Inside The Cardinals

Yankees Shockingly Linked To Trade For Cardinals' Versatile All-Star

Could Brendan Donovan be on the move?
Zach Pressnell|
Jul 8, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Brendan Donovan (33) celebrates with shortstop Masyn Winn (0) after hitting a two run home run against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Jul 8, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Brendan Donovan (33) celebrates with shortstop Masyn Winn (0) after hitting a two run home run against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

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The St. Louis Cardinals have been involved in a lot of different trade rumors this year. St. Louis has been linked to buying moves that would see them add players like Jarren Duran or Sandy Alcántara. Both these additions seem very unlikely. They've also been linked to selling moves that would see them trade away players like Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado, and Ryan Helsley.

Now, it seems more likely the Cardinals will sell based on how horribly they've played in July. They've seemingly fallen out of the postseason hunt and look to be a rebuilding team once again.

On Friday afternoon, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Cardinals could look to cut ties with All-Star utility man Brendan Donovan at the trade deadline. Heyman linked the New York Yankees to Donovan and mentioned the Houston Astros as a suitor, too.

Trading Donovan would be a very unpopular move for the fanbase. He has team control, and he's seemingly a fan favorite in St. Louis. The Cardinals aren't backed into a corner to deal him away like they are with Helsley and Phil Maton. Trading Donovan would seem like a slap in the face to the fans.

But it could make sense under one circumstance: the Cardinals land Spencer Jones from the Yankees.

JJ Wetherholt is seemingly pushing to be the team's starting second baseman by opening day next season. That will permanently move Donovan to the outfield. But if the Cardinals trade Donovan and land Jones alongside two or three other talented prospects, it wouldn't be a horrible decision.

Donovan is playing his best baseball right now. It's unlikely that his ceiling is much higher than the production we're seeing from him this year. Trading him now would be extracting the most value out of him possible.

It doesn't seem likely, but it's definitely a situation to keep an eye on.

More MLB: Cardinals Trading $81 Million Star 'Seems Unavoidable,' Per Insider

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Zach Pressnell
ZACH PRESSNELL

Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network among others. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding "St. Louis Cardinals On SI," please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

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