Fansided

Breaking down the best free-agent targets for the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason

By Joshua Sadlock

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 15: Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (6) laughs with the St. Louis Cardinals third base coach after a foul ball came in between them in the third inning of Game Four of the NLCS between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park. (Photo by Jonathan Newton /The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 15: Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (6) laughs with the St. Louis Cardinals third base coach after a foul ball came in between them in the third inning of Game Four of the NLCS between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park. (Photo by Jonathan Newton /The Washington Post via Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 09: Atlanta Braves third baseman Josh Donaldson #20 rounds the bases after hitting a home run the fifth and final game of the National League Division Series between the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals on October 9, 2019 at Suntrust Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 09: Atlanta Braves third baseman Josh Donaldson #20 rounds the bases after hitting a home run the fifth and final game of the National League Division Series between the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals on October 9, 2019 at Suntrust Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. Josh Donaldson

The Dodgers have been linked to both high-profile third basemen on the market this offseason, Josh Donaldson and Anthony Rendon. The team’s interest in adding at the hot corner makes sense because Justin Turner is entering the final season of his four-year contract, will be 35 next year and has seen his defensive value drop sharply as he deals with knee injuries. Signing Donaldson or Rendon would allow Turner to slide across the diamond to first base.

Let’s break down Donaldson first and analyze how he fits into the Dodgers plans and budget. Andrew Friedman has shown a tendency to prefer the three or four-year contracts for veterans. Based on how he has attacked the market, Friedman appears to prefer offering a higher annual salary on a shorter deal to land high-end free agents nearing the end of their prime. Donaldson, who will be 34 in December, falls into that category.

Donaldson hit .259/.379/.521 last year with 33 doubles, 37 home runs and 94 RBI. He continued to play his trademark highlight-reel defense and led the Atlanta Braves in WAR. Most importantly, he showed he was healthy and finished the year on a high note. Donaldson hit .270/.402/.556 with 19 home runs and 49 RBI in the second half.

A four-year deal for Donaldson would come at a slightly higher cost than the $64-million deal Turner is wrapping up, but he is a superior all-around player. The Dodgers are expected to have roughly $25-30 million to work with below the luxury-tax line, so choosing Donaldson over Rendon would leave them more to spend on the rest of their roster.

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