The St. Louis Cardinals are in full rebuild mode this offseason under Chaim Bloom’s direction, offloading key talent at a rapid pace.
Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras went to Boston, while Nolan Arenado landed in Arizona. Brendan Donovan appears next in line to be moved.
Despite widespread speculation and interest, no deal has come together. According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, the holdup is simple: St. Louis is asking for too much.
Cardinals’ Donovan Demands Deterring Suitors
“Multiple executives have told me the asking price is currently too steep to pursue,” Bowden reports, “though that could change before the season starts.”
Bloom’s aggressive valuation has cooled interest league-wide in acquiring Donovan this winter.
Though Donovan offers versatility as an elite defensive second baseman who can also handle outfield duties, teams aren’t willing to meet St. Louis’ demands.
Clubs like San Francisco and Seattle both previously connected to Donovan have balked at the cost.
With two years of team control remaining, Bloom has time to negotiate a favorable return for Donovan. However, he may need to adjust expectations, as teams aren’t meeting his current price point. While Donovan earned Gold Glove and All-Star honors, his modest power production and average offensive output make him less enticing at such a high cost.
Donovan remains a quality player who will eventually find a new home just not at Bloom’s current asking price.
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