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Donaldson open to ending career in Toronto, fine if team moves on

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With the Toronto Blue Jays and Josh Donaldson reportedly agreeing to a record-setting arbitration deal for 2018, the star third baseman once again admitted he'd love to stay with the team long term, but understands his tenure north of the border could also come to an end as early as this season.

"I could be okay if this (Toronto) is where I spend the rest of my career. I could also be okay if they (Blue Jays front office) decided to move on," Donaldson said during his appearance on MLB Network, according to Steve Buffery of the Toronto Sun.

Donaldson's future in Toronto has been a hot topic this offseason. He's been subject of persistent trade speculation, specifically with the St. Louis Cardinals, a team that reportedly preferred acquiring him over Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado.

Conversely, there have been questions surrounding the Blue Jays' ability to produce. The club opened 2017 with a top 10 payroll but finished outside of the postseason for the first time since 2015, and the front office's hesitation to sign the former American League MVP to an extension has garnered attention.

With Donaldson's immediate future with the team settled, he'll enter his fourth season as a member of the Blue Jays. The 32-year-old will be a free agent for the first time in his career in 2019.

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