The Oakland Athletics have announced a trade that will send third baseman, Josh Donaldson to Toronto in exchange for Brett Lawrie and three prospects.
Donaldson batted .255 this season with 29 home runs and 98 RBI. Donaldson, 28, made the All-Star team in 2014, and has finished inside the top ten in MVP voting in back to back seasons. He now joins a loaded Blue Jays lineup that already includes Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Reyes.
Lawrie batted .247 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI this year, but he was limited to only 70 games due to injuries. He owns a respectable .265/..323/.426 slash line throughout his career.
The prospects the A’s receive are Kendall Graveman, Franklin Barreto and Sean Nolin. Graveman skyrocketed up Toronto’s system this year, starting the season in A-ball but finishing with a September call-up in the majors. He posted a strong 14-6 record and a 1.88 ERA in 27 minor league starts. Barreto is an 18 year old shortstop, who batted .311 with 29 steals in Singe-A. Nolin was rated the 97th overall prospect in 2013 by Baseball Prospectus. His ERA this season was 3.50 in 17 starts in AAA.
