Brendan Donovan’s name has been swirling in trade rumors all offseason, with teams like the San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners reportedly showing interest. But if you’re expecting the St. Louis Cardinals to part ways with their versatile infielder anytime soon, don’t hold your breath.
The message coming out of St. Louis is loud and clear: Donovan isn’t going anywhere unless the return is too good to pass up. On a recent episode of MLB Tonight, insider Katie Woo summed it up perfectly: “The Cardinals do not feel the need to trade Brendan Donovan, and they will only do so if they are blown away by an offer.”
And honestly, that tracks. Donovan isn’t just another piece on the roster - he’s become a key part of the Cardinals’ identity.
In just four seasons, he’s carved out a role as one of the most reliable and flexible players in the organization. Whether he’s anchoring second base or sliding into the outfield, Donovan brings value wherever he lines up.
That kind of defensive versatility is hard to find, and even harder to replace.
Offensively, he’s no slouch either. Donovan posted a .287 batting average last season and has racked up 40 home runs over his career so far. He’s not the flashiest name in the league, but he’s the kind of player who quietly makes a team better every single day - a glue guy who helps hold things together through the grind of a 162-game season.
The Cardinals are a franchise that values consistency and character, and Donovan fits that mold to a tee. This is an organization with a proud history and a championship pedigree, and they don’t move on from players like Donovan without serious consideration. If they’re going to deal him, it’s going to take a return that either matches or exceeds his impact - and that’s a high bar.
Could things change before spring training? Sure.
Baseball’s offseason has a way of turning quiet situations into fast-moving ones. But as it stands, the Cardinals are in no rush to move Donovan.
They know what they have in him - and they’re not giving that up for anything less than a game-changing offer.