The St. Louis Cardinals don’t need to rush into any decisions, but they should be open to listening if a strong trade proposal emerges for All-Star utility player.
Donovan has been a frequent name in trade speculation throughout the offseason. With Spring Training only weeks away, the Cardinals have yet to finalize any deal involving him. Addressing fans over the weekend, president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom left all possibilities open, though he emphasized that, at this stage of the calendar, his general belief is that players already on the roster are more likely to remain with the team than be moved.
The Cardinals All-Star is still on the block
While this is the case, MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand called a Donovan deal a “near-lock”.
“Donovan seems like a near-lock to be traded, but with a number of clubs potentially interested, the Cardinals are going to wait for the right deal to emerge before making a move,” Feinsand wrote. “In addition to the Giants and Mariners, the Red Sox are one of the clubs in need of a second baseman…
“Hoerner is an intriguing trade candidate following the Bregman deal, but the Cubs aren’t in the same position as the Cardinals in that they don’t have to trade Hoerner, who is a free agent next season. Chicago could keep Hoerner, use Matt Shaw as a super-utility player and slot Shaw in at second base a year from now. If the Giants do trade for a second baseman, Donovan has to be considered the frontrunner.”
Bloom didn’t close the doors on anything and Donovan remains one of the most intriguing trade candidates on the board. If something is going to happen, expect it to be on the sooner side. At this point, Spring Training is less than a month out. The Arizona Diamondbacks set a deadline for a Ketel Marte trade and it passed. Arguably, it’s time for the Cardinals to do something similar. Set a deadline and if a team meets the asking price, get a deal done. If they don’t, shut down the noise.
