Atlanta Braves can’t continue to play waiting game with Josh Donaldson

Make a final offer and move on

But if that’s not the case, and Donaldson is indeed holding out for a team to give him the number and years he wants (rumored to be 4/$110 – sub required) then it’s time for the Braves to make their final offer and move on.

And moving on doesn’t mean you give up on signing him, you just let him know how high you’re willing to go, and if that isn’t good enough for him you start looking at other options.

Donaldson could always realize that’s his best offer and come back to the Braves once he realizes there isn’t a better offer out there.

Another thing it can do is put pressure on Donaldson to sign if rumors start leaking of Atlanta looking at other possibilities.

I don’t know that AA is the type to play those kinds of games, and you certainly don’t want it rubbing Donaldson the wrong way.

At the same time, Atlanta has to keep all of their options open.

Let’s assume 4 years and $105 million is as high as they feel comfortable going with Josh, give him that offer and if that’s not good enough for him start exploring other options.

If he gets a better offer somewhere else then hopefully he still gives Atlanta the chance to match.

But if that’s the cutoff point for the Braves, then let him know that and move on.

Personally, I’d go as high as 4 and $110, and even that makes me a little uncomfortable with Donaldson’s age.