The Milwaukee Brewers, who recently triumphed over the Yankees in a series, have officially added veteran third baseman Josh Donaldson to their roster. This announcement came on a Monday afternoon, accompanied by the news of the Brewers sending utility player Owen Miller down to Triple-A Nashville and moving right-hander J.C. Mejía to the 60-day injured list due to shoulder inflammation. Remarkably, Donaldson had been released by the Yankees just a week prior.
Understanding the deal between Donaldson and the Brewers
Josh Donaldson, aged 37, inked a minor-league deal with the Brewers at the end of August following his release from the New York Yankees. His performance in 33 major league games this season yielded a batting line of .142/.225/.434 (75 OPS+), featuring 10 home runs and 15 RBIs. Curiously, despite consistently hitting with an exit velocity above 92 mph, Donaldson struggled significantly with a shockingly low batting average on balls in play, standing at just .076.
The Brewers are evidently banking on Donaldson rediscovering his hitting prowess during their playoff push, perhaps outshining his stint with the Yankees. The verdict on this remains uncertain. In five minor-league games with the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate, he has posted a batting line of .177/.364/.529, including two home runs in 22 plate appearances.
Donaldson is poised to challenge rookie third baseman Andruw Monasterio for playing time, and at the very least, he could be utilized as a designated hitter against left-handed pitchers.
As of Monday, the Brewers held a three-game lead in the National League Central division over the Chicago Cubs. Should the Brewers maintain their playoff position, and if Donaldson’s performance justifies it, he may find himself included on their postseason roster.
From a technical standpoint, the Brewers would need to seek approval from the league to allow Donaldson to replace an injured player. While this is a routine procedure, it should be a straightforward process given that Donaldson was a member of the organization before the August 31 deadline.
The addition of Donaldson to the Brewers marks his seventh big-league team, with previous stints at the Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Guardians, Atlanta Braves, and Minnesota Twins, in addition to his time with the Yankees.
