5 Yankees players who don't deserve to be on 2023 40-man roster

Josh Donaldson, 3B

Josh Donaldson's story has been told repeatedly this offseason. He was acquired last offseason to be a thorn in the rest of baseball's side, and instead ended up stabbing the Yankees in the gut.

He was aging, sure, but he'd maintained his trademark exit velocity through 2021, so why wouldn't it continue translating to power production in 2022? He didn't. It didn't.

He came with a massive contract attached, but the ability to absorb dollar figures that teams like the Minnesota Twins can't handle has always been the Yankees' inherent advantage. They wouldn't allow his deal to hamstring further spending. Except they did. And it did.

The silliest part of all is that Brian Cashman and Co. have continued to doggedly stand by Donaldson, touting his Gold Glove-level defense and proclaiming him an all-time 2022 snub, even though there was no way he was being honored by any committee after the Tim Anderson controversy he invited upon himself.

Donaldson had better reverse the aging curve quickly. Otherwise, he'll be a glove-first third baseman making $25 million against the luxury tax this year for a team that lacks offense, not defense.

Maybe Cashman's been trying to advertise him as best he can in recent weeks, but it seems he's been given no choice but to believe in his third baseman. Donaldson will stay.