The Angels have signed infielder John McDonald to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite, reports Rob Bradford of WEEI.com on Twitter. McDonald will earn $850K, plus incentives, if he makes the big league club, Bradford further tweets. The 39-year-old is represented by Relativity Baseball.
Last year was an adventurous campaign even for the well-traveled McDonald. He saw limited time with four MLB clubs: the Pirates, Indians, Phillies, and Red Sox. Over just 77 plate appearances, McDonald slashed a meager .116/.197/.174.
McDonald has spent the bulk of his fifteen seasons to date in Cleveland and Toronto. He has a lifetime .235/.274/.327 triple-slash in 2,560 plate appearances. The slick fielder continues to hang his hat on his defensive ability. Spending most of his time up the middle at short and second, McDonald has accumulated a lifetime 10.8 rWAR through his defense, while being a net negative with the bat.
That John macdonald?
Yes! The legend of John Mcdonald Continues
Not a bad depth move I suppose.
Poor Johnny Mac, bouncing through a half dozen teams for the past year or two. Please just come back to Toronto and be the infield coach.
Does he get a ring for last year with the Sox?
Considering he was part of the world series parade and what not, I assume so. That’s decided by the team I think.
I’d assume so.
I mean, Colby Rasmus got one for playing the first half of a season with the Cards that year he was traded.
Yes everyone that played a game for the Sox last year is supposed to get one even if they left the team in April or May. Those wins in the early season helped make them champions too.
Possible minor league player coach job opportunity… Filled!
A .371 OPS is pretty sub-par.
They aren’t signing him for his bat. They are signing to be a late inning defensive replacement at most. He still has a really good glove.
Yeah I know they weren’t signing him to protect Pujols in the lineup, but it has to be tough to be that bad at hitting and even get an invite to spring training. Kudos to him for making over $12 million in his career off his glove alone. His career 60 OPS+ makes Brendan Ryan’s 72 look pretty decent.
To be fair to him, he’s a better bat then that indicates. That’s his 2013 numbers across 4 teams as a replacement player. He’s made a great career out of being a backup player and actually has a pretty solid clutch bat. Understand, most of his at bats are done late in games against closers and shutdown staff and his numbers reflect that. He can also lay down a bunt whenever asked which seems rare these days.
You have to remember that the average SS in history is probably the level of McDonald offense-wise. We have been a little spoiled ever since Cal Ripken with offensive numbers from the SS position. McDonald looks comparatively bad now, but 40-50 years ago he would probably have been a multiple time an All Star.
I remember Davenport years ago with SF I think. He was career .250 hitter and well thought of. You are so right.
What is the point of this signing—to help a guy out?
Worst case scenario he mentors the rest of the infield during spring training and gets cut. Best case scenario he makes the team and plays the infield in the late innings of close games. Bonus — he can pitch, too, and has served as the emergency catcher on several teams.
He would fit right in with BA of current Angel catchers.
Hopefully he makes Grant Green a decent enough fielder so we can trade Kendrick eventually. Also our prospects in the minors, at 2nd especially, could really use some defensive help.
To fill a whole in the minor leagues, veteran mentoring, and a possible super cheap option off the bench.
Now that makes sense somewhat. Thanks Ted, Evan and Ryan!
At age 39 he’s really more old McDonald.
Last season, he “slashed” .116/.197/.174? More like “swished”
Trade ya Chris Getz for him.
This surely was meant to be in Biggest steals of 2014 off-season story posted…
I remember in 1968 Detroit Tiger SS, Ray Oyler batted a robust .125. Mayo Smith took a chance on CF, Mickey Stanley to play SS during the 1968 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.