With arbitration looming, will Blue Jays and Josh Donaldson agree to extension?
As it stands today, the Toronto Blue Jays and reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson have yet to work out a deal for the 2016 season.
Donaldson is in this second year of arbitration and while the two have exchanged numbers, they will head to an arbitration hearing if they don't agree on a contract soon.
Source: Date of Donaldson’s arbitration hearing with #BlueJays is Feb. 15. Ten days left for sides to reach multi-yr deal and avoid hearing.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 5, 2016
If the Blue Jays have their way, though, they'd avoid the hearing.
In speaking to season-ticket holders Thursday night, Jays GM Ross Atkins expressed interest in signing Donaldson to a multi-year deal:
#BlueJays, Donaldson are ideally "going to work toward a multiyear deal" per Atkins. Arb hearing pending.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) February 5, 2016
Obviously, any team would want to sign the 30-year-old AL MVP. Luckily for Toronto, it seems Donaldson also wants to be with them:
@jffbaseball Toronto was my fav city before and even more now.
— Josh Donaldson (@BringerOfRain20) February 4, 2016
@care4volleyball Rogers Centre
— Josh Donaldson (@BringerOfRain20) February 4, 2016
Donaldson is under team control through the 2018 season, but going to arbitration every offseason would be taxing on both sides. A multi-year deal would keep everybody happy, especially if the team wants a better chance at re-signing him if/when he becomes a free agent.
In his first season with Toronto, Donaldson made an immediate impact, slashing.297/.371/.568 with 41 homers and a league-leading 123 RBI in 2015.
For now, though, let's take a look back at Donaldson's unreal debut season with the Blue Jays:
