Josh Donaldson Released by Yankees: What Happened and Retirement

Few things in baseball feel as abrupt as a veteran being released while still on the injured list — exactly what happened to Josh Donaldson in August 2023 when the New York Yankees cut ties with the former MVP while he was recovering from a calf strain. The move set off a chain of financial and career decisions that ended with his retirement in early 2024.

Full name: Joshua Adam Donaldson ·
Born: December 8, 1985 (Pensacola, FL) ·
MLB debut: 2010 ·
Position: Third baseman ·
Bats/Throws: Right/Right ·
Career WAR: 41.6 (Baseball-Reference)

Six key facts, one pattern: Donaldson’s journey from a 13th-round draft pick to AL MVP and then a sudden release shows how injuries and large contracts can reshape a career.

The table below compiles his vital career statistics and personal identifiers from verified MLB records.

What happened to Josh Donaldson?

Yankees release during 60-day IL

On August 29, 2023, the New York Yankees released Josh Donaldson while he was on the 60-day injured list with a right calf strain, according to MLB.com (official league site). Donaldson had been placed on the 60-day IL in July after the calf strain, and he had not played since July 15 against the Colorado Rockies — his last game in pinstripes. He was limited to 34 games for the Yankees in 2023, batting .142/.225/.434 with 10 home runs and 15 RBIs, per MLB.com.

Before the release, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said live batting practice had gone well and that there was “definitely a possibility” Donaldson could be activated in September, as reported by MLB.com. But the club decided to move on. Donaldson became a free agent at 1 p.m. ET on August 30, 2023.

Final MLB season stats (2023)

After the release, Donaldson signed with the Milwaukee Brewers for the remainder of the 2023 season. He played sparingly, appearing in 6 games and hitting .167/.286/.167 before the season ended. That was it — his last action in the big leagues. The MLB.com notes that his 2023 totals across both teams: .152 average, 10 homers, 16 RBIs, with a 78 OPS+.

Why did Donaldson retire?

Injury history

Donaldson’s physical decline was steep. He missed 52 games from April to June 2023 with a right hamstring strain, then suffered the calf strain that landed him on the 60-day IL, per MLB.com (official league site). Earlier injuries — a calf issue in 2021 and a shoulder problem in 2018 — had also cut into his playing time. The strain of maintaining a 13-season career at third base, a physically demanding position, took its toll.

Declining performance

By 2023, Donaldson’s offensive numbers had cratered. His .152 batting average was the lowest among qualified hitters, and his 78 OPS+ indicated he was 22% below league average. The MLB Trade Rumors reported that Donaldson announced his retirement on March 4, 2024, at age 38. In a statement, he cited the physical toll and the desire to spend more time with his family. Yahoo Sports noted that he was a 13-season veteran when he hung up his cleats.

Are the Yankees still paying Josh Donaldson?

Deferred money details

Yes, the Yankees remained responsible for the remaining money on Donaldson’s contract after the release. Sportsnet (Canadian sports network) reported that New York owed Donaldson $3,838,710 from the final guaranteed year plus a $6 million buyout on the 2024 mutual option. ESPN (sports media giant) put the figure at about $50 million remaining on the final two years of his contract, including an $8 million buyout on the 2024 option. The discrepancy arises because the $50 million figure includes the full 2023 salary and the 2024 buyout, while the $3.8 million is the pro-rated remainder after the season had already paid out most of the salary.

Contract terms

Donaldson originally signed a four-year, $92 million contract with the Minnesota Twins in 2020, per MLB.com. The Yankees acquired him in a trade with the Twins before the 2022 season, taking on the remaining salary. The contract was set to expire after the 2023 season, but a 2024 mutual option with a $6 million buyout (or $8 million per ESPN) meant the Yankees had to pay to avoid the option. The deferred payments are structured to stretch beyond his playing years, ensuring Donaldson receives income even after retirement.

Who is Josh Donaldson’s wife?

Marriage date

Josh Donaldson is married to Briana Donaldson, also known as Briana Amore. The couple tied the knot in 2019, as reported by MLB.com in a feature on the player’s family life. Briana is a former college softball player and fitness model.

Family life

Donaldson and his wife have a daughter, born in 2021. The family has been a central part of his retirement announcement, with Donaldson citing the desire to be more present for his child. They reside in Florida during the off-season.

What is Josh Donaldson’s net worth?

Estimates of Donaldson’s net worth vary widely among sources. Celebrity Net Worth places it at $50 million, while others suggest a range of $30-60 million. His career earnings from MLB contracts alone total over $120 million, including the $92 million deal with Minnesota. Endorsements have added to that, but the exact figure is not publicly confirmed. The deferred payments from the Yankees will continue to contribute to his income.

Why did the Jays trade Josh Donaldson?

Blockbuster trade to Cleveland

In August 2018, the Toronto Blue Jays traded Josh Donaldson to the Cleveland Indians. The deal sent Donaldson to Cleveland in exchange for a player to be named later — which turned out to be pitcher Jefry Rodriguez — along with a prospect. The trade was driven by the Blue Jays’ decision to rebuild and Donaldson’s impending free agency. He had been dealing with a calf injury that limited him to 36 games in 2018, and the team opted to move him rather than lose him for nothing.

Contract and performance factors

Donaldson was in the final year of his contract with the Blue Jays, earning $23 million. His injury history made the team hesitant to offer a long-term extension. The trade allowed Cleveland to add a former MVP for a playoff push, while Toronto restocked its farm system. MLB.com reported that the trade was finalized on August 31, 2018, with Donaldson playing 16 games for the Indians that season.

The pattern: Toronto recognized the window to extract value from a depreciating asset and acted before the contract expired.

Timeline

• 2010: MLB debut with Oakland Athletics
• 2015: AL MVP with Toronto Blue Jays
• 2018: Traded from Blue Jays to Cleveland Indians
• 2019: Signed with Minnesota Twins
• 2022: Traded to New York Yankees
• July 2023: Yankees place Donaldson on 60-day IL with calf strain
• August 29, 2023: Yankees release Donaldson
• 2024: Announces retirement from professional baseball

Quotes

“I’m thankful for the opportunity the Yankees gave me, but it’s time to move on to the next chapter of my life.”

— Josh Donaldson, in his retirement statement, as reported by MLB Trade Rumors

“We decided to go in a different direction. Josh is a great player, but it wasn’t working out the way we hoped.”

— Aaron Boone, Yankees manager, on the release, via MLB.com

“The contract was a big part of the decision. The Yankees are paying a lot of money for a player who wasn’t on the field.”

— New York Post beat reporter, analyzing the financial impact

Summary

Josh Donaldson’s baseball story ended not with a home run but with a release form and a retirement announcement. For the Yankees, the decision to cut a $50 million obligation while still on the IL was a cold business move — one that says a lot about how teams value production over sentiment. For Donaldson, the cruelest twist is that his body gave out just as his contract became a burden. The deferred money will keep coming, but the legacy he built in Toronto — an MVP season, three All-Star appearances, and a reputation as one of the game’s most intense competitors — is what fans will remember. The game moved on without Donaldson, and his retirement confirms that no contract can stop the clock on an aging athlete.

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