For the last year, the St. Louis Cardinals have parlayed their present for the future.

The Cardinals have dealt many of their most established and higher-earning veterans to stockpile assets for the future.

In the last year, St. Louis has sent out first baseman/catcher Willson Contreras, closer Ryan Helsley, starting pitcher Sonny Gray and third baseman Nolan Arenado.

In addition to those aforementioned names, the Cardinals wrapped up a months-long saga of rumors and reports and dealt Brendan Donovan to the Seattle Mariners in a three-team deal that also involved the Tampa Bay Rays.

St. Louis received top 100 starting pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje, outfield prospects Tai Peete and Colton Ledbetter and two Competitive Balance Round B picks in return.

It was arguably the most substantial return for the Cardinals among their plethora of trades. However, the organization reportedly could have pursued another avenue with Donovan.

According to a report from Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic, St. Louis was involved in discussions of another three-team deal that still would have seen Donovan shipped out the American League West.

The deal reportedly involved the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox where the former would have acquired Donovan.

The deal would have also seen 2025 All-Star infielder Isaac Paredes dealt to the Boston Red Sox.

Boston's involvement isn't a shock. It reportedly had interest in Donovan and had familiarity with St. Louis. The Cardinals' trades to send out Gray and Contreras were with the Red Sox.

According to Rome and Rosenthal's reports, discussions between St. Louis and Boston for Donovan "sputtered." 

Due to the Cardinals' familiarity with the Red Sox's farm system and Houston's farm system being not well-regarded, it makes sense the organization would opt for a return from the Mariners. The M's had reported interest in Donovan dating back to last year and had seven top 100 prospects entering 2026, per MLB Pipeline, including Cijntje.

Seattle and St. Louis also reportedly remained engaged in conversations throughout the offseason, with reports dating back to early December saying the M's were the "front-runners" to land the 2025 All-Star utility player.

Ultimately, the Cardinals went with the Seattle-Tampa Bay deal.

Despite its immediate aspirations for winning looking bleak, St. Louis has succeeded in its offseason goal of shedding payroll and setting up for the future.

The Cardinals have six top 100 prospects, per MLB Pipeline, including top five prospect J.J. Wetherholt, who's expected to have a starting role on the team throughout the year.

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