Blue Jay Donaldson signs two-year contract extension

[February 11, 2016]    (Reuters) - Third baseman Josh Donaldson, the American League's Most Valuable Player in 2015, has signed a two-year, $28.65 million contract extension with the Toronto Blue Jays, the Major League Baseball team said on Wednesday.

Donaldson, 30, will earn $11.65 million in 2016 and $17 million in 2017, the Blue Jays said in a statement.

Traded to Toronto by the Oakland Athletics before the start of the 2015 season, Donaldson thrived with his new team and helped them end a 22-year absence in the postseason by claiming the American League (AL) East crown.

He clouted 41 home runs, drove in an AL-leading 123 runs for the high-powered Toronto attack, and batted .297.

Donaldson was named as a starter to the 2015 MLB All-Star Game after earning the most fan votes, received the Hank Aaron Award as the AL's best hitter and won his first Silver Slugger award at third base.

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Andrew Both)

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