Yankees Possibly Facing Their Final Opportunity to Disapprove of Josh Donaldson Profoundly – Top

When the New York Yankees released Josh Donaldson, the collective fanbase roared in excitement, bidding farewell to one of the worst Yankees of all time (when considering all factors of his failed two-year tenure).

The move was in response to the Yankees changing direction. They decided to promote four of their top prospects for the final month of the season, rendering Donaldson useless (he would’ve returned only for the final two weeks, anyway). Most would argue he should’ve been released the moment he hit the 60-day IL.

Shortly after the Yankees made the surprising decision, the Milwaukee Brewers signed him to a minor-league contract and he immediately went on an assignment with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. MLB reporter Bob Nightengale said at the time of the signing that Donaldson was expected to join the big-league club within a week.

If that’s indeed true, we’re right up on that deadline, meaning Donaldson might face the Yankees as his first opponent with his new team. We genuinely feel bad for the video team that has to compile some sort of tribute to one of the most unlikeable players in the modern era.

So if the Brewers opt to put their new acquisition in a perilous position, Yankees fans better be ready to boo him out of the stadium. Fortunately for the veteran slugger, this time the distaste will feel a bit more natural now that he’s a visiting player.

Donaldson’s acquisition represented so much that is wrong with the Yankees. He possesses the attitude the Yankees front office thinks the team needs, but in reality it’s an extreme, toxic version of what’s necessary to win a championship.

He was yet another redundant, aging veteran with a bloated salary that fell remarkably short of expectations. He couldn’t handle the pressure whatsoever. He managed to be a distraction more than he was an asset.

But perhaps worse were two things totally out of his control. Firstly, Cashman asserted the Yankees couldn’t afford to add another sizable contract to the payroll, but then swiftly imported Donaldson’s $50 million over two seasons. Secondly, he did it because he couldn’t stomach failing to get any sort of return for Gary Sánchez, who was once upon a time on track to become the league’s best catcher. Sánchez grew into a liability, but instead of non-tendering him to save $10 million, the Yankees traded him to inherit an additional $40 million and block themselves from spending on better players.

Donaldson was far from what the Yankees needed. He’s far from what the fans wanted. But he spent nearly two years here anyway, with 95% of it being just as unenjoyable as we had predicted.

That deserves relentless, unwavering booing, and it should give Hal Steinbrenner more evidence for his offseason dossier that will influence whatever organizational-altering decisions he’s on the verge of making.