The MLB hot stove is absolutely scorching right now, and the Tampa Bay Rays are at the center of the action. On a whirlwind Friday, the Rays have pulled off a flurry of major moves-moves that could have a ripple effect across the league, especially for the St. Louis Cardinals and their versatile infielder Brendan Donovan.
Let’s break it down.
The Rays executed a significant three-team deal that sent second baseman Brandon Lowe to the Pittsburgh Pirates. At the same time, they’re reportedly finalizing a trade that would ship right-hander Shane Baz to the Baltimore Orioles. And that’s not all-the Rays are also in advanced talks to acquire second baseman Ketel Marte from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
So, what does this all mean for the Cardinals? In short: opportunity.
If the Rays land Marte, and with Lowe already out the door, the market for second basemen is about to get a whole lot thinner-and that puts Brendan Donovan squarely in the spotlight. With Marte and Lowe off the board, Donovan becomes the top available second baseman on the market. He’s a switch-hitter with on-base skills, positional flexibility, and a team-friendly contract-exactly the kind of player contending teams covet in December.
And there’s no shortage of interest. The Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Guardians, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Kansas City Royals have all been linked to Donovan in recent days.
That’s a wide range of teams, spanning both leagues and various stages of contention, all circling the same target. There may be even more suitors lurking behind the scenes.
There’s been some chatter about other second basemen potentially being available-names like Nico Hoerner and Jazz Chisholm Jr. have popped up in trade rumors-but if the Marte deal goes through, Donovan becomes the clear-cut top option on the board. He’s not just a plug-and-play second baseman; he can move around the diamond, provide high-quality at-bats, and bring a spark to any lineup.
Now, here’s where the Cardinals hold the cards.
President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom is reportedly holding firm on a high asking price for Donovan, and there’s no indication he’s going to budge. And frankly, he shouldn’t.
The Cardinals aren’t in a position where they have to move Donovan. They’re rebuilding, yes, but Donovan is the kind of player you can either build around or flip for a serious return.
Either way, they’re dealing from a position of strength.
If a team wants Donovan-and clearly, several do-they’re going to have to pay up. That’s the leverage the Cardinals have right now, and it’s a crucial piece of their broader strategy.
Whether they keep Donovan or move him for a haul, they’re in control of the situation. And as this market continues to thin out, that leverage only grows.
The Rays’ aggressive movement on Friday could be the domino that sets the rest of the second-base market in motion. And when it does, all eyes will be on St. Louis.