Josh Donaldson has been traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, and now stories are starting to come out that may explain why it happened. Beane and Donaldson reportedly clashed early in the season over whether Donaldson could take a few days off. The two downplayed it, but it may have been a real sticking point.

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According to media reports, Manager Bob Melvin agreed to give Donaldson a day off when he asked for it, but Beane angrily demanded that he be put in the lineup. Beane also reportedly got into a heated argument with Donaldson, according to a source.

"They got into it in the coach's office," said the source as he went on to detail a shouting match that featured Donaldson repeatedly calling Beane "Billy Boy" as he kept demanding the day off.

"Nobody talks to Billy that way," the source continued. "It did not surprise me in the least that he got rid of Donaldson."

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It seems hard to believe that Beane would hold a grudge all season and then trade away one of the most valuable players in baseball over an argument. Of course, it may have been just one in a series of disagreements between Beane and Donaldson, which would make more sense.

The incidents could also be unrelated. Beane is rightly considered one of the smartest GMs in baseball, and he may have just decided to sell high on a player who is about to turn 30 and whose prime is coming to an end.