Josh Donaldson has been one of the stars of this Major League Baseball season, helping power a Toronto Blue Jays offense that leads the majors in runs scored.
The Boston Red Sox might view the third baseman as the one that got away.
Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reported Monday that before signing third baseman Pablo Sandoval to a five-year, $95 million contract this past offseason, the Red Sox inquired about Donaldson, who then was a member of the Oakland A’s.
The A’s, per Mastrodonato, “told them Donaldson wasn’t available.”
But Oakland did make the 29-year-old available a short time later, trading him to Toronto for third baseman Brett Lawrie and prospects Kendall Graveman, Sean Nolin and Franklin Barreto just three days after Sandoval inked his deal with Boston.
Donaldson, who is earning $4.3 million this season, is far outperforming his contract to date, posting a .301/.359/.539 slash line with 18 home runs, 49 RBIs and a major league best-tying 58 runs scored through 77 games. Coincidentally, he’s enjoyed great success against the Red Sox, going 13-for-45 (.289) with six doubles, two homers, eight walks, nine RBIs and seven runs scored against Toronto’s division rival.
Donaldson also entered Monday with a 4.3 WAR that led all major league third basemen and proceeded to drive in the Blue Jays’ only run in a 3-1 loss to the Red Sox at Rogers Centre.
What exactly Boston was willing to offer Oakland for Donaldson is unclear. But we’re sure Ben Cherington & Co. wish the A’s were willing to listen.
Thumbnail photo via Peter Llewellyn/USA TODAY Sports Images
