Indians get Donaldson in trade with Blue Jays

The Indians beat the trading deadline to acquire players for the postseason by about three hours on Aug. 31 when they landed third baseman Josh Donaldson from the Toronto Blue Jays, according to multiple reports.

Neither the Indians nor the Blue Jays confirmed the reports made by Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, Ken Rosenthal of MLB Network and the Toronto Sun.

There is no mention of what the Indians traded to Toronto.

“There’s nothing to say,” Indians manager Terry Francona said in his postgame press conference after the Indians blanked the Tampa Bay Rays, 3-0. “Was it on the Internet? If it’s on the Internet it’s probably — but there’s nothing to say. All right guys?”

Francona then detached the tiny black microphone clipped to his shirt and stepped away.

“If that happens, he’s a great player,” said Indians designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion, a former teammate of Donaldson in Toronto. “He’s a great guy.”

Donaldson was the American League MVP in 2015, but he has been plagued by calf injuries in 2017 and 2018. He hit 33 home runs last year despite a calf injury but has played in only 36 games this season after signing a one-year, $23 million deal in January. He has not played with the Blue Jays since late May. He is hitting .234 with five home runs and 16 RBI.

The fact Donaldson plays third would mean Francona would have to move Jose Ramirez from third to second base to get Donaldson on the field. That would make Jason Kipnis the odd man out. Kipnis has struggled most of 2018, but he is 9 for 25 (.360) with two home runs and seven RBI over his last seven games.

Donaldson, on a rehab assignment with the Class A Dunedin Blue Jays on Aug. 30, was 1 for 3 with a home run.