Several teams were reportedly pissed at the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians for the August trade which saw Josh Donaldson change hands for a player to be named.
Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic reported several AL teams weren’t thrilled with how the Donaldson deal unfolded. Per Rosenthal, the Red Sox and Yankees complained to MLB asking how the agreement was legal. The big question being Donaldson’s questionable health making a trade possible at all.
Putting on tin foil hats, it’s easy to poke holes in the deal because the Blue Jays front office, led by Mark Shapiro, used to work for the Indians. There have been plenty of people suggesting Toronto made the deal because they were in cahoots with Cleveland. In my opinion, that’s all BS.
Donaldson was a spoiled, expiring asset who was hurt and going to A) accept a qualifying offer and remain with the team, overpaid and injured, for another season or B) walk away for nothing. Toronto didn’t get an amazing return for a former MVP, but Donaldson isn’t that player right now. He’s hurt, and it’s unknown when he’ll suit up in Cleveland.
Call it a bad deal, sure. But, insinuation there was some sort of collusion is silly. If Donaldson gets into the Indians lineup and starts raking than maybe we can examine the issue more. As for now, it’s a whole lot of nothing.
[Deadspin]
