The St. Louis Cardinals are firmly in rebuild mode. After missing the postseason in each of the last two years and on pace to fall short for a third straight season, the team is expected to be busy this offseason, moving on from certain players while adding younger or more cost-effective options to take their place.
ESPN’s Brandon Kiley recently pointed out one player who may have solidified a spot in the Cardinals’ 2026 lineup, while also suggesting that two others could be on the move this offseason.
This two key starters are to Be in Their Final Season With St. Louis?
Second baseman and outfielder are both under one-year deals with two years of arbitration eligibility remaining. But given the team’s rebuilding direction, Kiley believes their value might be greater to a contender than to the Cardinals.
“A guy like Brendan Donovan, a guy like Lars Nootbaar — they bring a lot of versatility to a lineup,” Kiley said. “They’d fit perfectly setting the table for stars like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, or Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani. Those types of players make more sense in contending lineups than in St. Louis next year.”
Donovan has put together a strong season, hitting .279 with a .750 OPS, nine homers, 45 RBIs, and 43 walks against 60 strikeouts, showcasing his disciplined approach at the plate.
Nootbaar’s batting average sits at .238, but he has still managed to post an OPS over .700 and has contributed 13 home runs this year, keeping his value intact despite the lower average.
Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar have been regulars in the Cardinals’ lineup, but their true value might be greater on a team loaded with star power. Surrounded by big bats, pitchers would have little choice but to challenge them more often, giving both players better pitches to hit.
Meanwhile, third baseman Nolan Gorman is someone Brandon Kiley believes the Cardinals will prioritize keeping. Despite a modest .221 batting average, Gorman carries a .734 OPS and has matched Nootbaar’s 13 home runs, accomplishing it in 20 fewer games.
Nolan Gorman is set to enter his first year of arbitration in 2026 and is earning under \$1 million this season, while Lars Nootbaar and Brendan Donovan are each making close to \$3 million in 2025.
“You can find players like Nootbaar and Donovan on the market every year for \$10 to \$20 million,” Kiley explained. “That’s why Gorman’s power makes him so valuable to the Cardinals — they don’t have to spend big to get that production elsewhere. I think St. Louis should operate under the idea that Gorman has earned his way into their 2026 lineup because of what he provides.”
With the franchise in rebuild mode, the front office faces critical choices this offseason as it looks to assemble the right mix for a postseason return. Gorman may have secured his spot in the long-term plan, but Donovan and Nootbaar could prove too costly for the Cardinals to keep.