Yankees Reportedly Could Attempt To Land Cardinals Fan-Favorite In Major Deal
The New York Yankees could end up pursuing a St. Louis Cardinals fan-favorite this offseason.
St. Louis certainly has a need in the starting rotation and has an overflow of offensive talent. The Cardinals ended up being sellers ahead of the 2023 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline but were linked to multiple deals that didn't get done. One player who found his name in trade rumors is Brendan Donovan but ultimately he remained in St. Louis. Although this was the case, New York reportedly could end up looking for a deal involving Donovan this offseason, according to The Athletic's Chris Kirschner.
"Brendan Donovan, whose season was cut short due to elbow surgery, makes sense for what the Yankees need," Kirschner said. "Donovan is a high on-base percentage, low-strikeout left-handed bat who posted a .787 OPS in 95 games this year while playing all over the field. His OPS would have ranked third on the Yankees behind Judge and Gleyber Torres. The Yankees simply need more good hitters heading into next season, and Donovan fills that hole.
"Because Donovan is a pre-arbitration player, it will likely take a lot for the Cards to consider moving someone like him. Maybe Clarke Schmidt, Randy Vásquez, and Clayton Beeter would get the Cardinals to entertain the idea of trading Donovan. With the free-agency market lacking many impactful bats, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Yankees add a few bats through trades."
Donovan was exceptional for the Cardinals this season but appeared in just 95 games due to injuries. The 26-year-old finished the season with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs and a .284/.365/.422 slash line while also providing impressive defense across the diamond. The Cardinals are in the mix for more pitching depth and the Yankees have a surplus of arms. A move has been hinted at in the past and it sounds like talks could pop back up this offseason.
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