A’s trade Donaldson to Blue Jays for four players

Susan Slusse, San Francisco Chronicle By Susan Slusser Updated 11:21 pm, Friday, November 28, 2014 Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle Image 1/7 gallery_thumbnails_show|article-gallery-5924047|article-gallery-5924047|0 gallery_overlay_open|article-gallery-5924047|article-gallery-5924047|0 gallery_overlay_open_thumbs|article-gallery-5924047|article-gallery-5924047|0 Image 1 of 7 Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle Josh Donaldson was one of the A’s top sluggers during the past three seasons. Josh Donaldson was one of the A’s top sluggers during the past... Image 2 of 7 Photo: Charlie Neibergall / Associated Press Third baseman Brett Lawrie is among four players the A’s acquired. Third baseman Brett Lawrie is among four players the A’s acquired. Image 3 of 7 Photo: Beck Diefenbach, Special To The Chronicle Oakland Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson throws to first base for an out during the first inning of his baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, July 9, 2014 in San Francisco, Calif. Oakland Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson throws to first base... Image 4 of 7 Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle A's third baseman Josh Donaldson high fives fans as he is introduced before the game against the Indians on Monday. The Oakland Athletics played the Cleveland Indians at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, March 31, 2014. The A's lost their home opener 2-0 to the Indians A's third baseman Josh Donaldson high fives fans as he is... Image 5 of 7 Photo: Kevin N. Hume, The Chronicle Josh Donaldson was named to the American League All-Star Team on Sunday as the A's take the four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, winning 4-2 on Sunday, July 6, 2014 in Oakland, Calif. Josh Donaldson was named to the American League All-Star Team on... Image 6 of 7 Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle Oakland Athletics' Josh Donaldson singles in 6th inning against Philadelphia Phillies during MLB game at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. on Sunday, September 21, 2014. Oakland Athletics' Josh Donaldson singles in 6th inning against... Image 7 of 7 Photo: Brant Ward, San Francisco Chronicle Josh Donaldson (20) celebrated with teammates after his 6th inning home run scored two. The Oakland Athletics defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-1 in the last game of the Bay Bridge series Thursday July 10, 2014 at AT&T park. Josh Donaldson (20) celebrated with teammates after his 6th inning... A’s trade Donaldson to Blue Jays for four players gallery_overlay_close|article-gallery-5924047|article-gallery-5924047|0 Back to Gallery gallery_thumbs_close|article-gallery-5924047|article-gallery-5924047|0 It seems almost unthinkable, but on Friday the A’s dealt away their best player, All-Star and MVP candidate Josh Donaldson, sending their No. 3 hitter to Toronto for infielder Brett Lawrie, shortstop Franklin Barreto and pitchers Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin. “I’m so shocked,” Donaldson said by phone. “I just got off the phone with Billy Beane, and I guess they got an offer that they couldn’t resist. I’m definitely a little emotional about it. Oakland is my home. “The most important thing is that Billy gave me an opportunity to be on that team, and I am very grateful for that, and for all the fan support I’ve had. I’m so glad to have been a part of that. But at the end of the day, it’s a business, as much as it hurts emotionally. The guys in that clubhouse are my brothers. The coaches are my father figures.” Beane, the A’s general manager, said on a conference call that the A’s were adamant they would not deal Donaldson when Toronto called, but Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos was persistent and finally had enough parts in the deal to get it done. Over the past two years, Donaldson’s WAR (wins above replacement) has been second only to Mike Trout’s in baseball, but Beane said that the A’s felt that after finishing 11 games behind the Angels and barely holding off the Mariners in the wild-card race — and looking at losing free-agent shortstop Jed Lowrie, starter Jon Lester and reliever Luke Gregerson — they needed to make a move “that wasn’t timid and got us into a position to get better every day, rather than one that was maybe starting to deteriorate.” The A’s do have a major need at shortstop with Lowrie possibly leaving and with top prospect Addison Russell traded to the Cubs in July. Barreto, 18, is several years away, but “he’s a hell of a hitter,” one scout said, saying Barreto could be a Rafael Furcal-type player. Beane said the A’s believe Barreto to be one of the best prospects in the minors. The Venezuelan hit .311 with six home runs, 61 RBIs and 29 stolen bases in 73 games with short-season Class-A Vancouver. Lawrie is a third baseman, and one American League exec called him Gold Glove caliber at the position and an “explosive offensive player — when he’s healthy.” That’s been the biggest issue. Lawrie has had three oblique strains in three seasons, as well as a broken finger that cost him time last season. Graveman is a potential fifth starter, one scout said, and Nolin, a left-hander with a plus-changeup, could be a very nice bullpen pickup, the exec said, though Beane said that the A’s are looking at him as a starter. Donaldson turns 29 the week after next, and he was a super-two player this year, meaning he was going to arbitration a year early, and he was going to start to get expensive. Lawrie also is entering arbitration for the first time, but after three years of service time. He will turn 25 in January, so is four years younger than Donaldson, which is not insignificant. If the A’s can keep him on the field, he should just be entering his prime. With Donaldson — a terrific story when he converted from catcher to third base to start the season in 2012 — the A’s have gone to the postseason three years in a row. “We’ve had so much success, it’s going to be difficult to leave, but when you’re with Oakland, you understand that this day is eventually going to happen,” Donaldson said. For his teammates, though, it’s tough to see an everyday player — one who was on the field despite numerous injuries down the stretch — head elsewhere. “It doesn’t make sense to me,” outfielder Josh Reddick said. “We traded our best player the past two years. It seems like we’re going into a rebuilding drive. “It’s sad any time you see your best player go, not just as a player but as a person. And he’s our three-hole hitter and best defensive player. He was big for our team.” Starter Jeff Samardzija could also be dealt. The A’s still need a shortstop, and 10 teams have expressed interest, including the Red Sox and the White Sox. To clear spots on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated right-handed pitcher Josh Lindblom and first baseman Kyle Blanks for assignment. Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: sslusser@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @susanslusser. Trading places Career stats for Josh Donaldson and Brett Lawrie, both of whom have spent parts of four seasons in the majors: Donaldson Stat Lawrie 405 Games 345 63 Home runs 43 228 RBIs 157 .268 Average .265 313 Strikeouts 234 168 Walks 95