By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

Weather forecasters in Ohio are adjusting their projections and checking their modules.

There is a Bringer of Rain headed their way after the Cleveland Indians acquired Josh Donaldson ahead of Friday’s eligibility deadline. The Indians will send a player to be named later to the Blue Jays in exchange for the three-time Silver Slugger.

Through parts of four seasons with Toronto, Donaldson slashed .281/.383/.548 with 116 home runs, the last of which (ironically) came against Cleveland on May 3. 

During that stretch, the 32-year-old Alabama native served as an offensive catalyst on two playoff teams and became only the second Blue Jay to capture MVP honors when he led the American League in runs scored (122) and RBIs (123) during the 2015 campaign.

Author of the infamous “Donaldson Dash,” a high stakes base running play that helped Toronto secure a second straight American League Championship Series berth in 2016. He opened the bottom of the 10th with a double off Matt Bush. One out later he scored from second on Russell Martin’s ground ball to short.

The self proclaimed “Bringer of Rain” departs the team having amassed the second highest OPS (.931) among all Blue Jays with at least 2,000 plate appearances -- Carlos Delgado (.949).

The Jays also successfully played beat the clock sending OF Curtis Granderson to the Milwaukee Brewers.

“I’m going to miss him, there’s no doubt about that,” Jays manager John Gibbons told reporters about Donaldson following Friday night’s 6-5 win over the Miami Marlins. “He was a big part of turning the franchise around after a lot of lean years. We had our battles, but he’s got a big heart, and he’s a special player. (Cleveland’s) a good spot for him.”

Formally passed through waivers and acquired ahead of the Sept. 1, Donaldson will be eligible to play for the AL Central-leading Cleveland squad in the postseason -- if healthy. He has only played in two games at class-A Dunedin on rehab assignments since going on the disabled list.

In addition to suiting up this fall, he will no longer have the opportunity to receive a qualifying offer, and thus forgoes having draft pick compensation attached to his upcoming free agency and should make him more attractive to teams. 

The Tribe will check into Toronto for a four-game series against the Blue Jays on Thursday. 

After clearing waivers earlier this week, Granderson became the second Jay to be flipped to a contender ahead of Saturday’s midnight playoff eligibility deadline, landing with Milwaukee in exchange for Canadian outfield prospect Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont).

Orimoloye, 21, has recorded an OPS of .681 while amassing 97 stolen bases in 129 attempts since breaking into pro ball as a member of the Brewers organization in 2015. 

Having reached high-A for the first time earlier this season, the 6-foot-4 former Tournament 12 competitor notched 115 base hits through 465 at-bats split between the Carolina Mud Cats and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers this season. 

Granderson slashed .245/.340/.429 with 33 extra-base hits across 104 assignments with the Blue Jays in 2018.

“I’m excited,” Granderson told reporters when asked about the deal following Toronto’s dramatic come-from-behind win in Miami on Friday night. “Getting a chance to go to a team that has the possibility of getting to the playoffs and to go deep.”

A valuable left-handed option off the bench, the veteran of 15 MLB seasons has posted an OPS of .788 through 322 plate appearances against right-handed pitching on the year and is now set to join an outfield mix that includes Ryan Braun, Lorenzo Cain, and Christian Yelich. 

- Follow Andrew Hendriks on Twitter (@77hendriks)

- Follow Andrew Hendriks on Twitter (@77hendriks)