Indians Acquire Third Baseman Josh Donaldson in Deal With Blue Jays

Donaldson has played in 36 games for Toronto this season.

The Blue Jays have traded third baseman Josh Donaldson to the Indians, Cleveland confirmed on Friday. Toronto will send the Indians $2.7 million as part of the deal, with just shy of $4 million remaining on Donaldson's contract. 

The three-time All-Star last suited up for Toronto on May 28, missing the last three months with a strained left calf muscle. He appeared in his first rehab assignment on Aug. 29, playing for the Blue Jays' High-A affiliate. Prior to his calf injury, Donaldson was hitting .234 with five home runs in 137 at-bats.

Donaldson joined Toronto in 2015, winning the AL MVP in his first year with the Blue Jays. He has 179 career homers in eight seasons, hitting .275 for his career. Donaldson spent the first four years of his career in Oakland. 

The Indians currently sit 14.5 games ahead of the Twins in the AL Central with a 77–57 record. After losing to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series, Cleveland returned to the postseason last year, falling to the Yankees in the ALDS.