The St. Louis Cardinals have faced a rollercoaster season, with their playoff hopes fading as the trade deadline approached. Recognizing that their roster isn’t built for a World Series run, the team opted to make moves, trading Phil Maton, Steven Matz, and Ryan Helsley to various teams. However, these trades could be just the beginning, as the Cardinals may look to make further changes in the offseason. 
A recent report by Miranda Remaklus on Redbird Rants suggested that fan favorite and All-Star Brendan Donovan could be on the trading block in the coming months. With a front-office transition from John Mozeliak to Chaim Bloom on the horizon, this scenario appears to be a real possibility.
Donovan, who was the Cardinals’ sole All-Star in 2025, has been a consistent contributor, but his potential availability stems from several factors. While the team has often been reluctant to part with roster pieces, it seems the Cardinals may need to move on from some of their younger players to improve in key areas, particularly pitching and veteran leadership.
In addition to Donovan, outfielder Lars Nootbaar has been a fan favorite but has struggled with consistency when healthy. As the team looks to improve, trading Donovan could help bolster their roster. Donovan’s value is at a high point, following one of his best seasons, and the Cardinals may view this as the ideal time to capitalize on his marketability.
With top prospect JJ Wetherholt set to make his debut soon, it’s expected that he’ll take over second base for the long term. While there’s some speculation about Wetherholt potentially moving to third base to replace Nolan Arenado, second base remains the most likely fit. This would leave Donovan’s future with the team uncertain, making him a viable trade candidate.
While it’s not certain that Donovan will be moved, the Cardinals would be wise to explore trade options. Given his current value and the upcoming roster changes, Donovan could be an important piece in any potential deals this offseason.
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