The Toronto Blue Jays finally put an end to the Josh Donaldson saga on Friday, and it really couldn't have ended soon enough for any of the parties involved.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported on Friday evening that the 2015 American League MVP was traded to the Cleveland Indians, and thus ending an era that was highlighted by trips to the ALCS in 2015 and 2016.

The move finally ends a drama-filled soap opera, one that should have ended much earlier. Donaldson told reporters last year that he approached the front office and made it clear he wanted to finish his career north of the border.

"I’ve made it known to our front office that I enjoy being a Blue Jay. If it’s a possibility, I would definitely enjoy being a Blue Jay for a long time," Donaldson said, per Rob Longley of Postmedia.

However, Donaldson later revealed in February that the two teams weren't in the "same ballpark," when it came to contract negotiations, via TSN's Scott Mitchell. That - coupled with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s inevitable call-up to the majors in 2019 - should have been enough to convince president Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins to trade Donaldson.

May 23, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) hits a double against Los Angeles Angels in the fifth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

The Blue Jays probably would have received at least a couple of top prospects if they dealt Donaldson during the winter. But the front office had a thought (and a not so realistic one), that they could make the playoffs if they kept Donaldson.

RELATED: BLUE JAYS TRADE JOSH DONALDSON TO CLEVELAND

Well, that didn't go so well. The Blue Jays are headed for a second consecutive losing season, and Donaldson hasn't exactly had a memorable 2018 either. A nagging calf injury has limited him to 36 games this season, and his last game in the majors took place back on May 28.

Donaldson returned just in the nick of time earlier this week, playing his rehab games for Single-A Dunedin. That was enough to get a trade done with Cleveland, and now they're banking on him staying healthy.

Sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that the Blue Jays wanted "Donaldson gone," and reports later suggested that his relationship with the front office was becoming an unhealthy one. Donaldson did throw shade at them with this comment:

The Blue Jays probably made the right decision to trade Donaldson. He gets the chance to win join a winning team. It paves the way for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to take over at third base on a permanent basis. They also don't have to worry about the complicated qualifying offer - one that would have been around $20 million - that he would have certainly accepted.

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But the Blue Jays could have been more up front with Donaldson. They could have told him no extension was coming. They could have dealt him to a contender before 2018 started, and it would have netted them a great return package.

Instead, they gambled and told themselves this could be a contending team in 2018. This was despite their two marquee offseason additions being veteran outfielder Curtis Granderson and starting pitcher Jaime Garcia. Neither of them are with the team anymore.

Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

The Donaldson era in Toronto did not have to end like this. He's one of the main reasons why they were able to end a 22-year playoff drought in 2015, and Donaldson was just as instrumental in getting them to the postseason again in 2016.

Encarnacion left two summers ago to join an Indians team that was one victory away from the World Series title in 2016. He and Donaldson will now enjoy helping Cleveland win their third consecutive AL Central title, with a World Series ring possibly going with it.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays will try and figure out how to build this team back into a contender. Donaldson and Encarnacion are gone. Jose Bautista left after a dismal 2017 season. J.A. Happ (a 20-game winner in 2016) was traded to the New York Yankees, and closer Roberto Osuna was dealt to the Houston Astros following an arrest for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend.

Indeed, the Blue Jays are rebuilding, and there are a handful of veterans that won't be returning in 2019. It's now up to Shapiro and Atkins, who inherited the ALCS team left by Alex Anthopolous in 2015, to rebuild Canada's only baseball team into a contender.

The Donaldson saga was botched big time, but they'll have several more chances to try and fix this team as Toronto transitions into its next era of baseball.

NEXT: JOSH DONALDSON THROWS SHADE AT BLUE JAYS FRONT OFFICE