Cardinals and Red Sox still talking

[Talkin' Baseball]

A Donovan for Kristian Campbell trade would be pretty ballsy.

BTV has Donovan at +32.5 and Campbell at +19.4, so the Cardinals should be able to also get significantly more in the deal, maybe even a Kyson Witherspoon (+17.7) if he can be dealt.

Campbell would move to the OF as a RH bat and is signed through 2032 with team options for 2033 and 2034.

Getting Campbell and Witherspoon for Donovan would be amazing. This is the kind of deal you have to have in order to move Donovan. Maybe something a little extra from the Cardinals for Campbell and Witherspoon.

Anyone acquiring Donovan should expect to overpay a little, especially when paying with prospects. It's like paying a surcharge with credit card in some places. It's not the same as cash.

[ScotchMIrish]

It's a conspiracy that he ran Boston until 2023?

Blake Anita - drafted by Boston in 2024.

Yhoiker Fajardo - signed by the White Sox in 2024, traded to Boston in 2025.

Brandon Clarke - drafted by Boston in 2024.

Richard Fitts - Yankees traded him to Boston 3 months after Bloom left in 2023.

Player to be named later - I suppose this could be a prospect left over from the Bloom era.

Hunter Dobbins - drafted by Boston in the 8th round of 2021. I suppose it’s possible that this one guy out of the six players traded for was acquired because Chaim Bloom just couldn’t resist that 8th round pick he made five years ago.

The hundreds of prospects on 28 other teams were not drafted by him either. My question is why only Boston?

I would assume that he either hired and certainly worked closely with the people under him at Boston. They are a resource for him, I'm guessing. He could probably call a minor league manager and get the scoop on certain prospects. Seems to me to be a good thing. For instance, with Seatte, Bloom probably has to rely on scouting reports instead of first-hand information.

Perhaps but he ran Boston from 2019 to 2023 and has been with the Cardinals since then. He should have had a catalog of prospects from other teams and be able to compare notes.

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he isn't actually going to trade Donovan to Boston.

[mattmitchl44]

A Donovan for Kristian Campbell trade would be pretty ballsy.

BTV has Donovan at +32.5 and Campbell at +19.4, so the Cardinals should be able to also get significantly more in the deal, maybe even a Kyson Witherspoon (+17.7) if he can be dealt.

Campbell would move to the OF as a RH bat and is signed through 2032 with team options for 2033 and 2034.

Getting Campbell and Witherspoon for Donovan would be amazing. This is the kind of deal you have to have in order to move Donovan. Maybe something a little extra from the Cardinals for Campbell and Witherspoon.

Anyone acquiring Donovan should expect to overpay a little, especially when paying with prospects. It's like paying a surcharge with credit card in some places. It's not the same as cash.

I wouldn't be against them throwing in Romero and a few million dollars to pay some of Donovan's and Romero's salaries if Boston needed that to do a deal, however.

[Talkin' Baseball]

A Donovan for Kristian Campbell trade would be pretty ballsy.

BTV has Donovan at +32.5 and Campbell at +19.4, so the Cardinals should be able to also get significantly more in the deal, maybe even a Kyson Witherspoon (+17.7) if he can be dealt.

Campbell would move to the OF as a RH bat and is signed through 2032 with team options for 2033 and 2034.

Getting Campbell and Witherspoon for Donovan would be amazing. This is the kind of deal you have to have in order to move Donovan. Maybe something a little extra from the Cardinals for Campbell and Witherspoon.

Anyone acquiring Donovan should expect to overpay a little, especially when paying with prospects. It's like paying a surcharge with credit card in some places. It's not the same as cash.

I wouldn't be against them throwing in Romero and a few million dollars to pay some of Donovan's and Romero's salaries if Boston needed that to do a deal, however.

Donovan is the Cardinals best trade chip and Romero has interest from many other teams, and who wouldn't like to have a little more money? If the Cardinals are adding these kinds of "sweeteners" to a deal, you better darn well be able to look at the return and say, "Oh, THAT'S why".

