MLB Insider Jeff Passan Says Trading Josh Donaldson Was When Yankees Decline Began

One of Brian Cashman’s worst errors came in the 2021–2022 offseason when the New York Yankees acquired Josh Donaldson, a former third baseman for the Twins and Blue Jays.

MLB Insider Jeff Passan Says Trading Josh Donaldson Was When Yankees Decline Began

Taking back Donaldson’s salary and freeing up a roster place for him over the previous two seasons has severely restricted the Yankees, even if Cashman didn’t necessarily give up much in the form of Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela. Jeff Passan, an MLB expert for ESPN, criticized Cashman and the front staff of New York for even considering such a deal.

On the “Michael Kay Show,” ESPN MLB expert Jeff Passan mostly defended the Yankees general manager for some of the decisions that may have jeopardized his career. Passan said that the signing of DJ LeMahieu and the trade for Giancarlo Stanton were “celebrated” at the time but have since “gone sideways.”

One maneuver, though, Passan was unable to counter.

“The Donaldson trade was terrible,” Passan told Kay.

“That was bad from the jump. I think the Donaldson trade was bad from the start because the Yankees knew just how poorly he was getting along with people in Minnesota. There was some toxicity going on there. I don’t think you can look at the Donaldson trade in any positive way.”

New Yorkers are searching around for answers as to why the Yankees are having one of their worst seasons in 30 years.

One of the main targets for incensed New Yorkers wanting to hold veteran Yankees GM Brian Cashman accountable is Donaldson’s.142/.225/.434 slash line.

Following a season in which he hit 247 with 26 home runs, Donaldson was in good shape. The 37-year-old third baseman has only hit 25 home runs since moving to New York and has a slash line of 207/.293/.385, losing a lot of time due to injuries.

In March 2022, the Twins dealt Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Gary Sanchez to the Yankees in exchange for Gio Urshela and Gio Sanchez.

The Yankees, are 10 games shy of a Wild Card place in the American League and five games under.500, won’t be the ones to stop the Twins from continuing their record-breaking playoff losing run this year.

 

When will Giancarlo Stanton turn into a Josh Donaldson/ Aaron Hicks/ Joey Gallo

Will the Yankees ever eat his money and deal him?

No team will give up much( aging injury prone player ) also he hasn’t been Giancarlo for a while now

Other trades that sink Yankees ship for years

Frankie Montas trade
Josh Donaldson trade
Giancarlo Stanton 10 year deal
DJ LeMahieu 6 year deal
Aaron Hicks 7 year deal
Joey Gallo trade
Carlos Rondon 7 year deal
 

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