Josh Donaldson Yankees

Divya Tiwari

Is Yankees’ Josh Donaldson Retiring After The 2023 MLB Season? Skipper Hopeful For The Baseman’s Form To Return

New York Yankees is currently going through one of the harshest slumps of the ongoing season. In the absence of their captain Aaron Judge, the roster is struggling to maintain the winning streak. The Yankees also lost to their biggest rivals, the Boston Red Sox, at both ends of the doubleheader. Apparently, the veterans on the roster, including Josh Donaldson, DJ LeMahieu, and Giancarlo Stanton, have been trying to put their best foot forward and lead the squad. But something or other is coming along the way that is hindering the Yankees’ success.

This is not normal for the Yankees’ OFs to face a severe slump. They are one of the best in the league and have fought with the world to reach their current level. One of them is New York Yankees’ veteran third baseman Josh Donaldson. Throughout his 13-year career, Donaldson has put together quite an impressive record. However, he is currently facing some turmoil as the baseman has been unable to deliver the kind of good game expected from him. And shockingly, when asked about his future, Josh provided a cryptic reply which is big enough to stun his fans.

   

Yankees Veteran Josh Donaldson Looking For Retirement “SOON”

Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson has been sidelined by a hamstring injury since April 5.Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson has been sidelined by a hamstring injury since April 5.Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

In his MLB career, Josh Donaldson has seen way too many ups and downs. The once-silver slugger secured the American League MVP award in 2015, along with three All-Star appearances and stops in Oakland, Toronto, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Minnesota. Currently, Donaldson, 37, is in the final season of his four-year, $92 million contract with the New York Yankees. But the slugger gave a very cryptic answer when asked about his future, staying in NYC or leaving to any other team. Josh revealed that he hasn’t decided if he’ll play in 2024 or if he’ll call it a career after this season. He said, “It kind of just depends on how I feel going through this year and this season and all of that and talking to my family.”

Apparently, Josh has not given his future in the league much thought, as he is currently focused on increasing his form for the ongoing season. Although the Yankee is open to playing in the future, that is what he would likely want to do. But he clarified that he hadn’t put more thought into it.

Yankees Skipper Looking Up At Donaldson To Get Out Of Slump

Josh Donaldson
New York Yankees’ third baseman Josh Donaldson

Surprisingly, ever since coming to the Yankees in a March 2022 trade, Donaldson has been unable to recapture the magic. Last year, he closed the season after hitting .222/.308/.374, which was his career’s worst number to date. And this year also, Josh cannot provide good numbers for the Bombers and their fans. He was out almost the entire April and May with a hamstring strain. And even when he returned, the 37-year-old veteran has hit .151 with six home runs and 8 RBIs in 17 games.

Despite that, Skipper Aaron Boone looks high at Donaldson to jump out of his slump and provide some good games to his fans. “He’s hitting the ball hard, which is good,” asserted the manager when discussing the slugger. He even acknowledged that Josh is digging through the at-bats and hitting many balls hard. And in Boone’s sight, if Donaldson continues to do that, the Yankees will be in a good spot when they look up a few weeks and months from now.