If baseball trades were written like classified ads, the New York Yankees might post something like this:
Wanted – versatile infielder. Must handle second and third base; occasional shortstop duties a plus. Outfield experience preferred. Bonus points for a left-handed bat, leadoff potential, and above-average skills with both glove and lumber.
The St. Louis Cardinals just might answer that ad. Because they have exactly what the Yankees are looking for.
As the Cardinals enter a new era, with Chaim Bloom replacing John Mozeliak as president of baseball operations and re-centering the franchise around player development, the expectation is that several players could become available. And one drawing plenty of interest is Brendan Donovan, a player who checks almost every box for New York.
Yankees Among Several Teams Interested in Cardinals’ All-Star Brendan Donovan
Over his four MLB seasons, Donovan has started at least 12 games at six different positions, and he earned a Gold Glove as a utility player in 2022. Primarily a second baseman in 2025, Donovan was named an All-Star for the first time, and he finished with a slash line of .287/.353/.422.
Donovan has been a model of consistency offensively, ending each season with an average between .278 and .287. He has batted mostly from the first three spots in the order, and produced no matter where the manager puts his name in the lineup.
More than that, Donovan is a gamer. He’s the guy who finishes every game with dirt on his uniform and gives 100 percent whenever he’s on the field.
And as a bonus, he has two more years under team control before he reaches unrestricted free agency, with Spotrac estimating Donovan will earn a salary in 2026 of $5.75 million.
But all of those reasons that make Donovan valuable to the Yankees, also make him a desirable target for several teams. According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, Donovan’s name has been linked via trade to probably more teams than any other player in the first weeks of the offseason.
“I would say a majority of teams in Major League Baseball have checked in with the Cardinals on their trade candidates. Donovan, top name on the list,” Morosi said.
“The question is actually not so much who is in on Donovan, but who is not. Because I talked to a source today who said this man has about as much action in the trade market as any other player in Major League Baseball. Because, you think about his bat. He’s a great lefty bat, you don’t have to pinch hit for him against lefty pitching, he hits good pitching … and he plays above-average defense at a majority of positions on a baseball field.”
Yankees Have Pitching Prospects to Make Trade for Brendan Donovan
So what will it take for the Yankees to get him? Cardinals insiders suggest that St. Louis is looking for young pitchers with multiple seasons of team control, preferably close to MLB ready.
With 10 pitchers among their top 14 prospects, the Yankees should be able to put together an attractive package. In fact, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report predicts that one such pitcher, prospect Elmer Rodriguez, is the Yankees player most likely to be involved in a trade this offseason.
“(T)he Yankees have six starters signed through at least 2028 and a farm system that is almost too top-heavy with pitchers,” Miller wrote. “Moving one of those prospects this winter is a near-certainty.”
New York’s No. 3 prospect, the 22-year-old Rodriguez was acquired from Boston in December 2024 for catcher Carlos Narvaez. He spent most of the 2025 season split between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset, then finished with a single start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, combining to go 11-8 with a 2.58 ERA with 176 strikeouts in 150 innings.
If the Yankees pair Rodriguez with another top pitching prospect, such as Chase Hampton or Brock Selvidge, the Cardinals may bite. Anything lower on the prospect list will likely require a third piece from the system to top any offers from the many other interested parties.
In the end, Donovan checks every box in the Yankees’ classified ad. The only question left is whether the Yankees are willing to pay the asking price before someone else does.
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