JAYS LAND 3B DONALDSON IN BLOCKBUSTER
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired third baseman Josh Donaldson from the Oakland Athletics for infielder Brett Lawrie, pitchers Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin, plus infielder Franklin Barreto.
What does it give the Toronto Blue Jays
Looking to make a big splash this off-season, the Jays acquired their second big name (so far)--after signing veteran catcher {P Russell Martin} as a free agent. In Donaldson, Toronto lands a quality run-producing third baseman who should fit in nicely in the heart of the Blue Jays' batting order. He's a third right-handed power bat to go with {P Jose Bautista} and {P Edwin Encarnacion}.
What does it give the Oakland Athletics
The A's did well to land four solid assets for their starting third baseman here. Lawrie is an excellent defensive third baseman who has battled injury throughout his young career. He's also versatile enough to play second base, which is where he may ultimately wind up due to the presence of top prospect {P Renato Nunez}. Graveman and Nolin are two pretty good pitching prospects who both stand a chance to crack Oakland's 25-man roster during spring training. Both are starter candidates who could also fill a role out of the bullpen. As for Barreto, he's an 18-year-old shortstop with a bright future who may become the team's shortstop of the future--especially after the A's traded top prospect {P Addison Russell} to the Cubs during the 2014 campaign.
Fantasy impact
This deal may help Donaldson's fantasy value by moving from spacious Oakland to hitter-friendly Rogers Centre in Toronto. However, repeating his '14 totals won't be easy. Lawrie probably needed a change of scenery, so don't be surprised if he starts to meet expectations in Oakland. He must stay healthy, though. Graveman and Nolin also get a bit of a spike in fantasy value. Both are the types of pitchers who have thrived with the A's in recent years, and both could be sleepers in 2015. Young Barreto is a keeper-league asset who is still several years away from joining the A's. He does have a lot of talent, though.
