By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
While the Philadelphia Phillies aim high, the Atlanta Braves ultimately struck first in free agency on Monday, signing third baseman Josh Donaldson and catcher Brian McCann to one-year deals respectively worth $23 million and $2 million, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
Donaldson, set to turn 33 next month, was limited to just 52 regular season games with the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians last season due to an acute strain and soreness of his calf. The eight-year veteran slashed .280/.400/.520 in 16 games with the Indians, producing three doubles, three home runs, seven RBI, 10 walks and 10 strikeouts spanning 60 plate appearances.
McCann, who will be 35 on Opening Day, returns to play with the Braves for the first time since 2013, his most recent of seven All-Star seasons. McCann won the 2017 World Series with the Houston Astros, and is a six-time Sliver Slugger Award winner. The 14-year veteran — who slashed just .212./.301/.339 in 63 games in 2018 — reportedly turned down more money elsewhere to play for the Braves again in 2019.
The Phillies had been interested in Donaldson as early as June, while the club at the time was considering to replace Maikel Franco at the hot corner — as well as during the July trade deadline. More recently, the 2015 American League MVP, three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner was linked to the Phillies by The Gotham Sports Network's Max Wildstein.
NL East champs add a big bat. How do the #Phillies, who had fewest hits in the league last season, respond?https://t.co/wCVkJS71F1
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) November 26, 2018
The Braves improving their roster only bodes well for Phillies fans wishing to see similar — if not better — improvement. The pressure is on, and Phillies Managing Partner John Middleton surely is up for the challenge.
