Brendan Donovan

[renostl]

Melville thinks the Cards got fleeced on the Donovan trade. We’ll see. Again, he won’t say for whom the Cards should have traded him. Weak.

But let’s remember his prediction for Donny after the 2021 season when he said relying on Donovan (and Noot) as the LH solution to the team's woeful performance against RH pitching … would be utter foolishness.”

It will take years to sort out this trade. I was hoping the Cards would get the pitcher they received plus Arroyo in return. Arroyo has a chance to be at least as good a hitter as Donnie and be hear during 2026, plus they would have a pitcher as well. Instead we received an OF, Thai Peete who has potential, but has struggled to date in pro ball and is likley ETA 2028, if ever. A middling OF prospect and 2 comp picks. It could turn out to be a total haul or just a pitcher with 4 busts.

I understand the Mariners didn't want to trade Arroyo. But with them having Donnie, Emerson and Cole Young, it seemed they had the ability to trade Arroyo and still have a lot of young infield talent. In 4 years we can evaluate this trade.

The problem with the deal is that Bloom traded the best trade asset the team had - and its most complete player - for extreme high risk minor league players. Not one of whom is likely to come close to ever providing what Donovan would have over the next 2 years.
Bloom waited too long to pull the trigger and with the clock running out he was forced to take what he could get. Bloom placed himself into a weak position and paid the price for it.
Once Seattle made clear that the return would be discounted, Bloom would have done better to simply keep Donovan until July and try again
Odds are strongly against STL "winning" the Donovan trade.

The problem with the deal is that now we have the big whiff playing 3rd base instead of Donovan.
I sure hope it works out. Don't bother to reply, I've seen your act too many times.

We all hope it works out.
But fact is the odds are very long against it.
As for 3b - no, that is not why Bloom should have retained him.
The ability to play LF, 3B, SS,2B, 1B, and DH - and bring quality AB's whenever coming off the bench on "off days"- would be a massive asset to STL this season.
Utterly foolish to trade that valuable leverage away for an odd ball collection of long shots.
Bloom made some solid moves.
Which makes his foolishness in moving Donovan for exceptionally weak return all the more surprising.
Painting himself into a corner and then panicking is pretty much the only reasonable explanation.

Well stated! I think painting himself in a corner is a probability. Only 29, leads by example, surrounded by rookies and young players. I don't get it!

"Only 29, leads by example, surrounded by rookies and young players. I don't get it".
Simply outstanding point!
You hit the nail on the head.
Donovan is EXACTLY the type of player a team should want as a model and mentor for younger guys - while himself not yet being on the wrong side of 30.

If he does, indeed possess those attributes…..what is the value?

How many wins does he add? So a 70 win team becomes a 75 win team?

Is that worth passing on an opportunity for long term improvement?

You're trying to assign a number value to a player who is a leader and sets examples daily, for a young team?? That part of the game is not measurable by a stat. But every winning team as their good mix of vets and rookies and in betweens. Regardless, it will go down as one of my least very trades.

And if the club was a winning team those attributes would be relevant…..

but they’re not………so Donovan’s value is what talent he would bring for the future as the club builds to be a winning team..

you’re dislike for the trade is noted….great thing about baseball discussions, reasonable people can disagree..

But who says we can’t be winning, and by when?

This lineup has suddenly come to life, Gorman and Walker might finally be improving. Libby and McGreevey have looked good all March. JJW off to the races. We have Matthews, Baez, Fitts in AAA knocking on the door.

Who’s to say we won’t have critical mass with plenty of money to fill remaining holes by end of this season and start competing in 27? Donny still would have been under contract and would only help that team a lot. January was too early to punt on 2027 unless Bill is completely unwilling to spend at all before he dies.

Odd as it may sound, if you are correct about the lineup, where
does he play? His D in that OF is meh. Baez, Church others.

Donovan was likely a short timer in St. Louis. He could
be a short timer in Seattle if he wants to test the market.

[Carp4Cy]

Melville thinks the Cards got fleeced on the Donovan trade. We’ll see. Again, he won’t say for whom the Cards should have traded him. Weak.

But let’s remember his prediction for Donny after the 2021 season when he said relying on Donovan (and Noot) as the LH solution to the team's woeful performance against RH pitching … would be utter foolishness.”

It will take years to sort out this trade. I was hoping the Cards would get the pitcher they received plus Arroyo in return. Arroyo has a chance to be at least as good a hitter as Donnie and be hear during 2026, plus they would have a pitcher as well. Instead we received an OF, Thai Peete who has potential, but has struggled to date in pro ball and is likley ETA 2028, if ever. A middling OF prospect and 2 comp picks. It could turn out to be a total haul or just a pitcher with 4 busts.

