Deal Imminent: Cardinals To Pull Off Blockbuster Trade For 28-Year-Old Super Talent With AL Central Contender

The St. Louis Cardinals have reached a pivotal point this offseason. To restart their rebuild and position themselves as steady contenders in the coming years, several key decisions must be made.

One of the most significant options on the table is trading Brendan Donovan. He’s their most valuable asset on the market and could net a substantial return of young pitching—something the team badly needs.

However, one team in particular, the Cleveland Guardians, might match up best with the Cardinals due to their supply of pitching.

 

 

The Guardians likely won’t give up Gavin Williams, but they do have a lot of solid young pitchers in their system, including Khal Stephen, who came over from the Toronto Blue Jays in the Shane Bieber deal, and left-handers Logan Allen and Parker Messick.

It’s important to note that two Cardinals executives, Rob Cerfolio and Larry Day came to St. Louis from the Guardians and are largely responsible for putting together that farm system, so they could help the Cardinals bring back a major haul in exchange for Donovan if that is where they ultimately send him.

The Cardinals need young, controllable starters to round out their 2026 rotation, and Cleveland may be the best place to find that kind of pitching. The Guardians, meanwhile, could use an offensive boost, and the All-Star second baseman would help them as they work toward contending in 2026.

For St. Louis, the moment has arrived to lean into a younger roster—something that will require difficult choices. With Donovan just two years away from free agency, he may not fit their long-term vision.

But if the Cardinals do move him to Cleveland, they could acquire players who align with their future goals. They need young arms with swing-and-miss ability to bolster their pitching depth, which remains their biggest area of concern this offseason.

St. Louis and Cleveland do match up pretty well as possible trade partners and could give each other what they need for 2026 in a deal, especially if it involves Donovan, who Cleveland has interest in.