New York Yankees fans stunned to learn team plans for Josh Donaldson to be everyday starter at third base: "This organization is an absolute joke"

The New York Yankees are planning to start Josh Donaldson at third base in 2023, despite disappointing results from the same plan in 2022. With Spring Training getting started, we are getting our first glimpse of how these teams plan to attack the regular season. With so much pressure on the Yankees to win and win big this upcoming season, fans were hoping for better than more of the same.

Josh Donaldson hit for a batting average of just .222 and had 15 home runs last season. Both numbers are well off the mark that he was expected to reach when the team acquired him. His defensive play was solid and is not at all why fans have an issue with his role on the team.

The Yankees traded a significant amount of assets to acquire Donaldson from the Minnesota Twins in the 2022 offseason. Thus far, that deal has not paid off the way the New York Yankees expected them to. They hoped they were getting the MVP-caliber star he was with the Toronto Blue Jays, not an offensive liability.

For a team like the Yankees, success is measured in World Series championships. That is the only goal that the fanbase truly cares about. Considering the team's starpower, featuring Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton, they are expected to dominate. So if Josh Donaldson is viewed as a weakness, not a strength, fans will make their voices heard.

The big question heading into 2023 is whether Donaldson can turn things around. If he is able to, the New York Yankees will be a force to be reckoned with in the MLB. If not, they could have the same up-and-down season that they had in 2022. Ultimately, this is what fans are nervous about.

Teams often find out who they are in Spring Training, and the New York Yankees hope to be one of the league's best.

Can Josh Donaldson be a positive for the New York Yankees in 2023?

Josh Donaldson must have a bounce-back season in 2023 if he plans to remain an everyday starter. The team will likely not tolerate a similar offensive output as last season. Considering his veteran experience, he does have the chance to be the player we all remember.

A team is only as good as their worst player, a title Donaldson needs to avoid in 2023.

About the author

Nathan is a journalist covering Major League Baseball at Sportskeeda. Born in Vancouver B.C., Nathan has always been a huge sports fan. Nathan grew up a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays through virtue of being a Canadian. Attending several Seattle Mariners games over the years made him a fan of the club. His favorite sports moments are Jose Bautista's clutch playoff home run and the Mariners ending their playoff drought in 2022.

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