DETROIT – Josh Donaldson’s brutal Yankees tenure is finally over.
The team announced on Tuesday that it has released the 37-year-old third baseman, who had been on the 60-day injured list with a high-grade calf strain and was not eligible to return until mid-September.
The veteran had been hoping to play again this season, and while manager Aaron Boone had continued to leave the door open for that to be possible, it was difficult to imagine the Yankees giving him at-bats over the younger players they are now prioritizing with their playoff chances all but gone.
In parts of two seasons with the Yankees, after coming over from the Twins in an ill-fated trade, Donaldson hit just .207 with a .678 OPS and 180 strikeouts in 666 plate appearances.
The frequent target of Yankees’ fans ire, Donaldson finished this season with 10 of his 15 hits going for home runs.
He had also missed time earlier this year with a hamstring strain.
Just on Saturday, Donaldson had taken at-bats with Anthony Rizzo in a live batting practice session against rehabbing right-hander Luis Gil at the Yankees’ player development complex in Tampa.
The day before that, he was with the Yankees at Tropicana Field, taking early batting practice and spending plenty of time on the field before the game.
Even if he remained on the roster for this season, the Yankees were expected to buy out a $6 million mutual option for next season, for which they will still be on the hook.
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