in a really good place this spring and then got hurt pretty early on [with a hamstring strain]. Then came back and obviously was hitting the long ball. Tremendous defensive third baseman. Just never was able to really get on track like he or we really expected.”
The frequent target of Yankees fans’ ire during his time in The Bronx, Donaldson finished this season with 10 of his 15 hits going for home runs in between IL stints.
“I’d like to say thank you to everyone for the love and support over the years!!” Donaldson tweeted on Tuesday. “I’ve had the opportunity to play with some great teammates and organizations. I wish nothing but the best to the New York Yankees.”
Just on Saturday, Donaldson had taken at-bats with Anthony Rizzo in a live batting-practice session at the Yankees’ player development complex in Tampa.
The day before that, he was with the Yankees at Tropicana Field, taking early batting practice and spending plenty of time on the field before the game.
Regardless of how the rest of this season played out, the Yankees were fully expected to buy out Donaldson’s $6 million option for next season, for which they will still be on the hook.
But now, his departure will keep third base open this season for Oswald Peraza to continue receiving regular at-bats the rest of the way.
Donaldson came to the Yankees as a former MVP who also had a reputation for rubbing some people the wrong way.
The most that came into play publicly during his time with the Yankees was last season during an on-field exchange with White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, whom he called “Jackie.”
Donaldson said it was an attempt to defuse tensions, referencing a Sports Illustrated story in which Anderson said he felt like “today’s Jackie Robinson,” but Anderson, who is black, did not take it that way.
Boone said on Tuesday that Donaldson has a “big personality” but gave a positive review when asked what he would tell teams that came calling on the veteran.
“I’d say a lot of good things about him,” Boone said. “He’s a gamer, he cares, he’s smart, he brings a lot to the table. I still think physically there’s a lot left in there. … I have a lot of respect for him.”