[82birds]

It's a conspiracy that he ran Boston until 2023?

Blake Anita - drafted by Boston in 2024.

Yhoiker Fajardo - signed by the White Sox in 2024, traded to Boston in 2025.

Brandon Clarke - drafted by Boston in 2024.

Richard Fitts - Yankees traded him to Boston 3 months after Bloom left in 2023.

Player to be named later - I suppose this could be a prospect left over from the Bloom era.

Hunter Dobbins - drafted by Boston in the 8th round of 2021. I suppose it’s possible that this one guy out of the six players traded for was acquired because Chaim Bloom just couldn’t resist that 8th round pick he made five years ago.

The hundreds of prospects on 28 other teams were not drafted by him either. My question is why only Boston?

I would assume that he either hired and certainly worked closely with the people under him at Boston. They are a resource for him, I'm guessing. He could probably call a minor league manager and get the scoop on certain prospects. Seems to me to be a good thing. For instance, with Seatte, Bloom probably has to rely on scouting reports instead of first-hand information.

in the case of pitching prospects from the Mariners, he could get first-hand info from Matt Pierpont and Rob Cerfolio regarding Cleveland pitching prospects

[mattmitchl44]

A Donovan for Kristian Campbell trade would be pretty ballsy.

BTV has Donovan at +32.5 and Campbell at +19.4, so the Cardinals should be able to also get significantly more in the deal, maybe even a Kyson Witherspoon (+17.7) if he can be dealt.

Campbell would move to the OF as a RH bat and is signed through 2032 with team options for 2033 and 2034.

Getting Campbell and Witherspoon for Donovan would be amazing. This is the kind of deal you have to have in order to move Donovan. Maybe something a little extra from the Cardinals for Campbell and Witherspoon.

Anyone acquiring Donovan should expect to overpay a little, especially when paying with prospects. It's like paying a surcharge with credit card in some places. It's not the same as cash.

I wouldn't be against them throwing in Romero and a few million dollars to pay some of Donovan's and Romero's salaries if Boston needed that to do a deal, however.

Donovan is the Cardinals best trade chip and Romero has interest from many other teams, and who wouldn't like to have a little more money? If the Cardinals are adding these kinds of "sweeteners" to a deal, you better darn well be able to look at the return and say, "Oh, THAT'S why".

Well, IMO, Campbell and Witherspoon would be a really interesting get for the Cardinals.

Campbell was a Top 10 prospect in MLB before he came up with Boston last year. Struggled in his rookie season, but if the Cardinals scouting of him thinks he'll reach much of his potential, it would be a massive get to have him under team control through 2034. And Witherspoon was Boston's 1st round pick in 2025 and has at least mid-rotation SP potential.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Perhaps but he ran Boston from 2019 to 2023 and has been with the Cardinals since then. He should have had a catalog of prospects from other teams and be able to compare notes.

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he isn't actually going to trade Donovan to Boston.

Yea, Chaim Bloom, who has worked in MLB front offices since 2025, is probably only looking at the Red Sox for players to trade, since he was employed there for four years. Definitely doesn’t sound like he has a “catalog” of prospects from any other team that he would use to compare against the players he has been looking at from only the Red Sox. Sure, it’s been reported locally, as well as nationwide, that a bunch of teams have been talking with the Cardinals about like four players who it seems obvious they’ll trade, but they’re probably all wrong. He just fell in love with this team that he worked for several years ago and one prospect that he has any sort of connection to. He’s a very stupid guy and it’s hard to believe he wasn’t kicked out of baseball by now for not bothering to scout players from other teams.

[ScotchMIrish]

Perhaps but he ran Boston from 2019 to 2023 and has been with the Cardinals since then. He should have had a catalog of prospects from other teams and be able to compare notes.

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he isn't actually going to trade Donovan to Boston.

