Josh Donaldson Trade Rumors: Twins 3B Drawing Interest from Brewers Ahead of Deadline

AP Photo/Jim Mone

The Milwaukee Brewers have “checked in” with the Minnesota Twins on third baseman Josh Donaldson, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network and The Score.

However, Heyman noted that a Twins-Brewers agreement “seems like a long shot” considering the money left on Donaldson’s contract.

The 35-year-old, who signed a four-year, $92 million deal before the 2020 campaign, is owed $21,750,000 in 2022 and 2023.

Donaldson has 15 home runs, 42 RBI and a .249 batting average (.828 OPS) through 80 games this year for Minnesota.

As Heyman tweeted, the Brewers were in the market for a third baseman this offseason when they put themselves in the mix for Justin Turner, who decided to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Robert Murray of FanSided also reported on the Brewers, writing that the team has looked into “third base upgrades.” Murray also mentioned Donaldson as an option but referenced that the contract could be a roadblock.

The Twins sit dead-last in the American League Central with a 42-58 record, and they appear to be playing out the string at this point. As for the Brewers, they are first in the National League Central with a 58-42 record, good enough for a 6.5-game lead over the second-place Cincinnati Reds.

Donaldson would be an upgrade over the Brewers’ incumbent third baseman, Luis Urias. However, the 24-year-old has still performed well, amassing 13 home runs, 45 RBI and a .236 batting average (.751 OPS) in 94 games.

Milwaukee’s phenomenal starting pitching has gotten the Brewers to the top of the division, with Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta and Corbin Burnes all posting sub-three ERA thus far.

The Brewers’ hitting has not fared as well, with the team last in the 15-team National League in batting average (.223) and 11th in OPS (.697).

Inserting Donaldson into the mix would certainly help, although the aforementioned contract could lead to Milwaukee eventually landing on other options.