The Cardinals’ decision to move Brendan Donovan looked like a big swing when it happened. Now, with the return continuing to take shape, it looks even better.
St. Louis spent the offseason signaling that veterans were on the table, and the roster eventually got reshaped in a major way. Nolan Arenado, Brendan Donovan, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras all ended up traded, turning the winter into a full-on reset for the organization.
Of those deals, the Donovan trade has held up best so far. Donovan was valuable to the Cardinals and served as a leader in the clubhouse, but with team control only running through the 2027 season before he reaches free agency, St.
Louis chose to cash in. That move has only gained traction as the pieces from the deal keep progressing.
The headliner in the return was Cardinals No. 4 prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje, a switch-pitcher who has continued to improve as the season has gone on in Double-A. The Cardinals also landed No. 17 prospect Tai Peete and outfielder Colton Ledbetter, both of whom have been solid in the minors this year.
And on top of those three players, St. Louis picked up two Competitive Balance Round B selections, No. 68 and No. 72, which it finally used on Saturday.
With the No. 68 pick, the Cardinals took outfielder Andrew Williamson out of Central Florida. At No. 72, they added pitcher Dawson Montesa from West Virginia.
Williamson brings loud production to the table. This season at Central Florida, he hit .322/.442/.645 with a 1.086 OPS, 16 home runs, 48 RBIs, eight stolen bases, 41 walks, 13 doubles and four triples in 55 games.
In 2025, he posted a .352/.448/.662 line with a 1.110 OPS, 13 homers, 53 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 55 games. At 21, he gives the Cardinals a young outfielder with a real offensive ceiling.
Montesa comes with more risk, but also some upside. The 20-year-old had a rough season at West Virginia, finishing with a 5.38 ERA in 19 appearances. Even so, the raw tools stand out: a 55-grade fastball that has reached 98 miles per hour, a 55-grade curveball and a solid frame at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds.
Donovan was hard to part with. But with five solid prospects now in the pipeline, the Cardinals have gotten a return that looks stronger by the day.
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