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Donaldson: 'It's completely embarrassing' Kimbrel, Keuchel were unsigned

Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Now that the free agencies of Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel are over, outspoken Atlanta Braves third baseman Josh Donaldson voiced his concerns about the system.

"To be honest with you, it's completely embarrassing for Major League Baseball that a guy like (Keuchel) and Kimbrel have been on the market for so long," the former AL MVP told Gabriel Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Keuchel signed a one-year deal with the Braves this past week, days after draft-pick compensation had expired. Meanwhile, Kimbrel inked a three-year deal with the Chicago Cubs.

"It's one of those things where you don't understand it, but it's working out for our best interest right now. To have it working out for our interest (is good), but we shouldn't have had this opportunity. It should've been done a lot earlier for (Keuchel). He's had a great career. He's special. A lot of postseason experience. To be able to add him is going to make us better."

After being tendered and rejecting a qualifying offer last year, both Keuchel and Kimbrel were attached to draft-pick compensation. In the event the Braves, for instance, signed Keuchel prior to the 2019 MLB Draft, Atlanta would've had to forfeit their 60th overall pick. By waiting, the Braves kept it and selected shortstop Beau Philip out of Oregon State.

"If that's the case," Donaldson responded after being asked if draft-pick compensation was the only thing preventing teams from signing Keuchel or Kimbrel, " ... then, yeah, it's ridiculous. The guy won a Cy Young. He's been healthy. There's no reason why he shouldn't have been signed already."

Keuchel, 31, is three full seasons removed from winning the American League Cy Young award. Since then, the left-hander has posted a 3.77 ERA and 3.78 FIP over 518 1/3 innings.

Donaldson signed a one-year, $23-million contract this past winter despite winning the AL MVP in 2015. The 33-year-old will be eligible to receive a qualifying offer this upcoming offseason.

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