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Which MLB teams have the best chance to sign Josh Donaldson?

By Joshua Sadlock

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 04: Josh Donaldson #20 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after an RBI single off Jack Flaherty #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning in game two of the National League Division Series at SunTrust Park on October 04, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 04: Josh Donaldson #20 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after an RBI single off Jack Flaherty #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning in game two of the National League Division Series at SunTrust Park on October 04, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 06: Members of the Los Angeles Dodgers look on from the dugout during Game 3 of the NLDS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Sunday, October 6, 2019 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 06: Members of the Los Angeles Dodgers look on from the dugout during Game 3 of the NLDS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Sunday, October 6, 2019 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the most intriguing team to watch in free agency this winter. They have enough free cash below the luxury-tax line to sign one of the biggest names and have already been linked to Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon. The Dodgers haven’t recently opened their checkbooks for a premier free agent, preferring to keep their own veterans on shorter deals with higher annual salaries. That may change this winter because the Dodgers need to find a way to push themselves over the hump and win a World Series before their window closes.

Signing Cole or Rendon would cement the Dodgers’ status as the favorites to win the NL pennant in 2020, but they could also choose to spread their money around and sign more than one big free agent. For example, they could pursue Josh Donaldson to take over for Justin Turner at third base and sign reliever Will Harris. The Dodgers are already a very complete team, but there’s an argument to be made that spending a combined $30 million per year on Donaldson and a top reliever would give them more bang for their buck and do more to help in a push for another trip to the World Series.

Related Story. Breaking down the best free-agent targets for the Dodgers. light

Turner has been a borderline elite hitter during the first three years of his four-year, $64-million contract that expires at the end of the 2020 season, but health has been a concern. He has hit .307/.397/.519 with 87 doubles, 62 home runs and 190 RBI but has averaged only 123 games per year. Turner’s defense at third base is also in decline. He has played first base very sporadically with the Dodgers, but should make the move across the diamond for the final year of his contract to save his body.

It’s almost comical looking at the Dodgers depth chart and imagining them adding Donaldson or Rendon to play third base, but their interest in the stars should be considered very real. Signing either would free up the Dodgers to make a big trade with Max Muncy or Gavin Lux as the centerpiece.

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