Despite months of speculation, the St. Louis Cardinals’ most talked-about trade candidate may end up staying right where he is. While the organization has been extremely active this offseason, movement surrounding All-Star Brendan Donovan has been surprisingly limited, raising the possibility that he will open the 2026 season in a Cardinals uniform after all.
St. Louis has made sweeping changes over the winter, reshaping its roster in dramatic fashion. The club added pitching help by signing Dustin May and Ryne Stanek, but also parted ways with several high-profile players, trading Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado, and Willson Contreras in moves that clearly signaled a reset. Through it all, Donovan has remained at the center of trade discussions.
The versatile infielder has been widely viewed as the Cardinals’ most valuable trade asset, drawing reported interest from teams such as the San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, and Boston Red Sox. However, despite the steady stream of rumors, there has been little tangible progress toward a deal. As spring training rapidly approaches, the lack of action suggests Donovan’s market may not be as strong as initially expected.
Donovan still has two years of team control remaining, a factor that typically increases a player’s appeal to contending clubs. That contract situation makes him attractive to teams looking for short-term stability and flexibility, even if it doesn’t perfectly align with St. Louis’ projected timeline to return to contention. Still, the Cardinals appear in no rush to force a deal.
In fact, holding onto Donovan may not be a bad outcome for the organization. While he could potentially net a package of quality prospects, the offers reportedly coming in may not meet the Cardinals’ expectations. Rather than selling low, St. Louis could benefit from keeping a productive and respected veteran on the roster during the early stages of a rebuild.
Donovan brings more than just trade value. He is widely regarded as a clubhouse leader and remains one of the team’s most reliable hitters. Known for his contact ability and positional versatility, Donovan can be deployed almost anywhere on the field. His defensive value was recognized early in his career, when he won the Utility Gold Glove Award during his rookie season in 2022.
At 28 years old, Donovan still has plenty to offer, and the Cardinals are undeniably a better team with him in the lineup. There is no obvious internal replacement capable of replicating his production and flexibility. Even if St. Louis does not contend immediately, his presence could be invaluable in helping younger players adjust at the major-league level.
Importantly, the Cardinals are not running out of opportunities to trade him. If the team finds itself out of the playoff race by the trade deadline, Donovan could still be moved for a strong return. His value should remain high at that point, making patience a reasonable strategy.
While the Cardinals do have several left-handed bats, Donovan stands clearly above the rest. As their best table-setter, keeping him around a little longer makes sense. And with trade talks remaining quiet, all signs point to Donovan staying in St. Louis—for now.
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