GONE-ALDSON?
Jays slugger suspends talks, expects to hit free agency, but re-signing still an option
DUNEDIN — Last Thursday, Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson came bounding into the reception area at the club’s spring training office complex to see general manager Ross Atkins.
But before allowing him to jump in the elevator, the office receptionist insisted that the Bringer of Rain first sign in. Apparently, it’s routine for all visitors.
The conversation was overheard by the jaded reporters in the media room and the jokes soon began, the biggest gag being that Donaldson would be so turned off about being forced to sign in that he’d put an end to contract extension talks.
Lo and behold, Donaldson faced the media at Dunedin Stadium on Monday and said that contract extension talks with the Jays have, for all intents and purposes, ceased. He says he wants to concentrate on the season and help the Jays win a World Series.
Of course, it’s highly doubtful that his being forced to sign in last Thursday had anything to do with the current situation, but Jays fans might be sad to learn that, as far as Donaldson is concerned, he may be heading to free agency next season.
“Ross and I and my agent (Dan Lozano) have talked and we’re not there right now. I feel like, as of right now, all my attention and my focus needs to be on this season,” said Donaldson, adding that he would not talk about a contract extension or pending free agency any more during the 2018 season. “I want to be out there each and every day, grinding it out with the team because I know the more I’m out there at third base, the better chance we have to win.”
Donaldson said that he believes the Jays genuinely want to sign him to a longterm deal, but they’re just not “eye to eye” at the moment.
“So I’ve talked to Ross and I explained to him that I think it would be best just to kind of shut that down for right now and because I feel like it’s best for me to focus on myself and focus on this team, because that’s what I know will help us win games.”
The 2015 American League MVP and three-time all-star was asked point-blank if it was his expectation that he would be hitting free agency in the off-season.
“Yes. But that’s not to say talks between the Blue Jays and I won’t ramp up again at some point,” he said. “Because I believe they will.”
Donaldson is 32 and is coming off his first full season in the majors in which he couldn’t play a full schedule, missing 49 games because of a right calf injury that flared up in spring training.
Donaldson also said that advanced analytics have unfairly painted players in their 30s with the same brush, in terms of a projected decline in performance.
For his part, he believes he has a lot of great years left. He hit 33 home runs in 415 at-bats last year with an OPS of .944 — one of his better years in relation to the amount of at-bats.
“My body feels great,” he said. “I feelthatI have several more years of performing at a high level. Last year, I was banged-up, missed 50 games, but I felt like it was one of my better seasons I’ve had in the big leagues. People look at it as I missed 50 games, he was injured. But it wasn’t anything super-major. It was a soft muscle tissue.”
As for the Jays, Donaldson believes they’re going to surprise some this season.
“I wouldn’t say that we’re on anybody’s radar at this point,” he said .“Which is fine. I believe this team has confidence in itself. And we believe that we’re very capable of doing damage throughout the season this year as far as winning a lot of games.”
Donaldson also believes Toronto’s rotation is one of the best in baseball and that the bullpen will come together.
“Just look at what the (guys) have done in the past. Aaron Sanchez, two years ago, was probably top three, top five Cy Young Award-type pitcher. J.A. Happ is one year removed from being a 20-game winner. I believe our starting pitching is definitely there,” he said, adding that he figures the biggest improvement this season will be offensively. Last year, the Jays finished last in the AL in runs scored (693).
“I believe that we can still be a potent offence,” he said. “(Justin) Smoak is coming off a big year. I’m looking forward to him not just having the same year, but probably an even better season. And if Devon (Travis) is able to be in our lineup, he’s a dynamic player. Tulo (Troy Tulowitzki) ... I know he is looking to go out there and prove something this year. And myself, being able to play 150 plus games this season, I’m really looking forward to that challenge.”
Donaldson avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $23-million contract for the 2018 season earlier this month.