Deadline! Indians trade for Josh Donaldson

The Cleveland Indians pushed some chips into the middle of the table at the trade deadline (Waiver version) and gambled on a player that hasn't been seen since May and his return to health as the Wahoo's acquired third baseman Josh Donaldson from the Toronto Blue Jays in return for a player to be named later.

The American League MVP in 2015, Donaldson struggled in the early portion of this season before a calf injury that has prevented him from playing since late May as he posted numbers of just .234 with only five homers.
Donaldson was playing for the Blue Jays High A team in Dunedin on a rehab assignment, but it is still unknown when he would join the Cleveland lineup.

Assuming that Donaldson is able to regain his health, he would play third base with AL MVP candidate Jose Ramirez shifting to his natural position of second and that would shuffle Jason Kipnis to centerfield, which was his position before being drafted by the Indians, to be part of the platoon with Greg Allen, Rajai Davis or whomever.
Donaldson would add a big bat to a lineup that is solid 1-5 ( or even 6), but dips dramatically in the lower part of the lineup and could improve the defense, although he did have some throwing problems earlier this season.

The Indians will be giving up a "Player of Note" as the PTBNL, but the Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that the player could be pitcher Julian Merryweather, who impressed AA Akron observers in 2017 but suffered an injury that led to Tommy John surgery in spring training.
The player has to be named by January, so it is more than likely that the quality of the prospect could depend on Donaldson's health and perhaps his performance as well.

You have to like the aggressiveness of the oft-criticized Indians for going after an expensive rental (It's not as bad as you think, Toronto is tossing in some cash to help pay for the rest of the season) and taking a chance on what could be an impact player with some luck.
The trade could also prove to be meaningless should Donaldson not return to healthy status or even if his first two months of play become the normal level for Donaldson, who would be showing signs of fading at the worst possible team as he enters free agency.
Well worth the very minor risk.

I'll be back later with Ohio State against Oregon State and if I have time, I'll write about Andrew McCutchen's trade to the Yankees,a few minor deals for the Pirates and the Browns on cutdown day/