Indians Free Agent 3B Josh Donaldson Signs One-Year Deal with Braves

The first move of MLB free agency that directly impacts the Indians has taken place, and this one might have been expected.

Indians free agent third baseman Josh Donaldson to free agency is heading South, as he’s inked a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves worth $23 million. Deal is pending a physical per Ken Rosenthal (MLB on Fox, The Athletic, MLB Network Insider.)

Donaldson will be joining a Braves lineup that is full of youth, power, experience, speed, and athleticism. For Donaldson this will be his third team in less than two seasons.

The slugger was originally on the Toronto Blue Jays roster at the start of the 2018 season. He was traded to the Cleveland Indians in the month of august during the August wavier-wire trading period.

Donaldson time with the Indians was brief. During his time, he posted an average of .246, with 8 home runs, and driving in 23 runs with an OPS .801.

He was acquired as another powerful right-handed bat to balance the lineup and fill the void at third base with the Indians deciding to move second baseman Jason Kipnis to center-field. That move became necessary with the amount of injuries the Indians had in the outfield.

With Donaldson moving on, Jose Ramirez will go back to third base and Kipnis will move back to second base.

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