Blue Jays: Former MVP inks four-year pact with the Twins

TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 8: Josh Donaldson #20 of the Toronto Blue Jays is presented with the 2015 A.L. MVP Award by former player and only Blue Jays player to ever win an MVP George Bell before the start of MLB game action against the Boston Red Sox on April 8, 2016 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 8: Josh Donaldson #20 of the Toronto Blue Jays is presented with the 2015 A.L. MVP Award by former player and only Blue Jays player to ever win an MVP George Bell before the start of MLB game action against the Boston Red Sox on April 8, 2016 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Former Toronto Blue Jays MVP Josh Donaldson has reportedly inked a four-year pact with the Minnesota Twins according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

According to Feinsand, the former Blue Jays third baseman will collect $92 million through the term of the deal with an average annual salary of $23 million dollars. The deal reportedly also carries an option for a fifth season which would take the total amount north of $100 million.

The Nationals, Twins, and Braves have been long rumoured as the final trio of suitors as Donaldson sought out a four-year commitment. The third baseman put his injury woes behind him in Atlanta last season hitting .259/.379/.521 with 37 homers and a 6.1 WAR in 155 contests.

Donaldson will join a Twins team that finished first in the American League Central in 2019 with a 101-61 record.

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Donaldson joined the Blue Jays in the winter of 2014 when he was acquired from the Athletics in exchange for Franklin BarretoKendall GravemanBrett Lawrie and Sean Nolin. The third baseman would spend 3.5 seasons north of the border hitting .281/.383/.548 with 116 homers and a 21.6 WAR in 462 games with Toronto.

The third baseman was an integral part of the Jays back-to-back postseason runs winning the MVP award in 2015 in his first season as a Blue Jay.  Donaldson was traded to Cleveland in the summer of 2018 in exchange for minor-league pitcher Julian Merryweather.

The 34-year departed Toronto with a sour taste in his mouth following a dispute with the team’s medical staff and front office over his rehab program and the slugger’s desire to rehabilitate away from the team.

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Donaldson is one of the best hitters in baseball when healthy while having the swagger and on-field presence to back it. Fans will get a chance to see the former Blue Jays favourite a little more now that he will be remaining in the American League for an extended period.