Yea, Chaim Bloom, who has worked in MLB front offices since 2025, is probably only looking at the Red Sox for players to trade, since he was employed there for four years. Definitely doesn’t sound like he has a “catalog” of prospects from any other team that he would use to compare against the players he has been looking at from only the Red Sox. Sure, it’s been reported locally, as well as nationwide, that a bunch of teams have been talking with the Cardinals about like four players who it seems obvious they’ll trade, but they’re probably all wrong. He just fell in love with this team that he worked for several years ago and one prospect that he has any sort of connection to. He’s a very stupid guy and it’s hard to believe he wasn’t kicked out of baseball by now for not bothering to scout players from other teams.

This thread relates to the Red Sox and Cardinals discussing Donovan. If we trade Donovan to the Red Sox after Gray and Contreras that's a problem. That's all I'm saying. Seems obvious. Feel free to disagree.

[kimzey59]

Perhaps but he ran Boston from 2019 to 2023 and has been with the Cardinals since then. He should have had a catalog of prospects from other teams and be able to compare notes.

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he isn't actually going to trade Donovan to Boston.

Yea, Chaim Bloom, who has worked in MLB front offices since 2025, is probably only looking at the Red Sox for players to trade, since he was employed there for four years. Definitely doesn’t sound like he has a “catalog” of prospects from any other team that he would use to compare against the players he has been looking at from only the Red Sox. Sure, it’s been reported locally, as well as nationwide, that a bunch of teams have been talking with the Cardinals about like four players who it seems obvious they’ll trade, but they’re probably all wrong. He just fell in love with this team that he worked for several years ago and one prospect that he has any sort of connection to. He’s a very stupid guy and it’s hard to believe he wasn’t kicked out of baseball by now for not bothering to scout players from other teams.

This thread relates to the Red Sox and Cardinals discussing Donovan. If we trade Donovan to the Red Sox after Gray and Contreras that's a problem. That's all I'm saying. Seems obvious. Feel free to disagree.

Depends entirely on the return.
If Boston is legitimately offering the best package, who cares about the optics.

It’s only a problem if we’re giving Boston a discount.

[Swuhgen]

Katie Woo
@katiejwoo
·
1h
In this story: The Cardinals and Red Sox have discussed yet another potential trade, this one involving Brendan Donovan.

That’s hilarious.

Is Bloom ok?

[mattmitchl44]

Perhaps but he ran Boston from 2019 to 2023 and has been with the Cardinals since then. He should have had a catalog of prospects from other teams and be able to compare notes.

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he isn't actually going to trade Donovan to Boston.

Yea, Chaim Bloom, who has worked in MLB front offices since 2025, is probably only looking at the Red Sox for players to trade, since he was employed there for four years. Definitely doesn’t sound like he has a “catalog” of prospects from any other team that he would use to compare against the players he has been looking at from only the Red Sox. Sure, it’s been reported locally, as well as nationwide, that a bunch of teams have been talking with the Cardinals about like four players who it seems obvious they’ll trade, but they’re probably all wrong. He just fell in love with this team that he worked for several years ago and one prospect that he has any sort of connection to. He’s a very stupid guy and it’s hard to believe he wasn’t kicked out of baseball by now for not bothering to scout players from other teams.

This thread relates to the Red Sox and Cardinals discussing Donovan. If we trade Donovan to the Red Sox after Gray and Contreras that's a problem. That's all I'm saying. Seems obvious. Feel free to disagree.

Depends entirely on the return.
If Boston is legitimately offering the best package, who cares about the optics.

It’s only a problem if we’re giving Boston a discount.

BTV has the Cardinals winning the Gray trade +23.7 to +10.6, and winning the Contreras trade at least +9.3 to -6.1 (they don't have a value for Aita, so the Cardinals would be marginally higher).

So the Cardinals have been getting +14 or +15 on average in their trades with Boston. Seems like Bloom is getting more than a fair return from the Red Sox.

If the Cardinals get more than Campbell + Witherspoon (total +37.7) for Donovan (+32.5), that would seem to be another good deal for them.

