Brendan Donovan has been one of the top trade targets for clubs seeking offensive help. The Royals, Mariners, Pirates, Guardians and Astros have all been tied to the lefty-hitting utilityman at points this offseason.
Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Giants have been in the mix for Donovan as well. Goold lists San Francisco alongside Seattle and Kansas City among the teams that have kept in touch with the Cardinals as they gauge the market. Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox have also talked with the Cards about Donovan, though he’s one of myriad star infielders whom Boston has considered.
The Giants are looking to add at second base. Casey Schmitt is the favorite to start there but probably fits better as a utility player. San Francisco had one of the least productive second base groups in MLB overall. Schmitt was a league average hitter, while Tyler Fitzgerald’s strikeout issues prevented him from building off an impressive 2024 rookie season. Donovan is coming off a .287/.353/.422 season and owns a very similar line in more than 2000 career plate appearances. He’d be a significant upgrade at second base and has the flexibility to help out in the corner outfield.
Kansas City surprisingly tendered a contract to Jonathan India. He’ll probably be back at second base, so Donovan might fit better for them in left field. They could also use India at designated hitter on days when Salvador Perez is behind the plate.
Seattle is hopeful of re-signing free agent second baseman Jorge Polanco. They’ve reportedly had a gap on the contract length, and president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto spoke yesterday of preparing for the possibility that Polanco signs elsewhere. There’s been some thought that he could sign before the Winter Meetings are out tomorrow.
A Donovan trade, if it happens at all, doesn’t appear to be imminent. Goold writes that president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom and his staff are taking their time to evaluate offers. Ryan Divish and Adam Jude of The Seattle Times write similarly that Donovan is not expected to be moved before the end of the week.
Donovan is under club control for another two seasons. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects him for a $5.4MM salary. That’ll likely climb into the $8-10MM range in 2027. The Cardinals haven’t firmly committed to trading Donovan, but there’s been no indication that an extension is on the table. They’re entering a rebuild, so it’d be a surprise if he’s not in another uniform by Opening Day. The Cardinals are pursuing controllable starting pitching in their trade conversations.
Gotta have a Birdsong trade if your the Cardinals.
Winn maybe…
Hard to imagine they end up keeping Donovan after all the hype and talk about it. But stranger things have happened. If it’s going to be a real rebuild, let’s get it started.
Would love to see him on the Dodgers since Buxton is apparently off the table.
He would complete the left side of the lineup.
Ohtani
Freeman
Muncy
Edman (switch)
Donovan
Betts
Smith
Teo
Edman (switch)
The Dodgers lineup is beyond complete. FOH
Foh? Front of house?
Dodgers are down an outfielder at the moment. Hence they need one more bat. Can’t go out there with 8 position players. And everyone would hate the first five hitters getting extra at bats because they only bat 8. Seems unfair.
There’s 5 outfielders on their 40 man roster homie. Y’all gonna be ok bro. GTFOH. And that don’t stand for get to front of house.
Obviously it stands for “Get to front of house”.
Of course the Dodgers will be ok. I just want them to be even better. Call me greedy.
Apparently I forgot Pages who goes on the right handed battery side of the list.
So they just need a competent defensive outfielder with some pop and bar to ball skills.
I hope you know I’m just being silly. But I do want a decent everyday outfielder with a bat after having Conforto turn into a black hole at the plate last year.
You’re greedy. I’m jealous. We can agree that Conforto sucked last year at least.
He seems like a good guy. But wow the year he had. Hopefully he gets a shot somewhere else.
Up here in Seattle we have a soft spot in our hearts for him cuz he’s a local guy. He needs to go to a cellar dweller and try to regain some value tho.
They can definitely use an OFer. Maybe 2
It’s
1) incomplete. There’s no defined starter in LF, CF or 2B. Edman will likely be one of those. Pages another. That leaves 1 open space
2) the best lineup in baseball as is. It will get better before opening day.
Where’s Pages? 🤷♂️
Damn,
I knew I forgot someone lol
Similar production/control to Jazz.
July 27, 2024: Traded by the Miami Marlins to the New York Yankees for Abrahan Ramirez (minors), Jared Serna (minors) and Agustín Ramírez.
Looking back at the deal that was a pretty disappointing return for Jazz.
Agustin looked very promising in his time in the majors this year, although he may need to learn 1B or just DH
Except there’s way, way less risk with Donovan than Jazz based on both his mental makeup and his past consistency. Teams will pay more for a more proven player like Donovan.
