At least six teams are showing early interest in star free agent Josh Donaldson, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com relays. The World Series champion Nationals are among the clubs eyeing the third baseman, as are the previously reported Rangers, Phillies and Braves, according to Feinsand.
As those who follow the game know, the Nationals have an even higher-profile free-agent third baseman in Anthony Rendon – hands down the best position player on the market. MLBTR forecasts Rendon will land a $235MM guarantee, which trounces Donaldson’s $75MM projection. Thanks in part to the age difference between the two, the soon-to-be 34-year-old Donaldson lacks the appeal of Rendon, 29, though the former nonetheless remains one of baseball’s most valuable players.
Donaldson, a onetime AL MVP, is coming off a 4.9-fWAR season in which he batted .259/.379/.521 with 37 home runs across 659 plate appearances. Atlanta signed the ex-Athletic and Blue Jay to a $23MM guarantee last winter after back-to-back injury-limited campaigns, and it proved to be a brilliant short-term gamble by the Braves. Of course, considering the Braves are one of Washington’s division rivals, the Nationals got plenty of up-close looks at Donaldson in 2019. Unsurprisingly, it seems the Nats came away impressed.
While the Nationals may view Donaldson as a legitimate possibility for their hot corner vacancy, odds are they’d prefer to re-sign Rendon. The big-market, high-spending club has two elite free agents in Rendon and right-hander Stephen Strasburg, and after a championship-winning season, it would be a surprise to see both exit. But if Rendon goes, the Nationals may well turn to the highly accomplished Donaldson as a much less expensive fallback option. Meantime, Donaldson has until Thursday to accept or reject the Braves’ $17.8MM qualifying offer. Turning it down looks like a formality.
I’m sure Rendon loves this.
Something tells me he will be fine.
At this point I’m sure Rizzo has a sense of whether they’ll be able to legitimately sign him or not. Always good to have a backup plan. I’ll take Donaldson or Moose in DC as long as riz locks up Stras!
If Zimmerman’s time with the Nats is indeed over, I wonder if there is any chance the Nats sign Rendon -AND- either Donaldson or Moustakas and move Donaldson/Moustakas to first. That would be great, IF it doesn’t cost the Nats the ability to also sign Strasburg.
Yes, it is easy to spend someone else’s money.
Donaldson on 1B would be a waste. The Nats only reason for signing Donaldson is if they consider Rendon gone, and they’re pushing for Strasburg instead.
I think he goes back to the Braves.
He’s earned a 3 year deal, I hope the Braves give it to him. He brought a swagger we desperately needed. I’d hate to see him suit up for the Nats or Phillies.
He’s earned more than a three-year deal. The guy is an MVP and is back to playing at an MVP level.
I’m not sure I’d say he played at mvp level. He had a great rebound year, yes. But I don’t think he’s even in top 10 no mvp.
Agreed he had a good year but not MVP levels. Also teams won’t sign multi-year into age 38 season
Donaldson will be lucky to see 3/51. $75 million for a player going on 35? No, thanks.
Also, Rendon is not a $200 million player, much less a $235 million player. Smh.
Bruh what are you going on about?, Rendon is a top ten player, and yes he’s worth north of 200 million.
There isn’t a position player worth north of 200 million.
A few elite fire ball arms? yes. Bats? nope.
Stanton, Machado, Harper, Fielder, Cabrera, Pujols. Nope.
Put the money into development, pay the people behind the scenes who help good become great.
It’s funny how everyone keeps throwing Harper out there as a bad signing….yet Philadelphia,a city known for booing any and everyone,including their own,is a city that’s still happy to have him……no one likes us,and we don’t care.
I would argue Harper is worth it. From an overall value standpoint.
He’s not going to try to bulk up like Stanton, and he’s got better physical traits than Fielder or Cabrera. Pujols was paid for what he did, and for what he brought to the team in terms of seats sold and gear sold. Still an overpay but not by much.
The first year of the Harper deal wasn’t very good even though the ball was flying out of the yard.
Wait until year three when you see how it handcuffs your team and you didn’t get an otherworldly star for your hundreds of millions.
30+ doubles & homeruns,100+ rbi,10+ stolen bases,372 ob%,near gold glove defense…His season was actually very good.3 years from now he’ll be 30,and his production should still be just fine.Its really on the Phillies at this point,to put the right team around him.When he’s turning 33,34,35 & older,the bat speed could start to fade.He could become a problem at that point.But the Phillies are trying to open a window now,and regardless of what popular opinion might be,he’s a top lh power bat.He’s something the Phillies lacked before signing him.
