Report: Blue Jays want Donaldson gone, will place on waivers

The Toronto Blue Jays will place Josh Donaldson on revocable waivers for the purpose of a trade, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

If another team claims the third basemen, it would need to complete a deal with Toronto by the Aug. 31 deadline to add playoff-eligible players via trade.

Additionally, the Blue Jays want Donaldson gone, according to Rosenthal's sources.

Teams are already expressing interest in Donaldson, per Jon Heyman of Fancred, who noted the Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Cardinals could be potential fits.

The 32-year-old Donaldson is three years removed from winning the AL MVP Award. However, shoulder and calf injuries have limited him to 36 games this season while hampering his numbers on the field. Donaldson has authored a .234/.333/.423 slash line with five home runs and hasn't suited up for the Blue Jays since May. He began a rehab assignment on Tuesday with Single-A Dunedin.

Though teams may be willing to gamble on acquiring Donaldson for the stretch run despite his limited playing time, the salary remaining on his one-year, $23-million deal could be an obstacle. If Donaldson goes unclaimed through waivers, he'd become eligible to be traded to all 29 other teams.

Rosenthal added that if Toronto hangs on to Donaldson this season and tables him a qualifying offer as a free agent in the winter, the draft-pick compensation would range between picks 75 and 80 if he ultimately signs elsewhere.