Injured Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson will be eligible to go on August trade waivers if he embarks on a rehab assignment, but “it appears unlikely” that’s going to happen, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet tweets. Donaldson has been out since the end of May with a calf strain, which has stopped the out-of-contention Blue Jays from dealing him as he closes in on free agency. If Toronto’s unable to trade Donaldson this month, it’ll have to keep him through season’s end and then decide before the market opens whether to issue the soon-to-be 33-year-old a qualifying offer (worth $17.4MM last winter). Donaldson was among the majors’ best players as recently as last year, which suggests the Blue Jays will tender him a QO, though multiple DL stints this season have limited him to 36 games and an unspectacular .234/.333/.423 line in 159 plate appearances.
More from around the game…
- First baseman/outfielder Matt Holliday went without a contract until July 28, when the Rockies signed him to a minor league pact, but he did garner offers before then. It seems the 38-year-old held off on signing because he wanted to join a team with which he had a “personal connection,” Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. With that in mind, Holliday said Friday he’d have been open to offers from the Rockies, Cardinals, and perhaps the Yankees – all teams he has played for – as well as certain other unnamed clubs. After a brief and highly successful run at the Triple-A level with the Rockies, Holliday’s back in Colorado, which selected his contract Thursday. On Saturday, in his fifth at-bat of the year, Holliday victimized the Cardinals with a pinch-hit, 448-foot blast to give the Rockies a 1-0 lead. The Rox ended up rolling to a 9-1 win to climb within a half-game of the Cards for the NL’s top wild-card spot.
- Texas will have to decide after the season whether to exercise left-hander Martin Perez’s $7.5MM option for 2019 or buy him out for $750K. Even though $7.5MM isn’t a bank-breaking number and the Rangers are hard up for pitching, Perez is not making a strong case to stick with the club, Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram observes. Perez gave up four earned runs in five innings during a loss to the Giants on Saturday, raising his ERA to 6.95 over 68 2/3 frames this year. Because of Perez’s struggles, it’s possible the Rangers will take a page from the Rays’ book and use an “opener” in front of him in his next scheduled outing, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. In doing so, they’d hope to mitigate Perez’s issues against the top of teams’ lineups, as Grant explains in his piece.
- Conversely, Cubs lefty Cole Hamels – one of Perez’s former teammates – is making a real argument for his employer to pick up his option after the season, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times points out. At $20MM, Hamels’ price tag is far higher than Perez’s, but the former has pitched like someone worthy of an exorbitant salary since the Cubs acquired him from Texas last month. The Cubs have won all five of Hamels’ starts, during which he has totaled 34 innings of .79 ERA ball and posted 30 strikeouts against eight walks. With the NL Central-leading Cubs primed to play into October, Hamels will have time to keep stating his case to remain in Chicago, and he seems hopeful the union will continue. “That’s obviously something that I know [team president] Theo [Epstein] and the ownership and I think [manager Joe] Maddon will have to think about,” Hamels told Wittenmyer in regards to his option. “My job is to obviously make them think a little bit harder.” In the event the Cubs decline Hamels’ option, they’ll walk away scot-free from his $6MM buyout – which Texas will have to pay.
If Hamels pitches like this and his success continues in the playoffs, they’d be hard pressed to deny a $30M option, let alone a $20M one.
Yeah, 20 mil option for next year is a no brainer 5 starts 4-0 with .755 so far is fantastic. Theo got him for nothing in terms of prospect cost. His no trade clause was huge as it really narrowed the options for Texas.
It’s a no-brainer to keep him, especially if Cubs stay away from Harper/Machado.
They have no room for Harper or Machado.
Jason Heyward is there to stay. He bought a house in Chicago. Harper is not worth the 370mil over 9 years.
They need that money for Bryant, Baez rizzo Schwarber and Contreras. Bryant will get about 300mil himself. But he’s worth the money. Without a doubt
Harper isnt worth even half that. Stay away!
Tru dat time to let the Harper dream go and Machdo never was thinking of North Chicago maybe South Chi Town can pull it off so good for the city two world champions in the same city go Chi town
Yeah Theo is a genius…until Hamels goes back to how he was earlier this season and last.
A blast from the past…..
madmanTX2 months ago
Teams take Hamels, his full salary and give up some top prospects or see you at the winter meetings.
mlbtraderumors.com/2018/06/report-increasingly-pos…
Maybe Hamels goes back to the early 2018 self, but if you look at his numbers, he was on getting hammered at home games in Arlington, TX. That’s why going to Chicago really helped him. This is likely the real him (except his ERA is more like 3.00 rather than sub 1.00)
Yes, but Chatwood had something like the second lowest road ERA in baseball last year. Escaping Coors has not been a cure all for him.