Whether it’s a good value or not can certainly be debated, but you are the only person in the world who thinks it will “handcuff” the team. It’s a $25m per year contract for one of the sport’s biggest spending teams.
Are you crazy? He had a hreat year. The Phillies would gladly take a few more seasons like that. I honestly don’t understand where people’s opinions of Harper’s actual stats come from. Hate his personality all you want, but you can’t ignore numbers. z
The league and its GMs and owners disagree.
Mike Trout isn’t a 200 million dollar salary player at age 28? If you don’t think he’d be worth 200 mill in the open market you’re crazy
You can’t judge long term deals on one year.
one word
Werth
Rangers are far more likely than the Brew Crew.
He’s going to be 34 NOT 35. I think he ends up 3/64. Elite players have shown to play well through their 37 season. Plus, they can alwys slide him to first. Better than a 235 mega contract that will sour at the end. Plus, save enough to resign Strasburg. Personally, I’d prefer Moose on a 3 or 4 year deal.
Elite PED era players. Not so much anymore. And what happens to Donaldson’s power if they bring back a normal baseball.
Probably continues to be excellent like it has been for many many years..
I guess you’ll be still shaking your head when Rendon gets that deal.
He was 27 during his 1st full season. Yes, he plays hard but this is where late-bloomer helps a team out not having the same wear and tear.
Because catching in the minor leagues is so much easier?
Then ~5 years of a MLB schedule?
It’s not like he wasn’t a baseball player. Miles are miles.
Rendon will easily break $200 million in free agency
no likely to it
It’s as sure a thing as death and taxes
Donaldson is definitely in an enviable position right now.
No no no. Stay away. Please
Nationals will sign Rendon and Strasburg will sign elsewhere.
They’ll make Strasburg a priority over Rendon.
They very well might.
I personally think that their starting rotation is in a better position to let Strasburg walk, than their offense is to let Rendon walk. Especially with the SP available this year.
Pretty predictable if they do get him. I put Donaldson to the nationals earlier today, because I figured they’d lose Rendon. Plus, Rizzo loves Braves players.
Is playing 1st out of the question in DC?
He makes a ton of sense for them since they don’t have anyone locked in (or projected to be) at first. They are in a position to be aggressive with even a four-year deal knowing they can move him across if he slows down in a couple of years. (Four years for around $90m-$100m, that is. The people saying he will get in the $50m-$60m range are goofballs.)
29yo Rendon at $200+mil on a 8+yr deal or a 35yo Donaldson at $50-$75mil over 2/3yrs?
Take Donaldson & resign Strasburg since it’s only a draft pick (you are also saving a lot of $$$$).
Any smart GM has a hedge available- which this sounds like Rizzo has. Rendon is a total enigma- predicting where he will land is a fun, but difficult exercise.
Donaldson likely has 1 highly productive season left with a couple decent years to follow. Landing him wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize especially paired with Strasburg.
My uncle asked me this question- if you were Nats and you had to sign one of these two duos, who would it be: 1) Strasburg and Donaldson; or 2) Rendon and Wheeler?
It is difficult to predict where Rendon will sign, Boras will most likely see that it will be with the highest bidder. This will follow the Boras trend that has been ongoing for many years.
Uh, boras works for the player, and this theory of boras being some evil mastermind was debunked long ago. Players want to be paid, but ultimately are the ones signing the contract.
Rendon will be a Brewer or Ranger.
Lol at Brewers signing Rendon for $230m.
Hey im a Brewers fan and theres no way we are in those talks lol.
Rangers are far more likely than the Brew Crew.
I’d be ok “trading” Donaldson for Rendon if that’s what ultimately happens. But I know that will never happen cause there is 100% no way the Braves fork out the money Rendon is gonna command
This might mean Rendon is already leaning towards not coming back. He better because I have him and Stras returning
Stras is more valuable to the team. Look how Washington used their pitching in the post season. Stras is also harder to replace. Nats only seem willing to sign big deals with heavy deferrals. Winning a world series might make the deferrals easier to accept, but I would guess Rendon leaves and stras stays.
Nothing to see here boys [and girls]…
Just kicking the tires
The team will be a finalist for Rendon, likewise for Stras. One of the things the Nats have over many teams is how well the handle injuries. Holding out Stras early in his career was something that would chafe any competitive athlete. but what when that same athlete sees how player fared on other teams who put players in be fore they were really ready leading to other injuries (See Shoulder surgeries after Tommy John) the players tend to appreciate how the team protected their long term health rather than push for short term gain.
It’s not ALL about the money
I do believe Rendon will remain with the Nationals.