Third baseman Josh Donaldson of the Athletics has switched representation, moving from the Bledsoe Brothers to Dan Lozano and MVP Sports, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported last week (via Twitter). The 27-year-old enjoyed a breakout campaign last year in his first season of full-time MLB duty.
Unless Oakland GM Billy Beane wants to talk about an early extension, Donaldson's new agency will see its first real action before the 2015 season, when Donaldson is likely to reach arbitration eligibility as a Super Two. After landing fourth in the American League MVP voting in 2013, Donaldson will not qualify for free agency until 2019, leaving the A's with plenty of cheap team control.
As always, you can visit MLBTR's Agency Database for information on player representation.
He’ll come crashing back to reality much like Riddick long before he hits FA.
Why do you think that?
he’s probably a rangers’ fan
Donaldson is a much better hitter than Reddick. If only he didn’t over press for the playoffs he would be looking like the best 3b in baseball. Reddick problem is he over swings all the time. Donaldson has a much more natural swing that doesn’t need the over swing that Reddick needs.
Beltre would like to speak with you.
Beltre is on the decline. The steroid years have done harm to his body.
the decline? he’s put up career numbers with Texas….Maybe another 2 seasons and he will start the decline. Top 7 in MVP voting twice in the past 2 seasons isn’t a decline to me. Pujols is declining.
Check out his second half numbers to first half and especially the last month of the season. Turning 35 this year soi don’t over expect
i don’t “over expect” but i feel his declining second half numbers were because he carried the team, which is too much to ask, especially a 35 year old. Now the Rangers have some offensive upgrades..(full season with Rios/Choo/Prince…maybe even Choice and Profar will come up big) still far from declining imo. and if he goes from hitting 315 to 290….i’m ok with that decline. still a gold glover..
Makes sense.
Nope, a Tigers fan. I could care less about Donaldson. I just don’t see him maintaining his production. If he does, good for him, but I don’t think he will.
If he was with the tigers, your opinion would be different…makes sense
Nah, I’ll take Castellanos over Donaldson. If Donaldson continues his good play and Castellanos flops, I’ll change my mind but for right now I’m pretty content.
For Castellanos I see .220-.230 with an OBP around .290 and Tigers fans in disbelief about what happened to him like its unexplainable. But that’s my opinion…
Maybe, but at least my Tigers can afford to replace him, instead of praying that he isn’t a flop like A’s fans.
Why so bitter? Castellanos has less power than Donaldson and his defense is not as good. Donaldson is more of a sure bet than castallenos. He could be Sizemore 2.0 for the tigers.
How do you figure Donaldson has more power? Caste is a 21 yr old that just popped 18 HR and 37 2B in AAA in more of a pitcher’s league (IL). Donaldson hit 24 HR and 37 2B in 24 more games than Castellanos. Castellanos is also more of a pure hitter who goes the other way a lot. Donaldson is definitely a better fielder though. I like Castellanos chances of sticking in the majors longer than Donaldson’s, but we’ll see. And comparing Caste to Sizemore isn’t really legit because Sizemore was never really that big of a prospect for the Tigers, he just kept producing and moving his way up the ranks. The Tigers are just better at using and maximizing their prospects than other teams are IMO.
Castellanos has only had 1 season in double figures and AAA pitching is not better than MLB stuff. AAA has many 1 pitch pitchers who never make it above AAA. Many players put up good numbers in AAA but never hit in MLB. In MLB when they find your weakness its exploited because of so much scouting now days.
Haha, Castellanos has hit over 10 HR in a season 2 out of his 3 years in the baseball. However, being a power hitter isn’t what makes him so highly ranked. He is a pure hitter that would rather hit the ball to the right center gap like Miguel Cabrera. That’s why he already has 107 2B in only 410 (basically 2-1/2 years) professional games. Not to mention he is 6’4″, so power isn’t going to be a concern as he develops and fills out. He also was viewed as one of the best natural hitters of the draft class, but fell because of signability issues back when draft picks could name their price. He was also ranked as high as #10 by BA for prospects before he was moved to LF, which diminished his value since he was no longer at a premium position. Whether Castellanos delivers on his potential will be seen, but I think he will be more productive than Donaldson in the long run.
Just based on watching him. He had a decent year but I just have a feeling he’ll fade back into obscurity soon. He’s never had any sustained success at any level (at least not like his last year) and he already began falling off in the second half and postseason. Just my opinion.
Besides his BABIP (.333, not really outrageous), nothing stands out as significantly different than last season that should alarm any folks.
Amazing to think this guy’s got 5 more years of club control on him. Wow!
He does have 5 years of team control left but if he can keep producing like he did in 2013 he is inline for a major extension or at least a substantial contract to cover his arbitration years.
He’s got a better average than Reddick, along with better peripherals and a better average than Josh Willingham. If he can replicate 2013’s numbers, I could see him hoping to get flipped to a team with looser purse strings and pursuing either maximum arbitration figures or negotiating an extension in the neighborhood of 6 years/$85MM.
He’s had 1 decent season. Let’s not get carried away with giving him a bigger contract than the NL MVP
First, an 8.2 rWAR/7.7 fWAR is better than decent, it’s excellent. Second, McCutcheon signed his deal nearly two years ago. He hadn’t put up a season like Donaldson’s 2013 yet. Also, if he were out there now, I’m sure his extension would be far greater than his current one.
If, like the OP said, Donaldson repeats his 2013 numbers, one could easily see him getting at least the amount of money mentioned.
There’s a difference between a high valued prospect doing it and a guy from obscurity raising some eyebrows. If Donaldson can repeat his production, I’m sure they’ll think about it.
Agreed, and I think that’s what the OPs point was. It’d be silly for either side to talk extension now, but if he repeats the production, I don’t think the OPs numbers are exceedingly high or anything.
My other point was that considering how much the market has changed over the last two years and how sustainably great McCutcheon has been since he signed the extension two years ago, the McCutcheon-Donaldson comparison makes little sense.
I’m only suggesting such numbers IF he repeats this success in 2014. That’s a big IF. But assuming he does…
I only postulate on such an extension for two glaring reasons: 1) McCutchen’s deal is now seen as incredibly team friendly and 2) Donaldson switched agents, no doubt to align himself with someone who will be more aggressive and better suited to securing him a maximum contract of some kind in the near future- i.e. a pre-F.A. extension.
The A’s or any other team for that matter, would only do such a thing if they could keep him for a good number of years. So, if they keep him for a good number of years, he’ll be asking for something close to F.A. market value on the F.A. years he gives up.
Furthermore, McCutchen’s buy out years are valued at around $14MM AAV. Hence, 6 years/$85MM for Donaldson. BOOM.
Break down of the next 7-8 years would look like this:
2014: $500k+
2015: $6MM w/ $1MM signing bonus
2016: $10MM
2017: $13MM
2018: $15MM
2019: $17.5MM
2020: $17.5MM
2021: $20MM option w/ $5MM buy out
Also, McCutcheon put up a .820 OPS in ’11 after putting an .814 in ’10 and .836 (108 games) in ’09 to go along with 76 SB. Donaldson has had one .883 season and a .687 in 75 games the year before.
Probably a Rangers Fan?? Texas has Beltre. No need for Donaldson.
what?
what would make you assume he’s a Rangers fan? because he isn’t swinging from Don’s sack? He IS a stud….so far…But i’d much rather have Beltre as is.
Because he’s obviously a fan of another team, so I guessed the rangers because they are the A’s rivals. Nothing to do with who’s the rangers’ 3rd baseman.
i saw that he said a Tigers fan after the fact.And him stating that he’s not uber impressed with a single good season would have nothing to do with being a rival imo. I read it as a Rangers fan is jealous for not having donaldson and my reply to that assumption was they have Beltre.
I was sorry/sad to see Josh change agents and wonder if it does not mean rough times ahead. Hunter Bledsoe worked hands on with Josh to improve his swing and his hitting. Bledsoe Brothers stuck with Josh through some lean times to say the least and it is ashame to see an apparent lack of loyalty after 9 years and the first success. I know it is a business but any of us could negotiate the next contract and endorsements etc. for Donaldson if he has another year like 2013. Just hate to see a guy like Josh who had people who seem to have demonstrated that they were really looking after his best interest and career leave for a very different animal agent-wise.
Lay off the caffeine. Having an opinion and caring about the success that Donaldson has are two completely different things. If Donaldson maintains his good play, then good for him! I just don’t think he will. I see .230-.240 with an OBP around .300 and A’s fans in disbelief about what happened to him like its unexplainable.
I blame Beane for his style of running the club more than anything for the A’s not having money. Yes, they have been successful but he’s done a horrible job of building the A’s brand IMO. Hard to get excited in your club when you’re just waiting for Moneyball to fail and your best players to be jettisoned off. And like I said, I don’t dislike Donaldson, I just don’t think his build and swing translates into continued production. I hope he does do well, but I don’t think he will. Here’s hoping to A’s fans that he does!