Ex-Yankee Josh Donaldson Finds New Home With NL Contender

While New York Yankees fans are saying good riddance to Josh Donaldson, he'll be taking his fiery (and often controversial) attitude to the National League, where he's signed a minor league deal with the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers. 

Josh Donaldson is going to the Brewers org pic.twitter.com/aTdZamjkqh

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 31, 2023

Because it's a minor league deal, he will be eligible for the postseason once he's called up. And according to Bob Nightengale, that will be within the week. 

The Brewers felt they had to make the move with the struggles of third baseman Andruw Monasterio, who has taken a big step back in August, with a .590 OPS for the month.

Many teams around baseball have shied away from Donaldson, both because of his "prickly personality" on and off the field and in the clubhouse, but also because of his significantly deteriorating production the past few years. He currently hitting .142 with an OPS+ of just 75 while playing only 33 games. 

He has, however, clubbed 10 home runs in 106 at-bats this season. Perhaps the Brewers can see the power potential that he's owned in the past sneaking through all the regression. The Bringer of Rain was an MVP with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015, but has been nothing but a bringer of well-below-average offense the past two years with the Yankees.

It remains to be seen if this move helps Milwaukee, or backfires on them ingloriously, like it did with the Yankees.

Photo: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports