MLB Rumors: Why The Twins Decided To Dump Josh Donaldson On The Yankees

The Minnesota Twins must be saying "I told you so" to anyone who'll listen, after witnessing from afar this past week's "Jackie" Affair with the New York Yankees' Josh Donaldson. 

Donaldson was suspended by MLB for one game for "inappropriate comments" after causing two bench-clearing incidents when he called Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson "Jackie", in reference to the great Jackie Robinson who broke baseball's color barrier in 1947.

According to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic, after signing Donaldson in 2020 to a 4-year, $92M contract, the Twins "concluded they simply needed to be out of the Donaldson business. Two seasons were enough, and they had no interest in two more."

In fact, says Gleeman, "they were willing to give away Donaldson and the rest of his contract for nothing in return." Then the Yankees came a-calling, however, and the Twins were able to get Gio Urshela and Gary Sanchez in return for Donaldson along with Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ben Rortvedt heading to New York.

The Twins were forewarned before they signed him to that huge contract that he came not only with some solid power production, but also "an established reputation as an outspoken, often abrasive clubhouse presence," as Gleeman writes. They then watched "as every risk came to fruition", and they knew the time had come to ship him out. Getting two competent veterans (depending on your assessment of Sanchez and Urshela) was, they felt, a complete bonus.

Photo Credit:  Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports