The Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies have both expressed interest in signing free-agent third baseman Josh Donaldson, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
Donaldson is coming off of a 2019 campaign with the Atlanta Braves in which he slashed .259/.379/.521 with 37 home runs and 94 RBI over 659 plate appearances.
The 33-year-old signed a one-year, $23 million deal with the Braves last offseason.
Donaldson, who played his collegiate baseball at Auburn, was originally selected by the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the 2007 MLB Draft. However, he never actually played a game for the Cubs before being traded to the Oakland Athletics in July 2008.
The Pensacola, Fl. native made his big-league debut in 2010, managing five hits in 34 trips to the dish.
Donaldson did not become a full-time starter for the Athletics until 2013, when he slashed .301/.384/.499 with 24 long balls and 93 RBI across 668 plate appearances.
He proceeded to make his first All-Star team in 2014, slashing .255/.342/.456 with 29 dingers and 98 RBI, and that ensuing offseason, Oakland dealt Donaldson to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Donaldson went on to have the best run of his career to date in Toronto, winning the MVP award in his first season with the club in 2015 after slashing .297/.371/.568 with 41 homers, 41 doubles and 123 RBI.
He then made his third straight All-Star appearance in 2016 before injuries began to limit him in 2017, when he played just 113 games. Midway through the 2018 campaign, the Jays traded Donaldson to the Cleveland Indians, but he appeared in just 52 contests between Toronto and Cleveland overall that year.
The Nationals' interest in Donaldson is particularly interesting, as they have an All-Star free-agent third baseman of their own in Anthony Rendon, who is expected to command a much bigger deal due to being four years younger and a Scott Boras client.
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