MILWAUKEE — Former AL MVP Josh Donaldson signed a minor league deal with the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, two days after the New York Yankees released him.
The Brewers said Donaldson will report to their Triple-A affiliate in Nashville, Tennessee.
Donaldson is a three-time All-Star who had an MVP season with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015, but his production has dipped dramatically. The 37-year-old has hit .207 with 25 homers and 77 RBIs over 165 games in two seasons since the Yankees acquired him along with infielder/outfielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa and catcher Ben Rortvedt in a March 2022 deal that sent catcher Gary Sanchez and infielder Gio Urshela to the Minnesota Twins.
By signing Thursday, Donaldson can be eligible for postseason play with the Brewers and doesn’t have to finish the remainder of his stint on the 60-day injured list. Donaldson went on the injured list July 16 with a strained right calf and was moved to the 60-day injured list four days later.
Milwaukee leads the Chicago Cubs by three games in the NL Central heading into a home series with the Philadelphia Phillies that begins Friday.
The Brewers only have to pay Donaldson a prorated share of the $720,000 minimum. The Yankees released Donaldson on Tuesday.
Donaldson is hitting .142 with a .225 on-base percentage and .434 slugging percentage in 33 games this season. In a statistical oddity, 10 of Donaldson’s 15 hits are homers.
The Brewers could use a boost in production at third base. Rookie Andruw Monasterio has received the majority of playing time at third lately and is batting .256 with a .335 on-base percentage, three homers and 18 RBIs in 65 games. But he’s hitting just .211 with a .290 on-base percentage and .300 slugging percentage in August.
Milwaukee also has Brian Anderson, who is hitting .224 with a .310 on-base percentage with nine homers and 40 RBIs in 93 games. Anderson last appeared in a game on Aug. 22.