The Cleveland Guardians were reportedly interested in St. Louis Cardinals' Brendan Donovan earlier this winter. Would it still make sense to make a trade for him?
Earlier in the offseason, reports indicated the Cleveland Guardians were among the teams interested in St. Louis Cardinals utilityman Brendan Donovan.
The Cardinals have certainly been one of the more active teams this offseason, trading away franchise cornerstones Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, and Wilson Contreras. Clearly, Chaim Bloom is willing to make a trade, but Donovan is still on his roster.
At this point in the offseason, does a potential Brendan Donovan trade still make sense for the Guardians, or should they pivot in a different direction and head into spring training with the lineup they currently have?
Should the Guardians Still Trade for Brendan Donovan?
Yes. Absolutely. Of course. 100%.
Whichever word or phrase you want to use or input, the idea of a Brendan Donovan trade still makes plenty of sense for the Guardians, and it’s something they should still be exploring this winter.
Cleveland is currently set to head into the 2026 season with almost the same lineup they ended the 2025 season with, which recorded a team OPS of .669 a year ago.
Hopefully, Cleveland will see some progression and get a boost from the young trio of Chase DeLauter, George Valera, and C.J. Kayfus, but they’re still rookies and will go through growing pains.
The Guardians need some stability in their lineup, not named Jose Ramirez, and Donovan can provide just that.
May 27, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Brendan Donovan (33) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesThe 29-year-old hasn’t recorded an OPS under .700 through his first four big-league seasons. Donovan is coming off a year where he hit .287/.353/.422, including 42 extra base hits.
Sure, there are some concerns with Donovan’s ability to hit against left-handed pitching, but the Guardians need more offense, and even with his flaws, Donovan can clearly help with that.
Defensively, Donovan’s versatility still makes him an ideal fit in Cleveland. He could hold down second base until Travis Bazzana is ready for his debut, then rotate around the diamond, including playing an outfield spot. In 2025, Donovan played second base, shortstop, and left field.
If the Cardinals are still willing to listen and negotiate on a potential trade for Donovan, the Guardians should be trying to add him to their 2026 squad.
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