The St. Louis Cardinals brought an end to one of their longest-running storylines on Jan. 13.
St. Louis dealt longtime third baseman and multiple-time Platinum Glove winner Nolan Arenado to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for pitching prospect , closing the book on trade talks that had lingered since last offseason.
Arenado is just the latest veteran moved by the Cardinals over the past year. At the trade deadline, the team sent closer Ryan Helsley elsewhere, and this winter they also traded starting pitcher Sonny Gray and first baseman/catcher Willson Contreras—both to the Boston Red Sox.
And the reshuffling may not be finished.
ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan reported on X that the San Francisco Giants are “aggressively pursuing” a second baseman. According to Passan, the Giants are engaged in trade discussions with St. Louis that involve 2025 All-Star Brendan Donovan, as well as Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner.
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Passan’s report echoes earlier information. Back on Dec. 13, The Athletic’s Katie Woo noted that the Seattle Mariners and Giants were leading contenders to acquire Donovan.
Donovan was St. Louis’ lone All-Star last season. In 118 games, he posted a .287/.353/.422 slash line with a .775 OPS, tallying 32 doubles, 10 home runs, and 50 RBIs.
If Woo’s earlier reporting still holds, the Cardinals are seeking multiple high-end prospects in any Donovan deal. San Francisco infielder Gavin Kilen and left-hander Carson Whisenhunt have been among the names discussed.
Donovan remains under team control through the 2027 season and is arbitration-eligible in both remaining years.
The Cardinals’ rebuilding phase is no secret, and the past year has featured a steady stream of moves aimed at stockpiling future assets.
St. Louis could also emerge as one of the most active teams at the 2026 trade deadline. Pitcher Dustin May and right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek were both signed to low-cost one-year contracts, and speculation suggests either could be moved if they perform well in the first half of the season.
With that in mind, the Cardinals’ roster could remain in flux through at least mid-2026 as the organization continues reshaping for the future.
No matter how next season unfolds, president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom and the front office have multiple paths available in their roster overhaul—and Brendan Donovan could be the final major piece to move.
