Donaldson to the Braves, One Year - $23 million

[JDBrewCrew]

Bob Nightengale

Verified account

@BNightengale

4s4 seconds ago

Josh Donaldson gets one year, $23 million contract from Atlanta #Braves, per @Ken_Rosenthal

[Matt Breen]

Josh Donaldson gets one year, $23 million contract from Atlanta #Braves, per @Ken_Rosenthal

That's a very nice pillow for Donaldson.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Wow, that is a ton for a guy that is a pretty big injury risk. Of course, it's only one year, though. Still, I don't think I would have gone 2 years at that price.

[MadScientist]

That is a high price for a guy coming off an injured / down year. At least it won't cripple them in the future.

[long ball]

I think it's a good deal for the Braves, but I definitely understand why the Brewers aren't signing him for that price or more.

 

The Brewers have more holes to fill and probably need to diversify that risk over multiple acquisitions.

[long ball]

I think it's a good deal for the Braves, but I definitely understand why the Brewers aren't signing him for that price or more.

 

The Brewers have more holes to fill and probably need to diversify that risk over multiple acquisitions.

[homer]

Guess that means Camargo goes to super utility role. He had the bulk of starts at 3rd last year and did pretty well for a 24 year old.

[wallus]

I would have liked Donaldson but that price tag is a little steep. I am hopeful for a couple of nice offensive additions this year for the crew.

[KeithStone53151]

I would have liked Donaldson but that price tag is a little steep. I am hopeful for a couple of nice offensive additions this year for the crew.

 

Agreed, not interested at all at that price. That will be a nice move for the Braves. Their best bats are LH for the most part. If Donaldson has a big year, they could be a serious contender with a front side lineup of Acuna, Albies, Freeman, Donaldson, Markakis.

[Jaylyn]

Wow, that is a ton for a guy that is a pretty big injury risk. Of course, it's only one year, though. Still, I don't think I would have gone 2 years at that price.

I was thinking the same way, he would get a "prove it" deal between $10-$15 million for a year. Understand what the Braves are trying to do, but that's a lot cash for a hope he's healthy player.

[KeithStone53151]

I imagine medicals were combed over pretty thoroughly and maybe he even showed videos of recent workouts. Something to convince the Braves he's healthy and ready to produce.

[MadScientist]

I imagine medicals were combed over pretty thoroughly and maybe he even showed videos of recent workouts. Something to convince the Braves he's healthy and ready to produce.

Sure, but muscle injuries like the calf one he had are very easy to crop up again, even after a point where he looks fully healed by all measures. Just look at Braun and his oblique injuries. Also if he has made subtle changes to protect against injury, something else could crop up.

[502 to Right]

I would have been interested in Donaldson at 1/$23 million. The guy can flat out rake and on a one year deal the risk would be very short-term. These are the type of bold moves that can pay off big time for a team on the cusp of the World Series like the Brewers.

 

I would have played Travis Shaw at 2B for 2019 and moved him back to 3B in 2020 when Hiura can take over 2B full-time (hopefully).

[KeithStone53151]

I imagine medicals were combed over pretty thoroughly and maybe he even showed videos of recent workouts. Something to convince the Braves he's healthy and ready to produce.

Sure, but muscle injuries like the calf one he had are very easy to crop up again, even after a point where he looks fully healed by all measures. Just look at Braun and his oblique injuries. Also if he has made subtle changes to protect against injury, something else could crop up.

 

All excellent points, hard to argue any of that...I won't try. If the Braves feel good about the move, more power to them. It's a glove-like fit in Atlanta for him, I believe they have a 3b prospect in AA or AAA so a 1 year deal works really well for that team.

[NievesNoNO]

I would have been interested in Donaldson at 1/$23 million. The guy can flat out rake and on a one year deal the risk would be very short-term. These are the type of bold moves that can pay off big time for a team on the cusp of the World Series like the Brewers.

 

I would have played Travis Shaw at 2B for 2019 and moved him back to 3B in 2020 when Hiura can take over 2B full-time (hopefully).

 

Agreed. There's really not a lot of risk here as long as the payroll can support it for a year. The only risk is the roster spot that could've been filled by somebody else. Not that he wasn't motivated last season, but a vet looking to secure what will likely be his last multi-year big deal is a decent place to gamble, imo.

[tmwiese55]

Donaldson 1/23 or Schoop 1/10 ? I probably roll with Donaldson

[LouisEly]

I think this will be the new normal - 1-2 year deals for higher AAV. Clubs aren't going to give out the big, long deals anymore, and players will likely think the way to maximize their earnings will be to take these shorter deals at a higher AAV and then hit the market again sooner.

[KeithStone53151]

Donaldson 1/23 or Schoop 1/10 ? I probably roll with Donaldson

 

If those are the only 2 options, it's a no brainer. Shaw could have played 2nd or 1st primarily for a year until Hiura came up.

 

I still think there's a good chance Moustakas is a Brewer on a 2 or 3 year deal. Shaw would play mostly 2b and then you sort out playing time when Hiura comes up. I'm fully expecting a massive regression from Aguilar, so in my head I would then pencil Shaw in at 1b with Hiura at 2b and Aguilar in a PH role again.

[Devinep]

I doubt it, but maybe the Braves would be interested in moving camargo. He’d be a good 2B/transition to platoon with Shaw/insurance for Arcia hitting like trash again

[AdvantageSchneider]

I would have liked Donaldson but that price tag is a little steep. I am hopeful for a couple of nice offensive additions this year for the crew.

 

Agreed, not interested at all at that price. That will be a nice move for the Braves. Their best bats are LH for the most part. If Donaldson has a big year, they could be a serious contender with a front side lineup of Acuna, Albies, Freeman, Donaldson, Markakis.

 

Markakis is a free agent isn't he? Still not a bad lineup even without him.

[Mr Southpaw]

Braves might want Santana to fill in RF for Markakis. Maybe we could get a one of there young pitchers?

[Lathund]

I was a proponent of going for Donaldson if it was indeed a prove-it type of deal, i.e 1 year or some kind of 1 year + options type of deal. But 23m is too steep. Makes total sense for a team like the Braves though.

[sveumrules]

Donaldson 1/23 or Schoop 1/10 ? I probably roll with Donaldson

 

Steamer projects Donaldson for a 126 wRC+ & about 4 WAR.

 

Steamer projects Schoop for a 97 wRC+ & about 1.5 WAR.

 

At those rates 1/10 is about a 1.5 million overpay for Schoop.

[KeithStone53151]

I don't think it's best to project value on a straight line basis when looking at WAR. A 4 WAR player should not cost only twice as much as a 2 WAR player. There's more of a curve there, or at least there should be if the analysis is any good. There are far more than double the amount of 2 WAR projected players than 4 WAR.