Donaldson announced his retirement from professional baseball Monday on The Mayor's Office podcast.
Donaldson had said earlier this offseason that he would like to play one more season if the right opportunity presented itself, but evidently that offer never came. Injuries limited the 38-year-old to only 50 games in 2023, and he managed just a .678 OPS since the start of the 2022 season. However, Donaldson was one of the better players in baseball for several years, making three All-Star teams and winning one American League MVP. He'll finish with a career .261/.358/.489 batting line with 279 home runs over parts of 13 big-league seasons.
Josh Donaldson: Would like to play one more season
Rotowire
Donaldson said Monday in an interview with Josh Wegman of TheScore.com that he is "definitely up" for playing in 2024, but "that would be my last season no matter what."
Donaldson has managed just a .678 OPS since the start of the 2022 season and was limited to 50 games in 2023 because of injuries. He'll also turn 38 next month. Donaldson's batted-ball data remained excellent this season, however, and he still rates fairly well defensively at third base. It wouldn't be surprising for a team to give Donaldson one more shot on a modest one-year deal.
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Brewers' Josh Donaldson: Takes seat Wednesday
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Donaldson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
Donaldson has a .743 OPS in 13 games since joining the Brewers and will head to the bench after the club earned the NL Central title Tuesday. Brian Anderson is starting at the hot corner and batting eighth.
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Brewers' Josh Donaldson: Homers again in blowout win
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Donaldson went 1-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's 16-1 win over the Marlins.
Donaldson kicked off the scoring in the Brewers' 12-run second inning, slugging a 371-foot, two-run blast off reliever Steven Okert. The home run was the second in as many games for Donaldson, who has provided Milwaukee with a much-needed power boost since joining the club earlier this month. While he's recorded only eight hits in 37 at-bats (.216) through 10 games, five of those hits have gone for extra bases (three home runs, two doubles).
Donaldson is not in the lineup Thursday at St. Louis.
This looks to be a planned day of rest for the 37-year-old third baseman, who slugged a three-run homer in the Brewers' 8-2 win over the Cardinals on Wednesday. Andruw Monasterio will man the hot corner and bat sixth in Thursday's series finale.
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Brewers' Josh Donaldson: Blasts homer in win
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Donaldson went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Cardinals.
Donaldson set the tone early with a first-inning blast, and that was all the Brewers would need for the win. He's gone 7-for-32 (.219) with two homers, seven RBI and four runs scored through nine games with Milwaukee since joining the big club Sept. 11. For the season, the veteran third baseman has a .159/.248/.442 slash line with 12 homers, 22 RBI, 17 runs scored and no stolen bases through 43 contests between the Brewers and Yankees.
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Brewers' Josh Donaldson: Clobbers first homer as Brewer
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Donaldson went 2-for-2 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 3-1 victory over Miami.
After having his contract selected by Milwaukee on Monday, Donaldson delivered an RBI and a run scored in his Brewers debut. He was even better Tuesday, reaching in all four of his plate appearances (two hits, two walks), including via a solo home run off Edward Cabrera in the fourth frame. Though the change of scenery could be exactly what the former MVP needed, it's worth noting Donaldson slashed just .142/.225/.434 in 33 games with the Yankees this season.
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Brewers' Josh Donaldson: Gets call to Milwaukee
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The Brewers selected Donaldson's contract from Triple-A Nashville on Monday. He'll start at third base and bat fifth in the Brewers' series opener with the Marlins.
Milwaukee transferred reliever J.C. Mejia (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL to clear room on the 40-man roster for Donaldson, who went 3-for-17 with two home runs and five walks in five games for Nashville after inking a minor-league deal with the Brewers on Aug. 31. Prior to catching on with Milwaukee, Donaldson hit .142 with 10 home runs in 120 plate appearances for the Yankees before landing on the injured list July 16 with a right calf strain and then getting cut loose in late August when he completed a minor-league rehab assignment. Donaldson will likely be ticketed for a short-side platoon role at either designated hitter or third base initially, but the 37-year-old could earn more opportunities against right-handed pitching if he fares well in his initial action with Milwaukee.
Brewers' Josh Donaldson: Inks minors deal with Milwaukee
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Donaldson (calf) signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Thursday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Donaldson still has some work to do in his recovery from the severe right calf strain that has kept him sidelined since mid-July, but he'll report to Triple-A Nashville to begin what will essentially be a minor-league rehab assignment and could become an option for the current NL Central leaders by mid-September. Andruw Monasterio has had a miserable August and may eventually be unseated by Donaldson as Milwaukee's primary option at third base. Because this deal came together before Friday, Donaldson will be eligible to suit up for the Brewers in the postseason.
Donaldson had been ramping up his rehab from a right calf strain but wasn't eligible for activation until mid-September. If he does make it back to play this season, it will be with another organization. Donaldson's two-year tenure in New York didn't go well, as he will finish it having slashed .207/.293/.385 with 25 home runs over 165 games. He's making $21.75 million in 2023 and the Yankees will be responsible for an $8 million buyout of his 2024 club option.
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Takes swings against live pitching
Rotowire
Donaldson (calf) took batting practice against right-hander Luis Gil at the Yankees' spring complex in Florida on Saturday, per MLB.com.
Donaldson has been ramping up his activity for several weeks, resuming on-field work July 30 and advancing to outfield sprints Aug. 20. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the slugger's live hitting session Saturday went well and indicated that Donaldson could go on a minor-league rehab assignment in the near future. However, the veteran is on the 60-day IL and isn't eligible to be activated until mid-September.
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Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Nears rehab assignment
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Donaldson (calf) is nearing a rehab assignment, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.
Donaldson is performing all baseball activities without issue as he nears the completion of his recovery from the severe right calf strain that has kept him on the shelf since mid-July. He could return from the 60-day injured list when first eligible in mid-September if all goes well during his minor-league rehab stint, but the 37-year-old might only be a bench bat for New York in the closing weeks of the 2023 campaign.
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Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Continues ramping up toward return
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Donaldson (calf) did sprints on the outfield grass at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, Max Goodman of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.
Donaldson is on the 60-day IL due to a right calf strain and isn't eligible to return until mid-September. All indications are that he should be ready to go at that point, as the veteran has been doing work on the field for several weeks and has now progressed to sprinting. However, Donaldson isn't guaranteed a starting job upon his return, as he struggled to a .142/.225/.434 slash line (albeit with 10 homers) over 120 plate appearances prior to getting hurt.
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Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Aiming to return this season
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Donaldson (calf) took batting practice and fielded grounders Monday and is hoping to return to action this season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Donaldson was moved to the 60-day injured list July 20 after being diagnosed with a high-grade right calf strain. Less than two weeks later, the veteran third baseman was described by Hoch as looking "fluid" while doing on-field work, so it appears Donaldson is recovering more quickly than expected. However, even if he continues to progress, Donaldson isn't eligible to be activated from the IL until mid-September.