Donovan put up 4 war in less than 470 ab the last time the Cardinals carried a playoff caliber roster. The stats are somewhat reflective in this to a degree. Two years of prime Donovan at his salary are extremely valuable to a contending club, particularly one with budget constraints. Donavon made 3 million less than Jazz last year. The return for the Cardinals will exceed the return received for Jazz on the basis of salary value/production alone in my opinion at least.
From what I’ve heard, the Cardinals asking price for Donovan is really high, and rightly so.
That doesn’t mean they won’t lower it at some point, but you don’t start negotiations with your lowest offer on the table either.
Let’s go Guards. Get in on this.
Can Contreras still catch? What was the deal with that? He makes sense in SF as an offensive minded C2 / 1B / DH to supplement Bailey/Devers/Eldridge and offset the acquisition cost of Donovan.
Contreras could certainly backup a catcher like Bailey who plays a lot.
If anything the Cardinals would pay enough salary to get something for him in return it wouldn’t be to lessen the cost of Donovan.
Eldridge isnt a great fit positionaly for the Cardinals but he would make sense. Otherwise I dont see the Giants having anything too interesting.
Definitely would not want to give up Eldridge for Donovan.
Donovan, Contreras, Romero and money to pay down Contreras’ contract. Thats fair. Giants can throw in Matos too Cardinals need another right handed hitting outfielder.
Article says they are looking for controllable pitching. Maybe start there. Eldridge not happening.
The Giants dont have the pitching to acquire Donovan. A recent article also stated the Giants are open to moving Eldridge. So……..
SFG is loaded with young arms.
Just because you don’t know about them or like them doesn’t mean the Cards FO won’t deal. Buster would have to be blown away with a TOR starter to move Eldridge. Cards don’t match up there.
Kyle Harrison would have been nice but the Giants already traded him. The rest of their young arms are simply not good enough for Donovan. I know plenty. And the Giants need some young arms they cant trade all of them away. Like I said unless its Eldridge it doesnt make sense.
Who has a top of the rotation starter to trade? Alcantara? I guess good luck with that.
Harrison was probably #3 on what they had to move. Birdsong, Roupp, Whisenhunt pretty much all passed him in development. Sox got fleeced.
McDonald, Tidwell & Seymour are also available. They may not move the needle for you, but you’re not the man to make decisions. You’re right on what’s out there for Eldridge, and that’s why he won’t be traded.
Dude get over yourself. You dont know who’s getting traded and who isnt. You want me to link the article from this very site about the Giants being willing to trade Eldridge?
All those guys you ned are meh starters. The Cardinals need high upside guys not back end starters they already have plenty of those. Do some research yourself champ.
Get over myself ?
I’m not the self proclaimed “king of cards”, that’s you.
Have a great day.
Yeah, but not for Donovan. That would be insane.
How are you so insecure in a comment section? Looks like he was just responding, and since you didn’t agree, you got upset. “Get over yourself” and “champ” lmao being childish make you feel better? I’m not agreeing or disagreeing with what he said either.
Donovan and Contreras were both mentioned. Not just Donovan. Read dude.
Hahaha there you go again, being sensitive and needing to attempt a random insult. Was there a point saying they were both mentioned? Doesn’t change anything…..dude.
Hey Cards fans, do you think Donovan has another level inside him yet that we haven’t seen, or do you think we have seen the max outer limits of his capabilities (which is a very good player!) already and he will plateau there for awhile before the inevitable decline?? Do you also think injuries are going to be an ongoing thing with him, durability wise?? Thank you
He’s consistent and just a solid all around dude. Busch Stadium is very hard to hit in so I imagine his numbers will continue to grow at most other parks. It will help if he is in a lineup with anyone else who can hit, he’s basically solo over here in STL.
I agree with Payne that he could unlock another level with hitting if inserted in a deeper lineup. Going back to ’22, he had the MVP (Goldie) and 3rd place MVP (Arenado) in the same lineup as well as Albert Pujols in his swan song. He’s a baller and his defensive versatility means he could help a lot of teams.
Hes a reliable 3WAR guy and a gamer.
The positional flexibility really makes out his value – he will deliver that 3WAR where the biggest black hole is on any given day.
He’s one of those guys who does nothing flashy but is super-popular with fans. Whoever signs him will be glad they did.
McNeil makes more sense for the Giants.
Less prospect capital to spend. McNeil has a team option for 27 if Giants want it. Kilen should be ready by 2028 or sooner.
