With Chaim Bloom stepping in as president of baseball operations, the St. Louis Cardinals appear poised for significant roster shifts. Nolan Arenado and Sonny Gray are both likely trade candidates, and they may not be the only ones on the move.
After missing the postseason for the third straight year, the Cardinals are evaluating every possible path to strengthen their long-term outlook. That includes the potential trade of Brendan Donovan, who earned his first All Star selection in 2025, according to Ken Rosenthal, Will Sammon and Katie Woo of the Athletic.
“Offloading veteran contracts, however, is far from the Cardinals’ only priority,” Rosenthal, Sammon and Woo reported. “They also will look to trade from their surplus of left-handed hitters, a group that includes Brendan Donovan. A first-time All Star last season, Donovan missed most of the final six weeks due to a nagging groin injury and underwent sports hernia repair surgery in October. But he is expected to be fully ready by spring training.”
“While the organization holds Donovan in high regard, the argument to move him involves the timing of the Cardinals’ next competitive window,” they continued. “Donovan will turn 29 in January and has two years remaining before free agency.”
Donovan delivered a career-best .287 average with 10 home runs and 50 runs driven in across 118 games in 2025. Even though his year ended early due to surgery, his stock is at its highest following his All Star selection. With the Cardinals shifting into trade mode, this could be the moment to maximize his value.
The team already has a potential successor waiting, with top prospect JJ Wetherholt nearing a major league opportunity. Moving Donovan could strengthen the farm system while clearing the way for Wetherholt to step into a bigger role.
St. Louis is expected to be busy this offseason as they reshape the direction of the franchise. Arenado and Gray are essentially locks to be traded, and Donovan might not be far behind.