CLEVELAND _ Just prior to the deadline to add a player for the postseason, the Indians dropped a bombshell.
As they battled the Tampa Bay Rays late Friday night, Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan reported that the Indians had landed Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson. Further details of the trade have not been confirmed or reported.
Donaldson, who was the 2015 American League Most Valuable Player when he belted 41 homers and drove in 123 runs, is hitting .234 with a .757 OPS in 137 at-bats. Donaldson is also a three-time All-Star. He finished the past three years with an OPS of at least .939, establishing himself as one of the superstars of the game.
Teams can still make trades after the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline if the player is claimed off waivers and then a deal is agreed upon, similar to how the Indians acquired outfielder Jay Bruce from the New York Mets last season.
This aggressive deal would indicate that MVP candidate Jose Ramirez will likely move to second base and Jason Kipnis will head to the outfield, as he did near the end of last season and into the American League Division Series. If Donaldson provides anywhere close to his 2014-2017 levels, he adds a lethal hitter to an already strong top half of the lineup for the Indians. He has been dealing with a calf injury lately and his health is somewhat of a question.
Donaldson avoided arbitration with a one-year, $23 million deal. He's eligible for free agency after this season.