[Hoosier59]

When I posted about getting Campbell for Donovan, I wasn’t aware of either’s trade value numbers. Thanks for posting those. After seeing those, I see no reason why this deal couldn’t be worked out, unless Boston just doesn’t want to part with Campbell.
What I like about Campbell is that he’s very athletic, which the Cardinals need more of. Plus he’s not locked into one position.
He has 20 homer, 20 steal potential with a high on base percentage.
To also get back Witherspoon would be fantastic.
I just don’t want to see Bloom get just more A ball players for Donovan.

[Whatashame]

This has been an interesting, slow but interesting winter so far. There are several CT proposals floating around. Some, if accurate, are interesting. Another trade with Boston doesn’t sit well with some but heck I don’t care if the return is worth it. A Boston move of Campbell, Witherspoon and maybe Phillips for Donovan, Romero and maybe kicking in a few dollars sounds like a good start to a deal.

There was a CT Dodgers proposal floating around with Donovan, Nootbaar and Romero for Ryan, Sirota and Freeland. Also an interesting proposal with some merit to it. Also sounds like a doable deal.

There has been a CT Seattle deal floated including Donovan and Romero for Cijtnjte, Martes and Seattle’s Comp B pick. Also interesting and has some merit.

There have been others and if this is the kind of deal we can expect for Donovan, I’m in. These kind of deals are direction changing. None of us knows the conversations that are going on but if they are anything close to these, we have a lot to look forward to.

[AnExParrot]

Perhaps but he ran Boston from 2019 to 2023 and has been with the Cardinals since then. He should have had a catalog of prospects from other teams and be able to compare notes.

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he isn't actually going to trade Donovan to Boston.

Yea, Chaim Bloom, who has worked in MLB front offices since 2025, is probably only looking at the Red Sox for players to trade, since he was employed there for four years. Definitely doesn’t sound like he has a “catalog” of prospects from any other team that he would use to compare against the players he has been looking at from only the Red Sox. Sure, it’s been reported locally, as well as nationwide, that a bunch of teams have been talking with the Cardinals about like four players who it seems obvious they’ll trade, but they’re probably all wrong. He just fell in love with this team that he worked for several years ago and one prospect that he has any sort of connection to. He’s a very stupid guy and it’s hard to believe he wasn’t kicked out of baseball by now for not bothering to scout players from other teams.

I know this, I hope Scotch never gives me the benefit of the doubt.

[ICCFIM2]

I would be concerned if the Cards trade Donovan to Boston. Perhaps the Red Sox make the best offer. But, it also strongly suggests that Bloom has a preference for players he drafted which probably means he is over valuing those players compared to other players. The first two deals may turn out great. But, adding talent from various organizations makes more sense. Do we really think that moving the Red Sox farm system over to us is going to make us champions? If it was that easy, Boston would just keep them. A third trade with Boston is a huge red flag for me.

Blaze Jordan and Hunter Dobbins are the only two players in the three deals we’ve made with them who have any connection with Bloom.

So it is. I will still stand by the view that the Cards need to trade with other organizations. If Boston's farm system was this good, why would they trade with anyone. Plus, we need some hitting prospects now. Boston does not have a lot of those laying around that I would be willing to trade Donovan for.

[Talkin' Baseball]

I would be concerned if the Cards trade Donovan to Boston. Perhaps the Red Sox make the best offer. But, it also strongly suggests that Bloom has a preference for players he drafted which probably means he is over valuing those players compared to other players. The first two deals may turn out great. But, adding talent from various organizations makes more sense. Do we really think that moving the Red Sox farm system over to us is going to make us champions? If it was that easy, Boston would just keep them. A third trade with Boston is a huge red flag for me.

Blaze Jordan and Hunter Dobbins are the only two players in the three deals we’ve made with them who have any connection with Bloom.

So it is. I will still stand by the view that the Cards need to trade with other organizations. If Boston's farm system was this good, why would they trade with anyone. Plus, we need some hitting prospects now. Boston does not have a lot of those laying around that I would be willing to trade Donovan for.

Agreed, so if the trade for Donovan is with Boston, it has to be for very good pitching. Like, Witherspoon or Tolle, +