Josh Donaldson was hitless in four at-bats Thursday against the Rangers. Oakland tallied 12 hits in this one, so we can't say Donaldson was undone by exceptional pitching. Instead, the 26-year-old has only four hits in 49 at-bats (.082) while filling in for Yoenis Cespedes, as he has yet to exhibit the skills displayed earlier this year at Triple-A.

Athletics recalled INF/C Josh Donaldson from Triple-A Sacramento. Donaldson will take the place of Yoenis Cespedes, who is on the disabled list now with a left hand strain. Donaldson struggled mightily as Oakland's starting third baseman at the beginning of this season season, but he was crushing the ball in Triple-A to the tune of .447/.509/.830 batting line, five homers and 14 RBI in just 47 at-bats. He should get some playing time.

Josh Donaldson went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and committed his third error at third base on Thursday. Donaldson should be in Triple-A continuing to learn third base. With a .094 average, he's hurting the A's both offensively and defensively right now.

Josh Donaldson went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts against the Royals on Wednesday. We just don't understand Oakland's fascination with Donaldson. Eric Sogard outplayed him all spring, yet the A's haven't let that stop them from continuing to play their converted catcher. Donaldson is 2-for-18 with a 7/0 K/BB ratio thus far. Maybe he'll get it going soon, but his upside is pretty limited.

Josh Donaldson brought the lumber against the Giants Wednesday, going 4-for-5 with two homers and five RBI. Both longballs came against San Francisco right-hander Yusmeiro Petit. Donaldson really hasn't hit much this spring, and he was benched for Eric Sogard on Opening Day, but A's manager Bob Melvin says the former sandwich round pick will be his starter at the hot corner. We're pessimistic about his ability to do much, especially in that home park.

Even though Eric Sogard started on Opening Day, Athletics manager Bob Melvin said Josh Donaldson will be his starting third baseman. Sogard received the Opening Day nod, in part, because he went 1-for-3 last season against Felix Hernandez, which is rather ridiculous. It's nice that there's some clarity with the situation, but don't expect Donaldson to churn out much, if any at all, fantasy value.

Athletics' manager Bob Melvin said Wednesday that he hasn't settled on Josh Donaldson as the starting third baseman. Donaldson is relatively unexperienced at third base and is batting just .240 (12-for-50) this spring, so there's no reason why the job should be handed to him. Eric Sogard is in the mix and might actually be the better all-around option. It's possible Melvin will make decisions based on matchups in the early going, so neither is a particularly appealing fantasy option.

Athletics' manager Bob Melvin said Friday that Josh Donaldson has done nothing to make the team scrap their plans of using him at third base. Donaldson entered Friday's action hitting just .239 (9-for-39) with 11 strikeouts, but Melvin thinks his swing has looked better recently. Eric Sogard, Wes Timmons and Adam Rosales are also options, but the A's appear prepared to let Donaldson sink-or-swim, despite the fact that he has just 34 plate appearance in the majors and is relatively inexperienced at the hot corner. He doesn't look like much of a fantasy option outside of two-catcher AL-only formats.

Josh Donaldson went hitless on Saturday, leaving him 0-for-7 with three strikeouts after two spring games. Third base appears to be Donaldson's to lose as a result of Scott Sizemore's injury, but there's little reason to think he'll be as asset offensively or defensively there. Eric Sogard, who homered yesterday and went 2-for-4 with a double today, deserves a longer look.

Josh Donaldson will get the first crack at filling the Athletics' vacancy at third base. "This is his opportunity," assistant general manager David Forst said Tuesday. Donaldson, who has played primarily at catcher during his baseball career, posted a .261/.344/.439 batting line with 17 home runs and 70 RBI in 115 games last season for Triple-A Sacramento. He won't carry any mixed league fantasy value, no matter how the competition at the hot corner shakes out.