Josh Donaldson trade rumors: Should Blue Jays shop him?

The start for the Toronto Blue Jays has not gone as planned. With an increased payroll, is it time to move Josh Donaldson?

This was not the plan. And, although it is early, the fight for contention may be larger than the team can take. As it stands now, the Toronto Blue Jays own the worst record in all of Major League Baseball.

The question is, what next? The team’s payroll increased to over $143 million this season, and that is with slugger Edwin Encarnacion moving on to Cleveland. With a wealth of talent, potential suitors for trades should not be difficult court. The bait the Blue Jays use first is what matters.

On Sunday, ESPN’s Senior Baseball Writer Buster Olney penned a article on the selection of bait the Blue Jays possess. Of particular interest is Josh Donaldson.

"That’s because Donaldson, 31, is moving closer to free agency; he will be part of an epic class in fall 2018 unless the Jays work out an extension. As an impact hitter under team control through next season, Donaldson would presumably have really good value in the market — if he’s healthy."

The key words in that quote are “if he’s healthy.” When Donaldson is in the lineup, he is a monster. For the last few seasons, he played at least 155 games, hit 30+ home runs, and managed a slash line that generates a .930 or higher OPS while in Toronto.

Donaldson is an annual MVP candidate. At 31 years old, there are still several years of production left. However, he is on the 10-day disabled list for the first time in his career with a calf strain. He left the sixth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday. While the length of his time away is not known, calf injuries can linger.

Next: MLB 2017: One X-factor for each team

Still, there are teams all around baseball that can use a high-production, low-risk third baseman. The question is, what are they willing to give up?