The Disastrous Trade: Evaluating Brian Cashman's Dealings with Josh Donaldson

TLDRAfter a 13-year career and multiple accomplishments, Josh Donaldson's time with the New York Yankees turned out to be a disaster. Brian Cashman's trade for Donaldson was one of his worst moves, resulting in wasted money and poor performance. Numbers and analytics may have influenced the decision, but ultimately, Donaldson's decline in production and inability to match his Toronto days proved the deal to be a failure.

Key insights

🔑Donaldson's trade to the Yankees was one of Brian Cashman's worst moves.

🤔The trade was based on Donaldson's defensive skills and potential offensive contributions.

💰The deal cost the Yankees $50 million in contract and hindered their roster flexibility.

⬇️Donaldson's performance declined significantly after leaving the Toronto Blue Jays.

📉The trade showcased the dangers of relying too heavily on analytics and ignoring player history.

Q&A

Why did the Yankees trade for Josh Donaldson?

The Yankees believed Donaldson's defensive skills and potential offensive contributions would benefit the team.

What went wrong with Josh Donaldson in New York?

Donaldson's performance declined significantly, and he was unable to match his previous success with the Toronto Blue Jays.

How much did the trade cost the Yankees?

The Yankees took on a $50 million contract for Donaldson, which limited their financial and roster flexibility.

Did analytics play a role in the trade?

Analytics may have influenced the decision, but the trade ultimately highlighted the dangers of relying too heavily on numbers and not considering player history.

Who benefited from the trade?

The Minnesota Twins, who traded Donaldson to the Yankees, were thrilled to get rid of him.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Josh Donaldson had a 13-year career and achieved significant milestones.

00:26Brian Cashman's trade for Donaldson turned out to be one of his worst moves.

01:12The trade cost the Yankees $50 million in contract for a player whose performance declined.

02:54Donaldson's numbers never reached his peak in Toronto, making the trade even more regrettable.

03:53The trade demonstrated the dangers of over-reliance on analytics without considering player history.