The Yankees placed Josh Donaldson was on the 10-day injured list yesterday afternoon. The club initially announced that the injury was a strained left calf, but further investigation appeared to indicate the injury was serious.
Donaldson met with reporters tonight and said doctors had classified his strain somewhere between Grade 2+ and Grade 3 strains (Shared by Greg Joyce of the New York Post). That’s enough to diagnose a tear. There is no timetable for his return.
When asked if he expects to come back this season, both Donaldson and manager Aaron Boone were noncommittal. Everyone noted that the recovery timeline varied, but the captain said it would be at least “a decent amount of time” before Donaldson returned.
The veteran infielder is coming off a disastrous 2023 season. Donaldson lost much of the first half to a right thigh strain. It seems he will now miss most of the second half. Injuries aside, he’s batting just .142/.225/.434 in 33 games. New York will certainly buy him out for $6 million at the end of the year, rather than triggering the end of a $16 million mutual option regardless of whether he can return this season.
New York called back top prospects Oswald Peraza to take Donaldson’s squad spot. Peraza is in the lineup at third base against the Angels tonight. veteran DJ LeMahieu got the contract for the hot corner yesterday.