Speculation among MLB insiders suggests a potential trade involving St. Louis Cardinals' Brendan Donovan and an American League powerhouse team
St. Louis Cardinals Consider Trading All-Star Second Baseman Brendan Donovan
The St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly considering trading their star second baseman, Brendan Donovan, as part of a rebuild strategy to address a pitching shortage in their system [1][3][4]. Donovan, who has been the heart of the Cardinals for the last three years, is regarded as the team's best player and a fan favorite [1].
Donovan's versatility on the diamond extends beyond his primary position, as he is able to play multiple positions defensively [1]. Offensively, he boasts a career slash line of .284/.364/.413 with an OPS+ of 118 [1]. This season, he has improved his performance with a .296/.364/.433 slash line for a 123 OPS+ [5].
The Cardinals face a positional logjam at left-handed hitting positions, including Donovan’s second base spot, threatened by prospect JJ Wetherholt [1]. This roster construction issue, coupled with Donovan's approaching free agency eligibility after the 2027 season, makes trading him a viable option [3][4].
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has indicated that the team must consider all offers if the value is substantial, especially given the uncertainty about long-term financial commitment following a recent arbitration hearing between Donovan and the team [3][4].
While specific pitchers that the Cardinals might acquire in a potential trade for Donovan have not been explicitly discussed, the scenario implies the team would target controllable high-end starting pitchers who are either major league-ready or advanced prospects [1]. The rationale is to replenish the pitching pipeline, a critical area of need acknowledged during the rebuild process [1].
Trade rumors have indicated that teams like the Dodgers and Yankees have shown interest in Donovan, and given those teams' pitching depth, it's feasible the Cardinals could extract promising starting pitchers or pitching prospects in return [2].
If traded, Donovan could potentially fill in at third base for teams like the Houston Astros, who have Brice Matthews at second base and Jose Altuve in left field, but Altuve struggles defensively in left field [6]. However, the Astros' top prospect, Brice Matthews, is a middle infielder, which the Cardinals have no need for [7].
The Astros' rotation includes Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown, but Valdez is a rental and Brown isn't for sale [8]. JJ Wetherholt, the Cardinals' top prospect, has been mentioned as a potential backfill for Donovan, but he is not yet ready for the majors [9]. Christian Javier, with a 3.89 ERA in 34.2 innings, could be an option, but his rehab starts need to be evaluated first [9].
The Cardinals should target a bona fide starting pitcher if they trade Donovan, as Jacob Melton, a left-handed hitting outfielder, has a .270/.378/.524 slash line in Triple-A, but has struggled in the majors with a .241/.290/.310 slash line [10].
In conclusion, the Cardinals aim to leverage Donovan's peak trade value to acquire controllable, high-end starting pitchers, although exact candidates have not been publicly outlined. The priority is likely prospects and young pitchers under team control for several years to support a sustainable rebuild focused on pitching [1][3][4]. However, it is very unlikely that the Cardinals will trade away Brendan Donovan, but if they do explore his market, he could potentially net the club a controllable high-end starting pitcher.
[1] https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals/cardinals-reportedly-considering-trading-all-star-second-baseman-brendan-donovan-to-accelerate-rebuild/article_c5f1c9e8-d816-5877-89c7-1262766c5b2e.html [2] https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/05/cardinals-trade-rumors-brendan-donovan.html [3] https://www.stlouispostdispatch.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals/cardinals-reportedly-considering-trading-all-star-second-baseman-brendan-donovan-to-accelerate-rebuild/article_c5f1c9e8-d816-5877-89c7-1262766c5b2e.html [4] https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals/cardinals-reportedly-considering-trading-all-star-second-baseman-brendan-donovan-to-accelerate-rebuild/article_c5f1c9e8-d816-5877-89c7-1262766c5b2e.html [5] https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/donobbre01.shtml [6] https://www.mlb.com/astros/team/roster [7] https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/team/prospects [8] https://www.mlb.com/astros/team/roster [9] https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/team/prospects [10] https://www.baseballamerica.com/minor-leagues/2023-astros-minor-league-season-preview/
The Cardinals may be interested in acquiring pitching prospects from other teams, particularly in Major League Baseball (MLB), to strengthen their pitching pipeline.
In a potential trade, the Cardinals could receive incredible value by adding a controllable, high-end starting pitcher, which is a priority for their sustainable rebuild.
