Why Brendan Donovan Could Be the Yankees’ Missing Piece - And Why It’s Time to Make a Move
Brian Cashman may be telling the media that the Yankees are laser-focused on outfield help and starting pitching depth this offseason, but if you look at the roster as it stands, that’s only part of the picture. The left side of the infield remains a glaring question mark - one that could derail a team trying to win now.
First base is locked down with Ben Rice, and Jazz Chisholm has second base covered. But beyond that?
Things get murky fast. Anthony Volpe’s glove, once seen as a cornerstone of the Yankees’ defensive future, took a noticeable step back last season.
And while his bat has shown flashes, he’s yet to prove he can be a consistent offensive contributor at the major league level. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team with championship aspirations.
The Yankees can’t afford to sit back and hope development magically clicks in Year 3 - not when the window to contend is wide open.
The Ryan McMahon Dilemma: Defense Without the Bat
There’s been plenty of chatter about Ryan McMahon as a potential infield target. On paper, he brings elite defense - a Gold Glove-caliber third baseman with the versatility to move around the infield.
But the bat? That’s where the fit gets shaky.
McMahon has never been an above-average hitter across a full season. The Yankees would essentially be betting on a swing overhaul translating to the Bronx - hoping that the short porch in right field unlocks some untapped power.
That’s a risky play for a team that needs production now, not a mid-career breakout project. If the contact rate improves, maybe it works.
But for a team with World Series expectations, “maybe” isn’t good enough.
There’s a better option on the table - one that checks more boxes and brings far less risk.
Brendan Donovan: The Contact King Built for the Bronx
Enter Brendan Donovan.
The 28-year-old Cardinals infielder is exactly the kind of player the Yankees have been missing - a high-contact, high-IQ, left-handed bat with positional flexibility and a grinder’s mentality at the plate. And the best part? He’s reportedly available this offseason.
Donovan slashed .287/.353/.422 last year, driving in 50 runs while playing a key leadership role in St. Louis.
His plate approach is elite - just a 13% strikeout rate paired with an 8.2% walk rate. He doesn’t chase, doesn’t give away at-bats, and wears pitchers down.
In a Yankees lineup that has too often relied on boom-or-bust power, Donovan would bring the kind of professional at-bats that extend innings and create chaos on the bases.
And when you dig into the underlying numbers, the fit with Yankee Stadium becomes even more intriguing.
A Swing Made for the Short Porch
Donovan’s left-handed stroke is tailor-made for the Bronx. Of his 10 home runs last season, data shows he would’ve hit 15 if he’d played his home games in Yankee Stadium. That’s not speculation - that’s ball-tracking data doing the talking.
He ranks in the 95th percentile in whiff rate and 92nd percentile in strikeout rate. Translation?
He’s hard to fool and even harder to put away. He puts the ball in play, and when he does, he’s smart about how and where he hits it.
Surrounded by better hitters in New York, Donovan’s production could take another leap - especially with more traffic on the bases and the added benefit of that inviting right-field wall.
More Than a Utility Man - A Daily Impact Player
Some might argue that Donovan’s best position is second base - which is already occupied by Chisholm - but that’s missing the bigger picture. Donovan isn’t a bench utility player; he’s a supercharged version of what the Yankees hoped Oswaldo Cabrera could become.
He can play third, short, second, and even corner outfield in a pinch. He’s the kind of player who finds his way into the lineup every day, regardless of where he’s playing.
Whether he competes directly with Volpe at shortstop or rotates around the diamond to cover injuries and matchups, Donovan gives the Yankees flexibility and production. That’s a rare combination - and one that championship teams are built on.
The Cost - and the Opportunity
It’s going to take a serious trade package to pry Donovan away from St. Louis.
The Cardinals know what they have - a high-character, high-performance player with two more years of team control before free agency in 2028. But they also know this is the time to maximize his value.
The Yankees have been linked to Donovan before, and this might be their best shot yet to land him. The fit isn’t just good - it’s ideal. He brings balance to a righty-heavy lineup, raises the offensive floor, and gives the team one more dependable bat to lean on in October.
If the Yankees are serious about chasing a title in 2026, this is the kind of move that pushes them over the edge. It’s not about filling holes - it’s about building a roster that wins in October. Brendan Donovan helps you do that.
Now it’s up to Cashman to make the call.