Josh Donaldson for the New York Yankees in 2023. Photo via Getty Images
In a completely unexpected move—I hope you can detect the sarcasm—the Yankees have released thid baseman Josh Donaldson. Additionally, in a more surprising move, the team placed outfielder Harrison Bader on waivers.
The Donaldson move was an undeniable failure from the beginning. Since Brian Cashman traded for the $50 million slugger in 2022, Donaldson slashed .207 with 180 strikeouts. He missed the majority of the 2023 season with injuries, but in the 33 games he did play, he batted only .142.
The now 37-year-old former MVP was simply past his prime, and the Yankees failed to see it. The power was still there, as Donaldson hit 25 homers last year and ten this year, and the defense was spectacular. But he simply could not put it together, and between his offensive struggles and huge salary, the Yankees decided to part ways.
Bader on Waivers
Meanwhile, outfielder Harrison Bader was placed on waivers yesterday. In essence, the Yankees have posted him to the MLB board where any team can claim him up to September 1. If no team claims him by that point, he remains with the Yankees. Bader himself did not know what waivers meant when he found out he was put on it, and had no idea he was put on waivers until he saw a TV news report on ESPN while eating lunch.
“I was in the lunchroom, I saw it on ESPN,” Bader said of the situation after the game. “I guess it popped up on there so that’s how I found out. [My reaction was] like, what does waivers mean?” Manager Aaron Boone declined to comment.
While it is not uncommon for teams to place players on waivers without telling them, it is still not a good look for the front office. The Yankees could have traded Bader at the trade deadline, but believing they were still in the playoff hunt, stood pat.
Now, the Yankees are paying the price as they have listed Bader essentially for free. In theory, the team could re-sign him as a free agent in the upcoming off-season. But with their top outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez on the rise, the odds of that may not be so high.
