Josh Donaldson, Minnesota Twins agree to 4 year deal

Josh Donaldson and the Minnesota Twins have agreed to terms on a 4 year, $92 million deal with a fifth year option with a buyout that could make the entire deal worth $100 million, per multiple reports.

Donaldson, 34, was one of the best players in baseball from 2013 through 2016, then had a very good 2017 followed by an injury-prone 2018. He bounced back with a 6.1 bWAR 2019 season for the Atlanta Braves, with whom he did a 1 year, $23 million deal last offseason, and re-entered the market as the top third baseman after Anthony Rendon on the free agent market.

I liked the idea of Donaldson on a three year deal, but he supposedly wanted four years, and had a specific number he had, per reports, that he wanted to get to. While there were multiple reports that Donaldson had multiple $100 million offers, that appears to have either been puffery or including the value of option years.

With Donaldson off the market, teams looking for a top flight third baseman will have to look at the trade market, with Kris Bryant, Nolan Arenado and Kyle Seager the most talked about possibilities. Atlanta is continuing to seek a third baseman, and after missing out on Donaldson, their top target, they may engage more aggressively with one of the trade targets.

The Texas Rangers, of course, reportedly agreed to a deal with Todd Frazier, who is expected to man third base in 2020.