Which MLB teams are still in on Josh Donaldson and can any of them top the Nationals?

1. Washington Nationals

The Nationals have made it their priority to sign Josh Donaldson now that Anthony Rendon has moved on. It’s been rare over the past five years that the Nationals have missed out on a free agent they’ve set their sights on. Say what you will about deferred money, but the Lerner family has been more than willing to spend whatever it takes to make their team a World Series contender every year.

Washington upped Stephen Strasburg’s annual salary to $35 million from $25 million, but that raise won’t be enough to prevent them from offering Donaldson the type of deal he is seeking. The Nats remained interested in re-signing Rendon after taking care of Strasburg and are projected to have over $30 million to work with below the luxury-tax threshold heading into next season.

It will be impossible for the Nationals to replace Rendon’s production, but they can come close with a healthy Donaldson. Washington was able to absorb the loss of Bryce Harper last season without any hit to their offense, but the same will not be true of Rendon. Longtime Nat Ryan Zimmerman is also a free agent this winter, leaving the team with holes at both corner spots in their infield, unless they intend to play aging Howie Kendrick at first base every day.

Every other top free-agent infielder has already signed, leaving the Nationals almost no choice but to be all-in on signing Donaldson. A four-year deal for $90-100 million is likely what it will take to land Donaldson. The Braves don’t have as pressing a need to spend that type of money and have already had a busy offseason. If the Nationals keep pressing, they should win the Donaldson sweepstakes.