Do you forsee Bloom trading Donovan over the winter ?

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Donovan is a guy you build around.

No way. Foundational guys are like Pujols, Edmonds, Waino, both Carpenters, etc. He's a very good role player. Players need to be great to be foundational pieces. Not enough SLG or speed for that. I think of him like I used to think about Zobrist with the Cubs.

Not intended to mean he is a superstar but that at his position he is a plus and he isn't a free agent until 2028. I'd put him at top 3 or 4 2B in MLB. Why would you trade him?

Lowe and Hoerner are making $11 million a year. You think Donovan will get more or is that too much?

Of course, Donovan is a plus. That's why he has trade value right now. The Cardinals will never pay him what he wants or expects when he hits free agency. So if that's the case, why not trade him for an area of more need on this team? You have JJ waiting in the wings to play 2B.

[alw80]

Donovan is a guy you build around.

No way. Foundational guys are like Pujols, Edmonds, Waino, both Carpenters, etc. He's a very good role player. Players need to be great to be foundational pieces. Not enough SLG or speed for that. I think of him like I used to think about Zobrist with the Cubs.

Not intended to mean he is a superstar but that at his position he is a plus and he isn't a free agent until 2028. I'd put him at top 3 or 4 2B in MLB. Why would you trade him?

Lowe and Hoerner are making $11 million a year. You think Donovan will get more or is that too much?

Of course, Donovan is a plus. That's why he has trade value right now. The Cardinals will never pay him what he wants or expects when he hits free agency. So if that's the case, why not trade him for an area of more need on this team? You have JJ waiting in the wings to play 2B.

BD is the exact kind of guy the Cardinals should be paying. If they can't afford him then pack it up and retract the team.

[ScotchMIrish]

Donovan is a guy you build around.

No way. Foundational guys are like Pujols, Edmonds, Waino, both Carpenters, etc. He's a very good role player. Players need to be great to be foundational pieces. Not enough SLG or speed for that. I think of him like I used to think about Zobrist with the Cubs.

Not intended to mean he is a superstar but that at his position he is a plus and he isn't a free agent until 2028. I'd put him at top 3 or 4 2B in MLB. Why would you trade him?

Lowe and Hoerner are making $11 million a year. You think Donovan will get more or is that too much?

Of course, Donovan is a plus. That's why he has trade value right now. The Cardinals will never pay him what he wants or expects when he hits free agency. So if that's the case, why not trade him for an area of more need on this team? You have JJ waiting in the wings to play 2B.

Interesting discussion. I'd lean toward keeping him but it's possible a team with mega money will offer him a stupid big contract the Cardinals can't match. I'm more of a bird in the hand adherent because you never know what the projected milb star will do at MLB level but I understand the logic behind trading him.

I'd say if this is the position the Cardinals are in then we are in big trouble going forward. Trading a player who is top 3 or 4 at his position 2 1/2 years prior to free agency because we can't afford him would lead to constant rebuild similar to Pirates.

[scoutyjones2]

Donovan is a guy you build around.

No way. Foundational guys are like Pujols, Edmonds, Waino, both Carpenters, etc. He's a very good role player. Players need to be great to be foundational pieces. Not enough SLG or speed for that. I think of him like I used to think about Zobrist with the Cubs.

Not intended to mean he is a superstar but that at his position he is a plus and he isn't a free agent until 2028. I'd put him at top 3 or 4 2B in MLB. Why would you trade him?

Lowe and Hoerner are making $11 million a year. You think Donovan will get more or is that too much?

Of course, Donovan is a plus. That's why he has trade value right now. The Cardinals will never pay him what he wants or expects when he hits free agency. So if that's the case, why not trade him for an area of more need on this team? You have JJ waiting in the wings to play 2B.

BD is the exact kind of guy the Cardinals should be paying. If they can't afford him then pack it up and retract the team.

He's exactly what a competing team needs, not a team adrift in its own morass.

Sell it. He doesn't make this club a winner. Not a difference maker for this club.

He's 29 next year. No power, and a 700 OPS hitter.

[rockondlouie]

No.
Donovan is the heart of the team, and our most consistent player.
You build around, not through him.
Looking forward to seeing he and JJ on the infield together.

I love Donovan, but he is not a player you build a championship team around. He is a player who is an integral complementary piece of a championship team. We need the pillar or foundational piece of a championship team. We do not currently have that piece.

He's coming Basil...............JJW

But Donny is an all-star, gold glove winner and team leader, that's a piece you can build around (not THE PIECE by "a" piece).

This.. They can't trade everyone for prospects. They still have to field a MLB ball team to play in St. Louis. Donnie is the best we have and I would not trade him unless it was a deal that couldn't be refused.

Amen slimJ

The odds of landing even ONE starting position player or ONE starting pitcher that makes your rotation are slim at best!

Sure it happens, but there's also an extremely high failure rate too (Re: Mo's "haul" from his big 2023 sell-off of Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery, Jordan Hicks, Paul DeJong, Genesis Cabrera, and Chris Stratton = NOTHING of value).

No way I deal away Donny who even after an extension ($60-65M/5 yrs?) would be very reasonably priced.

You don't win by building around Hurdy Gurdy. Nice piece, but not all that. Sell now!

You also don't win dealing all-star, gold glove, excellent hitters who can play multiple positions.

And for what?

Some prospect who odds are will never be as good?

NO THANKS

NO SELL on Donny, EXTENSION!

Expected to be $20m per. That’s too much when Wetherholt is taking 2B. LF with no power do not need paid like that.

I don't see that high YBI.

