The Atlanta Braves have signed former Toronto Blue Jays All-St

ar and 2015 American League MVP Josh Donaldson to a one-year deal worth $23 million Dellin Betances Jersey , according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.Donaldson is reunited with Atlanta general manager Alex Anthopolous, the same man who brought the 33-year-old over to Toronto via trade with the Oakland Athletics four years earlier.Nagging calf injuries limited Donaldson to just 52 games in the 2018 season, which diminished his trade and free agent value. The Blue Jays dealt Donaldson to the Cleveland Indians at the deadline for a minor league pitcher. Certainly not enough for one of the game's elite all-around players.advertisingDonaldson finished 2018 with a .246 batting average and .801 OPS, clubbing eight home runs and 23 RBI. He helped the Indians win the AL Central division title for a third straight year, but they were swept by the Houston Astros in the ALDS. Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY SportsA three-time All-Star, Donaldson joins an Atlanta team that won the NL East title this past season, before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. The Braves are loaded with young talent all over the roster, so Donaldson should be a terrific addition to an up-and-coming Atlanta team.That takes one premier free agent off the market, and the Braves got the stalwart third baseman and hitter at a reasonable price.advertisingWhat This MeansGiven his age and recent injury history Matt Holliday Jersey , Donaldson entered free agency with a diminished value. Donaldson is betting on himself to reset his value for 2019 free agency, where he can hopefully stay healthy, perform like a superstar and land a bigger contract next winter.The Braves are suited well to compete for a World Series championship in 2019, and Donaldson only adds to it. If he can stay healthy, the 33-year-old will be one of the best bargain signings of the 2018 offseason. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Washington Nationals are counting on Tony Sipp to give them something they think will matter a lot in the NL East: a lefty reliever to go after lefty hitters in late-game situations.Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Wednesday that the team and Sipp agreed in principle to a deal, pending the successful completion of a physical exam.Rizzo did not disclose the financial terms, but a person familiar with the contract told The Associated Press that Sipp is guaranteed $1.25 million and the agreement includes a mutual option for 2020. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because nothing had been finalized.“We think he’s a really good value for us. It was time for him to sign, and we have opportunities for him. This is one of the places he wanted to be Austin Romine Jersey , because he’s got a chance to win and he’s been used to that,” Rizzo said. “He was a guy that we were monitoring.”Sipp would get a $1 million salary this year, and the contract includes a $2.5 million mutual option for next year, with a $250,000 buyout. There are not any performance bonuses.This move gives Washington’s rebuilt bullpen someone to use in a key spot against left-handed batters — such as Bryce Harper, the former Nationals slugger who joined the NL East rival Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent for $330 million over 13 seasons. Sipp and Harper have never faced each other.Other key lefty bats in the division include Freddie Freeman with the Atlanta Braves, and Robinson Cano with the New York Mets.“You can’t have enough lefty specialists,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “You really can’t.”The Nationals were in the market for a left-handed reliever after releasing Sammy Solis last weekend.Solis agreed to a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres.“They really want that lefty matchup guy and I think you look around our division now and each team really has at least one or two big (lefty hitters),” Nationals closer Sean Doolittle said. “Unfortunately http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-giancarlo-stanton-jersey , he is going to have his work cut out for him. Welcome to the NL East. Here’s Harp. Here’s Freeman. Here’s Cano.”The 35-year-old Sipp is entering his 11th season.He has a 25-20 career record with a 3.67 ERA and 513 strikeouts in 482 2/3 innings spanning 580 appearances for Cleveland, Arizona and Houston, all in relief.Last season with the Astros, Sipp was 3-1 with a 1.86 ERA, holding lefty hitters to a .191 batting average. That was his final season of an $18 million, three-year contract.“I think that he balances our bullpen out. He’s had success in big moments. He’s been in the playoffs and had success. I think that, not only with our division but just in general, I think he’s a sound relief pitcher,” Rizzo said. “And he gets righties out Bernie Williams Jersey , too. Let’s not forget that.”Notes: The Nationals optioned RHP Austin Adams to Triple-A Fresno and reassigned five players to minor league camp: INF Luis Garcia, INF-OF Brandon Snyder, INF Matt Reynolds, C Taylor Gushue, INF Jacob Wilson.