The Yankees have solely gotten 5 video games out of Josh Donaldson this season, as he’s been hobbled by a hamstring pressure for the rest of the present marketing campaign. Supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned yesterday, nevertheless, {that a} minor league rehab stint for Donaldson is “imminent,” which might sign a return to the lineup within the close to future (Twitter hyperlinks through The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner). Every time Donaldson is cleared to return, Boone added that expects the 37-year-old to be an on a regular basis participant.
Many Yankee followers will certainly bristle at that notion. The previous American League MVP has largely underwhelmed since coming to the Bronx alongside Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ben Rortvedt in a commerce that despatched Gio Urshela and Gary Sanchez to the Twins. Donaldson hit simply .222/.308/.374 in 546 plate appearances final season, although he continued to fee properly on the defensive facet of the sport, drawing +7 marks from each Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Common. Within the 5 video games Donaldson has performed up to now in 2023, he went 2-for-16 with a double, a stroll and 6 strikeouts.
In Donaldson’s absence, DJ LeMahieu has drawn the majority of the begins at third base. The 34-year-old LeMahieu continues to be a methods off his peak efficiency with the Yankees in 2019-20, however his .250/.320/.406 slash in 178 plate appearances this 12 months is strong nonetheless. In fact, LeMahieu is a lot able to taking part in first base and second base as properly, and he additionally hits sufficient to think about at designated hitter on days he’s not within the subject. Even with Donaldson taking part in frequently at third base, Boone may nonetheless work LeMahieu into the lineup on a near-regular foundation by rotating him by means of these 4 spots within the lineup.
Whereas many Yankee followers have been prepared to maneuver on from Donaldson for the higher a part of a 12 months, it’s comprehensible if the Yanks not less than need to try how he fares in his return from the injured checklist. He’s owed a $21MM wage this season and the $8MM buyout on subsequent 12 months’s $16MM possibility regardless, and as beforehand famous, final 12 months’s defensive displaying was robust. Donaldson additionally put the ball in play at a median of 90.7 mph final 12 months and noticed 43% of his batted balls depart the bat at 95-plus miles per hour.
On the identical time, it’s honest to query simply how lengthy a leash Donaldson might be granted if he struggles out of the gate. The Yankees have received eight of their previous ten video games to spice up their document to 30-20, however they’re nonetheless 5 video games behind the division-leading Rays. They gave fellow veteran Aaron Hicks a couple of quarter of the season earlier than designating him for task, although Hicks solely tallied 76 plate appearances and appeared in 28 video games throughout that point. Nonetheless, Hicks was signed by means of the 2025 season — albeit at a decrease annual fee — whereas Donaldson is inked solely by means of season’s finish. The whole monetary dedication to each gamers is comparable.
Turning to a different high-priced, injured veteran — Boone added that the group’s hope is for Carlos Rodon to have the ability to throw off a mound in some unspecified time in the future this week (Twitter hyperlink through Bryan Hoch of MLB.com). Rodon hasn’t thrown a pitch for the Yankees since signing his six-year deal over the winter, owing largely to a forearm pressure but in addition to some again discomfort that popped up whereas he was rehabbing that preliminary damage.
Even when the 30-year-old Rodon is ready to throw off a mound with out problem, a return would nonetheless be a methods down the street. The lefty would doubtless want a number of bullpen classes earlier than then dealing with reside hitters in a simulated setting and ultimately making a number of minor league rehab appearances. It’s arduous to ascertain him finishing that cycle in something lower than a month.
