Former Blue Jays currently featured on the AL/NL Championship Series rosters
![TORONTO, ON - JUNE 19: Josh Donaldson #28 of the New York Yankees runs to first after getting hit by a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning during their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on June 19, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - JUNE 19: Josh Donaldson #28 of the New York Yankees runs to first after getting hit by a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning during their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on June 19, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fjaysjournal-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F1404072439-850x560-5479385c2fc65cca030b1ac9908c0ea5.jpg)
Josh Donaldson – 3B
Acquired during the 2014/2015 offseason from the Oakland Athletics, Josh Donaldson was coming off an All-Star campaign and was a main reason the Blue Jays had such a successful 2015 season.
The “Bringer of Rain” ended up winning the AL MVP Award that season with 41 home runs and a league-leading 123 RBI to go with his .939 OPS, also taking home the Silver Slugger Award. As a member of the Blue Jays, Donaldson amassed a .281/.383/.548 slash line through 1749 at-bats, smashing 116 home runs to go with a .931 OPS and a 19.4 bWAR. He also earned two All-Star appearances during his three 3.5-year stay with the Jays.
With the Jays heading towards a rebuild and Donaldson struggling with injuries, Ross Atkins and co. traded him at the deadline to the then-Cleveland Indians in exchange for RHP Julian Merryweather.
Boone says "it is hard to envision going any other way" when asked whether he would start Jameson Taillon in a potential Game 5. Also said he is not presently considering changes at 3B with Josh Donaldson. "We need him. We need him to do something big this series." #Postseason
— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) October 21, 2022
He finished the season in Cleveland and signed a one-year deal with Atlanta for the 2019 campaign before inking a four-year $92 million contract with the Minnesota Twins. This past offseason, the Twins traded him, Ben Rortvedt, and newly acquired Isiah Kiner-Falefa to the New York Yankees in exchange for Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela.
With the Yankees, Donaldson has had his clutch moments but has struggled to a .222/.308/.374 line and a career-low .682 OPS. The one thing trending in the right direction is his defence, as the third baseman amassed an 8 bDRS while sitting in the 92nd percentile in Outs Above Average (7).
In the 2022 postseason, Donaldson has appeared in every game in both the ALCS and ALDS, going 5 for 22 (.227) with one double compared to 11 strikeouts. He made waves earlier in the ALCS when he believed the ball was a home run but was ruled in play, with the infielder getting thrown out at second base after celebrating.