With St. Louis looking to deal utility player, could Giants wind up trading a prospect or two for him?
The St. Louis Cardinals are trying to get back into some type of competition in the National League Central Division next season. They've shown a willingness to make a trade or two in order for that to happen. One name that has been getting a lot of focus recently is utility player Brendan Donovan.
In fact, one of the teams that's been reported as a favorite to pick Donovan up is the San Francisco Giants.
According to a new article from The Athletic, the Cardinals are looking to make some payroll space. That was a factor involved with earlier trades involving Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras.
"The Cardinals sent $20 million with Gray to Boston, but no longer have to pay the $35 million he was owed in 2026, the final year of his contract," according to The Athletic article written by Will Sammon and Katie Woo.
"Contreras was due $41.5 million over the next two seasons, and held a club option worth $17.5 million in 2028," the article continued. "That deal was reworked as part of the trade, with the Cardinals sending $8 million to the Red Sox to complete the deal.
"The Cardinals have been adamant that they won’t trade Donovan solely for the sake of making a move," the article stated. "The return package has to make sense, and for a club looking to rebuild through drafting and developing, that means capitalizing on prospects."
Apparently, conversations between the Giants and Seattle Mariners with the Cardinals for Donovan's services reached a dead end after the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla. The Athletic's article indicates that talks stalled as the Contreras trade was getting into shape.
Donovan has two years of team control with St. Louis at this time. Last season, Donovan earned his first-ever All-Star Game appearance.
"Now the Red Sox have again come into the picture as a potential trade partner," according to the article. "The Cardinals and Red Sox have discussed a trade for Donovan, as The Athletic reported last week, with Boston looking for an additional middle infielder."
The Giants sure could use a player like Donovan on their roster. Will Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey push the envelope harder to get Donovan before spring training begins in just a few weeks?
That possibility, along with whatever other moves the Giants might be thinking about at this time, still lingers in the air. Giants fans will be watching to see what happens.