Josh Donaldson's retirement comments have Yankees fans hoping for accelerated timeline

New York Yankees fans have no idea why this is a topic of discussion at the moment because nobody, not even in their worst nightmares, envisioned Josh Donaldson returning to the Bronx in 2024, but here we are as the season begins its tailspin.

After the Yankees were swept by the Boston Red Sox over the weekend, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic (subscription required) decided to ask Donaldson about his status for the 2024 season as if fans weren't already tortured enough by the fact he's probably stuck on this team for the rest of the 2023 season.

This, of course, was coming off a game in which Donaldson was inexplicably picked off at first base in a tie contest on Sunday Night Baseball. Two nights prior, he made an error at third base that extended Boston's six-run third inning in the Yankees' 15-5 loss.

But yeah, sure, who wants to know if the Yankees would even dare picking up Donaldson's $16 million team option for the 2024 season? Anybody feel like rioting on a weekday? Here's your chance!

In essence, Donaldson was unsure about his playing future, but Yankees fans are now surely hoping he considers hanging up his cleats before the 2023 season ends.

Josh Donaldson says he's unsure of future playing career, but Yankees fans don't care

"I don’t know. It kind of just depends on how I feel going through this year and this season and all of that and talking to my family. But that’s really — I get asked that from not just you, but from other people."

- Josh Donaldson, The Athletic

From other people? Like random folks on Twitter? Is Brian Cashman asking to see if he can receive a get out of jail free card for one of the worst trades in modern baseball history? You know, the one where he acquired over $30 million in salary for an over-the-hill veteran and a below-average utility player he put at shortstop for a full season instead of simply making the easy money-spending free agency moves in front of him?

Not to mention, Donaldson, the season prior before coming to the Bronx, was doing his best to agitate the Yankees and Gerrit Cole by putting them on blast in the media! Perfect acquisition for team chemistry.

Even if you're a Donaldson sympathizer because of his Gold Glove defense, his offensive output is indefensible. The nosedive he's taken since the start of the 2022 season is absolutely unacceptable for a player of his caliber. Cashman was truly on another planet thinking $50 million for someone's age-36 and -37 seasons would be a worthwhile invesntment, especially given how frustratingly calculated he's been with player acquisitions.

In 149 games, Donaldson is slugging .386 with the Yankees. He's struck out 165 times. Compared to his previous production, it's a telltale sign that retirement should be on the horizon. Ask any Yankees fan and they'll tell you he's been one of the most painful players to watch over the last 15 years.

Don't you worry, though! Both Donaldson and manager Aaron Boone are hopeful that the veteran will bounce back and confident there's plenty left in the tank despite there only being evidence to the contrary.

The chances are slim Donaldson is gone before the end of this season, but we can assure you that fans will be handing in their resignations if he's back, under any circumstance, in 2024.