Lmao
No. What they should do is reject the option and then resign him for like $15M. The Cubs pay less for him ($15M) and Hamels gets more money ($15M + $6M buyout that the Rangers have to pay.)
I was thinking the exact same thing. He gets more than the option and Cubs pay less
He’s pitched against garbage teams. Wait til he faces someone above .500.
With the exception of the Royals, all of the teams he has faced are in the top half of the league in offense.
Hamels (4-0) and Happ (5-0) both undefeated with their new clubs.
Who is talking about Happ dude? The article is about Hamels
I’m saying it’s amazing they were thought of as ‘weak’ SP market, and yet, both are performing like Aces for their respective clubs
What crawled up your *$$ dude? It’s not like it was single post only about Happ.
Verlander was the same way started struggling with Det before Houston
Not every comment has to be directly related to the article. He’s just pointing out a cool stat which has to do with one of the players mentioned in this article.
Both were traded at deadline. Many wondered who will do better. Xabial is pointing out that both are doing excellent since the trade deadline.
The Brewers still looking for infielders lol
Can we get a do over on that happ trade or eovaldi seriously smh
1) After two brilliant outings to begin his Red Sox tenure, Eovaldi has struggled the last three times out with a 6.23 ERA and 27 hits allowed over 13 innings.
2) McKinney is hitting .368/.500/.684 with a pair of homers and seven RBI in his first 24 plate appearances of the season. He was a “throw-in” for Happ.
Maybe I’m offbase didnt read many comments on here during deadline but to me McKinney WAS the trade for Happ, Drury was the throw in. And to be honest as a Jays fan I wasnt that happy with the return (tons of outfield prospects, McKinney poor AAA numbers this year, Drury nothing more than a utility guy imo)
“Maybe I’m offbase” No, you’re not. “Drury nothing more than a utility guy imo” There were so many Yankees fans on here glorifying a guy who’s exactly that.
Fiers has been fire as well!
Verlander made five starts for Astros last September 5-0, 1.06 ERA.
Thru Hamels first five starts for Cubs, 4-0 (team 5-0), .79 ERA
Both threw 34 IP thru those five starts.
Hamels has faced: Pitt,KC,Nats,Pitt,and Cincy. The craziness is so dumb.
All of those teams except the Royals are in the top half of baseball in runs, batting average, and on base percentage.
Point taken but if you look at Hamels Road/Away record prior to the trade deadline he had great numbers. Arlington with its 100+ degree heat, thin air and small dimensions destroyed his overall record and statistics. I watch a lot of AL West games- that park is a pitchers nightmare. It’s not surprising he’s winning away from TX.
Easier to pitch in NL…..
NL is real baseball. No DH.
Which makes it easier. No Big Papi’s or JD Martinez’s playing that 9th slot in the NL. Just a pitcher who can’t bat (unless you’re Bumgarner… he can hit!).
Look at runs per game and you will see that the DH does not deliver what you think it does.
Hamels Sucks!!
4-0 with a 0.79 ERA with the Cubs, beg to differ.
I don’t see why Texas would pay Perez $7.5MM for one year to pitch for them. You can get a couple different SPs for less than that. Perez is part of the reason the ranger’s starting rotation sucks… I would be surprised if the Jays offered Donaldson the QO, would be more surprised if Donaldson didn’t accept it… $20MM is going to be hard to pick up, depends on his playoff performance. I wonder if the Phillies are kicking themselves for not acquiring Hamels. Would have cost them next to nothing.
I think every one in philly wanted a reunion with hamels but the gm has his hands up his ass that he didn’t need starters. but he was wrong. phils needed bats, and another starter, plus relief help.
I don’t see why Texas would pay Perez that much either, but this is the same club that gave Andrew Cashner $10MM in the 2016-2017 offseason after he put up a 5.25 ERA…
Donaldson likely to start rehab assignment Monday but tall is they have cleared out his locker. tsn.ca/donaldson-to-start-rehab-assignment-monday-…
They should pick it up. He’s done great for them.
Or If they decline it still offer him 16-18mil with a mutual option.
What if the Cubs told
Hamels he could make more than his 20m option and they could save a few million for other players also. They could tell him they’re going to buy you out, but we want to re-sign you. Like this: Rangers pay his 6mil buyout. The Cubs then give him 17mil to pitch next year with a 15/16m dollar 2020 option with a 2mil buyout. He could turn it into 23-25million instead of just 20 if they pick up the option. And at 17 mil the Cubs save 3m to go towards all their young talent.
that would work, but it could possibly ruin a relationship with a team they frequently trade with. just pay the extra 3 mil. That’s like pocket change to these owners.
Yes…..and if they really want him it opens up the risk that another team offers more.
Heard Milwaukee is looking to get Donaldson.
Let me guess, to play shortstop? Getting old
Sign me up for Donaldson on a pillow contract.