Chaim Bloom is expected to overhaul the St. Louis Cardinals roster this offseason, though it remains unclear which players will be moved in the process.
Nolan Arenado and Sonny Gray appear to be prime trade candidates, and Willson Contreras could follow if he finds an appealing opportunity elsewhere. Each of those players holds a no-trade clause, giving them control over any potential moves. Bloom, however, retains full authority to make decisions regarding the rest of the roster.
One player whose future is drawing particular attention from fans is Brendan Donovan, the team’s lone All-Star this season. Since debuting in 2022, Donovan has become a vital part of the Cardinals’ core both on and off the field.
The organization faces a complicated decision with him due to the timing of their rebuild. Some see Donovan as a foundational player worth extending — a leader for the next wave of Cardinals talent. Others argue that, with Donovan turning 29 before the 2026 season and only two years of team control remaining, now may be the ideal time to trade him while his value is at its peak.
Bloom was questioned by reporters after his news conference regarding Donovan’s future with the team and whether a contract extension was in the works. “He and I have had a few conversations about that,” Bloom informed me. “I’m not sure where it will go yet. Clearly, I’m being honest. This is true for almost any player. This is the type of guy we need in our clubhouse; the more people and athletes like him, the better.”
Chaim Bloom is non-committal about Brendan Donovan’s future with the Cardinals
Nobody expected Bloom to give a definitive answer about Donovan’s future, and his stance on the matter seemed sincere. I fully anticipate that the Cardinals will both explore what a contract extension might look like and listen to trade offers from other teams. Given their current situation, that’s the right approach.
Personally, unless a team comes forward with an exceptional offer, the best move would be to lock Donovan up long-term. In fact, it was a missed opportunity not to do so last offseason. His development has been obvious for a while, and 2025 only reinforced that. If not for playing through turf toe for much of the season, his statistics likely would’ve been the best of his career.
The Cardinals aren’t planning a full-scale rebuild like the Astros or Cubs, who tore their rosters down completely. Instead, they aim to stay competitive while working their way back to legitimate contention. Their farm system still has room for improvement, but it’s trending upward, and the new player development staff appears to be making real progress. While it may take years to reach World Series contention, they shouldn’t need nearly as long to become a strong, competitive club again. Keeping Donovan would help accelerate that process — he not only contributes on the field but also models winning habits for younger players.
By the time the team’s young core is ready to contend, Donovan might not be at his absolute peak, but it’s hard to imagine he won’t remain a valuable presence both on and off the field.
Bloom has already made it clear that he’s not simply replicating the Rays’ blueprint. He recognizes that St. Louis is one of baseball’s marquee franchises, and its market allows for greater investment than Tampa ever could. Owner Bill DeWitt Jr. also understands the importance of retaining stars and fan favorites. That doesn’t mean avoiding tough roster decisions, but it does mean the Cardinals don’t need to trade away key players every time they near free agency.