The St. Louis Cardinals have a lot of critical decisions to make this summer, but the most important one involves infielder Brendan Donovan.
Donovan makes a lot of sense as a trade possibility, and there would be plenty of suitors if the Cardinals put him on the trade block. The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees were allegedly interested in Donovan at the trade deadline, but the Cardinals chose to keep him.
According to Josh Jacobs of Redbird Rants, the Cardinals may consider extending Donovan’s deal rather than trading him this offseason.
Cardinals could look to extend Brendan Donovan instead of trading him
“I’ve beat the drum for years now and will continue to do so: Brendan Donovan is worth keeping in St. Louis,” says Jacobs. “Without a fantastic trade offer, I believe the combination of on-field performance and his off-field intangibles and leadership will be critical to making this a shorter rebuild than some fans fear.
“Donovan was a top baseball player for the Cardinals this year until suffering a turf toe injury, and his influence in the Cardinals’ dugout is growing. As a new youthful core grows over the next several seasons, a homegrown leader like Donovan can assist the next generation in developing winning habits, attacking each day with determination, and being prepared when the time comes for them to return to real contention.”
Donovan’s re-signing makes sense only if the Cardinals want to rebuild in the immediate future. The Cardinals appear to be a few years away from fielding a World Series contender, which has fueled speculation that Donovan may be dealt.
Signing him to an extension makes sense in the near term, but if the Cardinals aren’t going to be a World Series contender for the next three or four years, selling the talented infielder may be the best option.
Donovan’s worth is simply going to decrease with age. His output will only decline more. The front office will have a difficult decision this winter.