The St. Louis Cardinals took a major step in their rebuilding process last week.

The Cardinals traded right-handed starting pitcher Sonny Gray to the Boston Red Sox on Nov. 25.

Several other St. Louis players that have been floated around in trade rumors over the last year and many of them are among the top trade candidates available, according to an MLB insider.

ESPN's Jeff Passan posted a story containing a list of the top 25 trade candidates in the majors this season and two players popped up on the list.

Passan had infielder Brendan Donovan ranked No. 11 on his list of top trade candidates and had the following assessment on the 2025 All-Star:

The Cardinals are not eager to trade Donovan, but the market for him is percolating, and a number of teams see the 28-year-old as an option at second base, third base or left field. Because of his excellent bat-to-ball skills and gap power, Donovan can bat leadoff or occupy a middle-of-the-order role on a team with boppers. Almost nobody is off-limits as new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom retools the Cardinals, and Donovan is the best of the available bunch.

Passan listed the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians as possible destinations and speculated he had a "75%" chance of being moved.

Passan had first baseman Willson Contreras ranked No. 16 on the list:

Contreras always hits, and even with $41.5 million owed over the next two years (with a club option for a third), teams could use his on-base skills. He has expressed his desire to stay in St. Louis, though, and with a full no-trade clause through the end of 2026, threading the needle on the right deal could be a time suck for a team that needs to spread its bandwidth wisely.

Passan named the San Diego Padres, Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Pirates as potential suitors with a "15%" chance of being traded

Passan also listed 15 more players who could be moved in addition to the 25 he highlighted. St. Louis had several players included in the additional 15: third baseman Nolan Arenado, second baseman Nolan Gorman and left-handed pitcher JoJo Romero.

With so many players potentially on the trade block, the Cardinals could be one of the most involved teams of the offseason. The potential haul St. Louis gets in any trades could set the course for the franchise for years to come.

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