The St. Louis Cardinals are running out of time to make their most important roster decision of the offseason. With pitchers and catchers set to report in just a few weeks, the organization stands at a pivotal stage of its rebuild. While Nolan Arenado has dominated trade rumors for months, Brendan Donovan has quietly emerged as the Cardinals’ most valuable trade piece and the clearest path to accelerating the rebuild.
At 28, the versatile Donovan has become one of the most coveted players on the trade market. He posted a career-high .287 batting average in 2025 and earned his first All-Star nod, showcasing the rare mix of offensive consistency, defensive flexibility, and cost control that contenders crave. With two years of team control remaining and a manageable $5.8 million salary for 2026, Donovan represents exactly the type of asset president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom can convert into elite young talent for the Cardinals’ future core.
St. Louis is holding firm on a steep asking price, reportedly seeking at least two top-tier prospects—preferably young pitchers. That stance has caused some hesitation among interested teams, who question whether the Cardinals are overpricing their star utility man. Still, demand remains strong from clubs like the Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, and Boston Red Sox, meaning the Cardinals are in position to push for a significant return before Opening Day.
Ideal Trade Fits
Several organizations stand out as logical trade partners, each possessing the prospect depth to meet St. Louis’ demands. The Mariners, in particular, appear to be a natural match. Reports suggest the Cardinals are intrigued by switch-pitching standout Jurrangelo Cijntje as a potential centerpiece. Drafted 15th overall in 2024, the 22-year-old posted a 3.99 ERA with 120 strikeouts in 108.1 innings during his pro debut and is ranked among MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects. Seattle’s surplus of young arms allows them to absorb such a loss while addressing their need for offensive versatility something Donovan provides in abundance.
The Giants are also aggressively exploring infield upgrades and have shown interest in both Donovan and Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner. San Francisco’s system includes promising talent such as Gavin Kilen, their 2025 first-round pick, and left-hander Carson Whisenhunt, who reached Triple-A in 2024 and features an elite changeup. A deal centered around Whisenhunt could give the Cardinals a near major league-ready arm aligned with their rebuilding timeline.
Boston shouldn’t be overlooked either. As the Red Sox continue searching for infield help following the Alex Bregman sweepstakes, Donovan checks every box for a team aiming to contend immediately. Boston’s farm system features Payton Tolle, a power left-hander who raced through the minors and debuted in the majors in 2025. Though still refining his secondary pitches, Tolle’s upper-90s fastball and upside make him the kind of arm St. Louis covets. Donovan’s contact skills and positional versatility may be more valuable to Boston than they are willing to admit.
Why the Cardinals Should Move On
Despite his talent and leadership, Donovan doesn’t align with the Cardinals’ realistic contention window. By the time St. Louis is truly ready to compete again likely 2028 or beyond Donovan will be entering his 30s and approaching free agency, potentially commanding a contract that conflicts with the team’s youth-focused strategy. With Masyn Winn entrenched at shortstop and top prospect JJ Wetherholt projected to take over second or third base, Donovan’s long-term fit is increasingly uncertain.
More importantly, Donovan’s trade value may never be higher. His affordable deal, defensive versatility, and standout 2025 season have combined to generate peak interest across the league. Waiting only increases the risk of injury, regression, or diminishing surplus value. Moving him now, before spring training, allows Bloom to maximize the return while creating more opportunities for younger players like Nolan Gorman and Thomas Saggese to establish themselves at the major league level.
The Cardinals have already demonstrated their commitment to a full-scale rebuild by moving veterans such as Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, and Willson Contreras for packages centered on young pitching. Holding onto Donovan for sentimental reasons would run counter to that plan. If St. Louis wants to speed its return to postseason contention, trading Brendan Donovan now may be the most important and impactful decision of Bloom’s tenure.
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