The St. Louis Cardinals have kept busy this offseason as they begin a rebuild. They kicked things off by dealing Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras to the Boston Red Sox, while also bringing in right-hander Dustin May on a one-year deal.
St. Louis has also listened to trade inquiries on Brendan Donovan and JoJo Romero and continues to explore options for moving Nolan Arenado. There is growing belief that a significant move could materialize sooner rather than later.
According to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat, the Kansas City Royals reached out to the Cardinals about Arenado last offseason. The Royals are also known to have interest in Donovan, and Jones suggested that the groundwork for a major deal may already be in place.
Jones noted on X that while the Cardinals and Royals haven’t frequently traded with one another, there has been increased dialogue between the two clubs in recent years, including Kansas City’s prior inquiry about Arenado. He added that it wouldn’t be surprising if a deal eventually comes together.
Any potential trade would be notable, especially since the Cardinals have reportedly set a steep price for Donovan, which may be slowing negotiations. Still, Kansas City possesses a strong collection of young pitching talent, something St. Louis could use after a thin showing in that area during the 2025 season. Donovan could be the key piece to help the Cardinals replenish that depth.
Whether the Royals are willing to meet St. Louis’ demands for their lone 2025 All-Star remains unclear. If they do, the Cardinals would likely receive a substantial return. The continued contact between the two teams over the past two offseasons adds intrigue, particularly since Donovan fits several of Kansas City’s needs.
Donovan could slot in at second base as a replacement for Jonathan India or provide help in the outfield, another area where the Royals are seeking improvement. While St. Louis is firmly in rebuild mode, if a deal doesn’t happen this winter, the Cardinals could revisit trading Donovan at the July deadline.
In 2025, Donovan hit .287 with 10 home runs and posted a .775 OPS for St. Louis.
