Josh Donaldson and the Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly bridged the massive gap between their arbitration filings and agreed to a two-year contract, Sportsnet reported Monday night.
Donaldson’s arbitration hearing was scheduled for Feb. 15 and the two sides had submitted amounts that were laughingly just $450,000 apart. Donaldson, last season’s American League MVP in his initial season with the Jays, sought $11.8 million; the Jays submitted $11.35 million. An arbitrator would have heard arguments from both sides and chosen one amount.
Instead, Donaldson can skip next week’s hearing and skip the whole process next winter. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reports the two-year deal is worth $29 million.
Last season, the Blue Jays made the playoffs for the first time since 1993 on the strength of Donaldson’s season. Donaldson, 30, hit .297 with a .939 OPS, slugged 41 home runs with a league-leading 123 RBIs. He also scored a league-leading 122 runs hitting second in the American League’s most potent offence.
Spring training for the Blue Jays begins Feb. 22 when pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report. The first day for the full squad is Feb. 25.