If you are thinking about McNeil you might as well do nothing. Koss has better numbers than McNeil and is the current backup utility infielder for the giants. You might as well flip flop koss and Schmitt at that point
As I’ve said before, I don’t like the personality McNeil brings into the clubhouse. Plus:
McNeil 33, 2.0 bWAR
Donovan 28, 2.7 bWAR
The point is to win now, so IMO get the better guy if you can. McNeil has regressed generally over the last 3 years. Kilen looks like a good prospect, but it’s not smart to assume he’ll be the guy in 2028. If he is and they also have a chance to extend Donovan that’s a good problem to have. Unlike Donovan, there’s not much future value in McNeil.
If the interested teams are indeed SF, Seattle, KC, and Boston, it’s an easy decision. Boston doesn’t have the pieces; SF is in the same league and, with the Dodgers still building, are looking to battle for the Wild Card; and KC is just across the state, which makes for quite the embarrassment if he does so well that the Royals make the series again. That leaves Seattle, provided the haul is correct with controllable starters (MLB Evans, MiLB anybody but Sloan and Anderson) and Cole Young to send back, 22 years old and lots of control left. The Cards might even have to send back a mid=level lottery ticket reliever to make the deal fair. Ixan Henderson or Cooper Hjerpe comes to mind. Or, of course, a backup C like Pedro Pages or even Jimmy Crooks..
Your not getting him without Anderson or Sloan being a part of it most likely
Henderson just won pitcher of the year in their system, they are not throwing him into a deal as a lottery ticket.Also crooks is a really good player, he isnt, and won’t be a backup. He will either start in the minors or start in the majors. Now pages is definately built to be a backup
Cardinals dont want or need Evans. And Cole Young plays 2b again no interest. Cardinals could use Montes perhaps. Maybe Cjintje. If the Mariners want a backup yeah that could be arranged. But Young and Evans no thank you.
Considering the minor league “throw-in” pitchers (neither of which are or have ever been relievers) and catcher you listed as lottery tickets are all among the most-prized prospects in the org, I’m not sure you quite understand what a lottery ticket is lmao
Zippy, Boston most certainly has the pieces to trade for Donovan that’s not even debatable. The question is do they want to move those pieces for Donovan. By saying what you’re saying you show a stunning lack of knowledge of what assets the Red Sox have.
Donovan and Contreras for Yoshida and maybe a few controllable arms. Get it done. Forget about signing Bregman now that you did nothing with Alonso or Schwarber. Let Mayer move to 3B and put a lineup like the one below on the field.
Go after Peralta / Ryan with Duran and call it an offseason. Leave yourself plenty of room to add a big bat at the TD if needed.
Sox were still 7th in the League in runs scored with the lineup they had last year and this lineup would be better than last years. They will have high contact guy with some speed on the bases and lots of doubles and a decent amount of pop still if you miss over the middle. But lock down a #2 pitcher and you’re still going to win a lot of games.
Red Sox Projected Lineup 2026 Update
1. (L) Roman Anthony – LF
2. (R) JT Realmuto – C
3. (L) Wilyer Abreu – RF
4. (R) Trevor Story – SS
5. (L) Tristan Casas – DH
6. (R) Willson Contreras – 1B
7. (L) Marcelo Mayer – 3B
8. (R) Ceddanne Rafaela – CF
9. (L) Brendan Donavan – 2B
Reserves
1. (R) Romy Gonzalez
2. (R) Kristian Campbell
3. (R) Carlos Narvaez
4. TBNL
Pitchers
1. Garrett Crochet – LHP
2. Freddy Peralta – RHP / Joe Ryan – RHP
3. Sonny Gray – RHP
4. Brayan Bello – RHP
5. Johan Oviedo – RHP
6. Patrick Sandoval – LHP
Relief Pitchers and Minor League MLB Ready Depth
1. Justin Slaten – RHP
2. Connelly Early – LHP
3. Jordan Hicks -RHP
4. Peyton Tolle – LHP
5. Kyle Harrison – LHP
6. Zack Kelly – RHP
7. Hunter Dobbins – RHP
8. Kutter Crawford – RHP
9. Luis Perales – RHP
10. Hayden Mullins – LHP
8th Inning
1. Garrett Whitlock – RHP
Closer
1. Aroldis Chapman – LHP
During a cardinal rain delay they showed an interview with Donnie at his home which showed his hitting man cave. He’s obsessed with the process. Always a tough out and quality at bat.a well run mid level team will end up with him. The price will be steep and pay dividends.
One positive about Giants “supposed interest” in Donovan is that he is represented by the Bledsoe Agency – don’t have to deal with Boras