Yankees transfer Josh Donaldson to 60-day IL, select right-hander Matt Bowman
The Yankees transferred third baseman Josh Donaldson to the 60-day injured list, the team announced Thursday. The move opened a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Matt Bowman. The Yankees selected Bowman’s contract and optioned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Moving Donaldson to the 60-day IL would effectively end his tenure in the Bronx, as the move would make the former MVP eligible to return mid-September at the earliest.
“We’re getting to the point of the season to where it’s later in the year and running out of games and, really, time,” Donaldson said of playing again in 2023 after initially landing on the 10-day IL.
The 37-year-old will be a free agent at the end of the season.
Donaldson initially was placed on the 10-day IL with a right calf strain on July 16. He sustained the injury while running to first base a day prior during a 6-3 win against the Colorado Rockies. After getting results from an MRI, team doctors diagnosed him with a Grade 2-plus strain. A second opinion determined he had a Grade 3 strain.
The injury likely ends an uneventful stint with the Yankees for Donaldson. His acquisition will go down as one of Brian Cashman’s biggest whiffs as a general manager. During the 2022 offseason, Donaldson arrived in the Bronx alongside Isiah Kiner-Falefa in exchange for Gio Urshela and Gary Sanchez.
The trade committed the Yankees to $50 million in salary to an aging veteran. During his time with the Yankees, Donaldson slashed .207/.293/.385 with 25 home runs and 77 RBI in 165 games.
Bowman, who was drafted in the 13th round by the Mets in 2012, has appeared in 183 games on the major league level. He owns a career 4.02 ERA with a 7-13 record in the majors. The 32-year-old’s last major league outing came in 2019 as a member of the Cincinnati Reds.
REHAB GAMES
The team also announced that Willie Calhoun commenced a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Thursday. Jake Bauers commenced a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday as well.
