The Josh Donaldson era has come to an end in Toronto, but that doesn’t mean the third baseman won’t miss his time in the city.
Donaldson was shipped to the Cleveland Indians on Friday, adding to an already stacked roster which includes Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez and Michael Brantley. While Cleveland is firmly in World Series contention, the Jays have been dismantling their roster. Although his focus is now set on a title, the 2015 AL MVP admitted that leaving the city he called home for nearly four seasons has been very difficult.
It didn’t take long for Donaldson to establish himself as a hero in Toronto. In 2015, he played a huge part in immediately turning around the team and eventually leading his teammates to back-to-back ALCS appearances, one of which the organization ironically lost to the Indians. Who could forget his epic slide home against the Texas Rangers in to clinch the 2016 ALDS?
Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
More change could be on the horizon in Toronto. Last week, the injured Troy Tulowitzki insisted he would only return to his natural short stop position next season and with Donaldson gone, Vladdy Guerrero Jr. will likely be making his way up with the big boys next season. But regardless of what happens, there’s no denying that Donaldson gave the franchise some incredible years.
