Los Angeles Dodgers: Why Josh Donaldson would be a great signing

2. Josh Donaldson fits better with the long-term plans

With the Dodgers reportedly not offering Anthony Rendon a contract and missing out on Cole, the narrative that the team is cheap has once again taken off, completely ignoring that the team has been in the top-five in payroll the last seven seasons.

It is not about the salary that the Dodgers are spending, although they have made efforts to stya under the luxury tax (which is not that hard to do), it is the long-term flexibility that the team wants financially.

It is hard to commit to these massive contracts when you know that in the not-so-distant future the team is going to have to extend Cody Bellinger, Walker Buehler and Corey Seager. And while it hurts to miss out on a star free agent now, it is going to hurt much more if they have to part ways with any of those three because they cannot sign an extension.

Just look at the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox. Both Kris Bryant and Mookie Betts could get traded because the Cubs and Red Sox cannot afford to sign these extensions.

Donaldson is not necessarily going to be a cheap alternative but he is not going to get the same long-term contract that Anthony Rendon received because he is 34 years old.

The reports and speculation are that Donaldson might receive a four-year deal, which is longer than many expected him to get. If a four-year deal is the longest offer that he receives then it is not hard to see how that leaves the Dodgers flexible in the future to extend their current stars.

A four-year, $100 million contract is probably along the lines of what Donaldson will receive and I would not be surprised if the Dodgers lower the salary and work out some incentives where the ceiling is higher for Donaldson, similar to how they did with A.J. Pollock.

Either way, it gives the team that impact bat they need for next season that they have to pay for but does not jeopardize the future, which is the perfect win-win.