Donaldson aims to build on MVP campaign with Blue Jays

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) - Josh Donaldson enjoyed most everything about his first year with the Toronto Blue Jays.

He helped them end a long playoff drought. He hit a career-high 41 home runs. He won the AL MVP award.

About the only thing that didn't go right was the ending.

With Toronto trailing Kansas City 4-3 in the ninth inning of Game 6 of the AL Championship Series, Donaldson grounded out with runners on second and third to end it. The Blue Jays went home, the Royals went on to win the World Series.

"Obviously, we were able to achieve a few of our goals that we wanted," Donaldson said Thursday. "But at the end of the day, Kansas City had a great team and we felt that we were able to compete with them and win the series."

"But they won it," he said.

Call it extra motivation for 2016.

After admittedly not knowing what to expect coming into spring training a year ago after four seasons with Oakland, the two-time All-Star third baseman quickly found his comfort zone and grew into one of Toronto's vocal leaders.

When the Blue Jays were mired in a tailspin last May that saw the club four games under .500, Donaldson made his feelings known in the midst a four-game sweep against the Astros.

"This isn't the try' league," he said. "This is the get it done' league."

It was that kind of guidance that helped Toronto get going in the right direction, manager John Gibbons said. The Blue Jays returned to the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

"He's a different bird, there's no doubt about it," Gibbons said. "He's very loud and enthusiastic. He has fun with his teammates, but once the game starts, though, he's all business."

With much of a loaded lineup that averaged an MLB-best 5.5 runs per game returning with stars Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Troy Tulowitzki, Donaldson doesn't see anyone being able to slow it down again this season.

How potent are the hitters? Donaldson, who led the AL with 123 RBIs, topped the majors by scoring 122 runs, hit 41 doubles and batted .297, didn't draw a single intentional walk all season.

"I wouldn't want to pitch against us. There were a lot of guys last year that we faced who were defeated before they even threw the first pitch, and those guys made their exit pretty quick," he said.

After a busy offseason that included avoiding arbitration with a two-year, $28.65 million deal, teaming up with good friend and PGA Tour golfer Jason Dufner at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and making his acting debut in the History Channel series "Vikings," Donaldson hopes his second act with the Blue Jays is even sweeter.

"It was a lot of new experiences, it was fun," Donaldson said. "But I'm ready to get back on a schedule, and I'm very excited to be back with the boys and cause a little trouble."

NOTES: New club president Mark Shapiro met with Dunedin officials on Wednesday regarding the team's uncertain future in the city with its contact set to expire at the end of 2017. He said no search has commenced for a new home and is optimistic a resolution can be secured to get renovated facilities in order to remain in Dunedin, where it has held spring training since 1977. "There are realities that may be charming about our current situation, but that charm is not going to bring wins," Shapiro said. . Toronto's first full-squad spring workout is Friday.