More like $60-65M/5 yrs.

But you have a point, one I've been making too, that JJW is targeted for 2nd base making Donny an OF'er.

If Noot is dealt (highly likely) and Walker fails (highly possible), even w/Hererra targeted for a position change to LF they'd still need Donny in RF unless you want Burleson out there (yikes).

But I wouldn't go any higher than $60-65M/5 yrs.

If he wants more, then deal him this offseason.

He’s a younger better version of Edman who took $15m per. I’ve seen several reports saying $20m will be the STARTING point and may be higher

$15M was in SoCal, very inflated.

And Edman is way overpaid.

Do you have a link to those reports, sound way off base to me?

It was a recent discussion with Ken Rosenthal on 101.1. They asked what he thought the Cardinals would do with Donovan Trade or extend and he said they would like to extend but offered 5/60 before ST and Donovan rejected wanting more term and $ because this will be his only big contract. Said he will be looking for $20m AAV after the season he is having. Apparently he has several
Comps that justify it

Thx

So just a guess by KR, no way any team gives him a $20M AAV which is JMO.

[rockondlouie]

No.
Donovan is the heart of the team, and our most consistent player.
You build around, not through him.
Looking forward to seeing he and JJ on the infield together.

I love Donovan, but he is not a player you build a championship team around. He is a player who is an integral complementary piece of a championship team. We need the pillar or foundational piece of a championship team. We do not currently have that piece.

He's coming Basil...............JJW

But Donny is an all-star, gold glove winner and team leader, that's a piece you can build around (not THE PIECE by "a" piece).

This.. They can't trade everyone for prospects. They still have to field a MLB ball team to play in St. Louis. Donnie is the best we have and I would not trade him unless it was a deal that couldn't be refused.

Amen slimJ

The odds of landing even ONE starting position player or ONE starting pitcher that makes your rotation are slim at best!

Sure it happens, but there's also an extremely high failure rate too (Re: Mo's "haul" from his big 2023 sell-off of Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery, Jordan Hicks, Paul DeJong, Genesis Cabrera, and Chris Stratton = NOTHING of value).

No way I deal away Donny who even after an extension ($60-65M/5 yrs?) would be very reasonably priced.

You don't win by building around Hurdy Gurdy. Nice piece, but not all that. Sell now!

You also don't win dealing all-star, gold glove, excellent hitters who can play multiple positions.

And for what?

Some prospect who odds are will never be as good?

NO THANKS

NO SELL on Donny, EXTENSION!

Expected to be $20m per. That’s too much when Wetherholt is taking 2B. LF with no power do not need paid like that.

I don't see that high YBI.

More like $60-65M/5 yrs.

But you have a point, one I've been making too, that JJW is targeted for 2nd base making Donny an OF'er.

If Noot is dealt (highly likely) and Walker fails (highly possible), even w/Hererra targeted for a position change to LF they'd still need Donny in RF unless you want Burleson out there (yikes).

But I wouldn't go any higher than $60-65M/5 yrs.

If he wants more, then deal him this offseason.

That was offered prior to this season and rejected by Donovan. Now he’s an all star. It will definatly be more than Edman.

At $2.85M (2025 salary) I highly doubt he'd get a $20M AAV extension offer.

$60-65M/5 yrs is more than fair.

Reportedly he turned down 6 years, $49 million last season.

Well Ken Rosenthal said they offered 5/60 in March before spring training and Donovan bet on himself and is now looking at substantially more because of the season he is having

Not IMO, no way he gets $20M AAV and 5-6 yrs.

That's just as crazy as Edman's idiotic $75M/5 ys.

[therzog29]

Trading Donovan for the right return makes perfect sense to me. This team doesn’t have the horses to compete in the central with the Cubs or the Brewers, not with the starting rotation that has been trotted out there day in and day out. This team won’t be making any serious playoff pushes for a few years, not until they fix the starting rotation. Having Donavan on the roster over the next two years and possibly walking with nothing in return doesn’t help this organization address its weaknesses.

If they can get teams into a bidding war for Donovan and Helsley and maybe throw in a few other pieces they could get a very nice prospect in return. Could the Phillies, (with a window closing on there championship run), feel some pressure to make a big move to address their lack of production from their bullpen and 3rd base and give up a prospect like Andrew Painter? A player that could slot right into our starting rotation right away. This team is fading just like they have the last few seasons. It is time this team finally bites the bullet and actually rebuild this roster.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Trading Donovan for the right return makes perfect sense to me. This team doesn’t have the horses to compete in the central with the Cubs or the Brewers, not with the starting rotation that has been trotted out there day in and day out. This team won’t be making any serious playoff pushes for a few years, not until they fix the starting rotation. Having Donavan on the roster over the next two years and possibly walking with nothing in return doesn’t help this organization address its weaknesses.

If they can get teams into a bidding war for Donovan and Helsley and maybe throw in a few other pieces they could get a very nice prospect in return. Could the Phillies, (with a window closing on there championship run), feel some pressure to make a big move to address their lack of production from their bullpen and 3rd base and give up a prospect like Andrew Painter? A player that could slot right into our starting rotation right away. This team is fading just like they have the last few seasons. It is time this team finally bites the bullet and actually rebuild this roster.

Makes sense to me. Eventually the team is going to have to make some tough moves that people might not like. But your reasoning is sound. Unless the Cardinals can turn it around significantly in the next two years, what is the point of holding onto Donovan?

I'm not saying give him away or don't try and sign him to a team friendly deal if you think it will work for you, but there are good reasons to suck it up and trade him.