I understand the Mariners didn't want to trade Arroyo. But with them having Donnie, Emerson and Cole Young, it seemed they had the ability to trade Arroyo and still have a lot of young infield talent. In 4 years we can evaluate this trade.

The problem with the deal is that Bloom traded the best trade asset the team had - and its most complete player - for extreme high risk minor league players. Not one of whom is likely to come close to ever providing what Donovan would have over the next 2 years.
Bloom waited too long to pull the trigger and with the clock running out he was forced to take what he could get. Bloom placed himself into a weak position and paid the price for it.
Once Seattle made clear that the return would be discounted, Bloom would have done better to simply keep Donovan until July and try again
Odds are strongly against STL "winning" the Donovan trade.

The problem with the deal is that now we have the big whiff playing 3rd base instead of Donovan.
I sure hope it works out. Don't bother to reply, I've seen your act too many times.

We all hope it works out.
But fact is the odds are very long against it.
As for 3b - no, that is not why Bloom should have retained him.
The ability to play LF, 3B, SS,2B, 1B, and DH - and bring quality AB's whenever coming off the bench on "off days"- would be a massive asset to STL this season.
Utterly foolish to trade that valuable leverage away for an odd ball collection of long shots.
Bloom made some solid moves.
Which makes his foolishness in moving Donovan for exceptionally weak return all the more surprising.
Painting himself into a corner and then panicking is pretty much the only reasonable explanation.

Well stated! I think painting himself in a corner is a probability. Only 29, leads by example, surrounded by rookies and young players. I don't get it!

"Only 29, leads by example, surrounded by rookies and young players. I don't get it".
Simply outstanding point!
You hit the nail on the head.
Donovan is EXACTLY the type of player a team should want as a model and mentor for younger guys - while himself not yet being on the wrong side of 30.

If he does, indeed possess those attributes…..what is the value?

How many wins does he add? So a 70 win team becomes a 75 win team?

Is that worth passing on an opportunity for long term improvement?

You're trying to assign a number value to a player who is a leader and sets examples daily, for a young team?? That part of the game is not measurable by a stat. But every winning team as their good mix of vets and rookies and in betweens. Regardless, it will go down as one of my least very trades.

And if the club was a winning team those attributes would be relevant…..

but they’re not………so Donovan’s value is what talent he would bring for the future as the club builds to be a winning team..

you’re dislike for the trade is noted….great thing about baseball discussions, reasonable people can disagree..

But who says we can’t be winning, and by when?

This lineup has suddenly come to life, Gorman and Walker might finally be improving. Libby and McGreevey have looked good all March. JJW off to the races. We have Matthews, Baez, Fitts in AAA knocking on the door.

Who’s to say we won’t have critical mass with plenty of money to fill remaining holes by end of this season and start competing in 27? Donny still would have been under contract and would only help that team a lot. January was too early to punt on 2027 unless Bill is completely unwilling to spend at all before he dies.

Odd as it may sound, if you are correct about the lineup, where
does he play? His D in that OF is meh. Baez, Church others.

Donovan was likely a short timer in St. Louis. He could
be a short timer in Seattle if he wants to test the market.

3B I suppose. Gorman can DH and Hererra can C some of the time.

But still you make a point that I posted on last October - if we "did trade" Donovan it should have been for a MLB ready/proven player at a position of need, such as a good OFer. Talent for talent. And add other pieces to get who we really needed.

Instead we went proven talent for high risk and long development runway, which at best sets back the potential 2027 competitive window, likely unnecessarily.

Imagine a good hitting CF from the trade, Baez, and a much improved Walker in our 2027 OF.
OR
good hitting CF/RF still in their ARB years from the Donny Trade, Baez (potentially in CF), and bring in a FA 100 RBI Matt Holliday type in LF on a long term extension.

We can easily afford that for 2027. And we probably won't be paying Noots salary by then either.

[ramfandan]

Quite optimistic to say that 2027 is our competive window. So this is a 1- year rebuild. ? That's news to me. If it is that's great news but I was expecting a longer time period.

[renostl]

It will take years to sort out this trade. I was hoping the Cards would get the pitcher they received plus Arroyo in return. Arroyo has a chance to be at least as good a hitter as Donnie and be hear during 2026, plus they would have a pitcher as well. Instead we received an OF, Thai Peete who has potential, but has struggled to date in pro ball and is likley ETA 2028, if ever. A middling OF prospect and 2 comp picks. It could turn out to be a total haul or just a pitcher with 4 busts.

I understand the Mariners didn't want to trade Arroyo. But with them having Donnie, Emerson and Cole Young, it seemed they had the ability to trade Arroyo and still have a lot of young infield talent. In 4 years we can evaluate this trade.

The problem with the deal is that Bloom traded the best trade asset the team had - and its most complete player - for extreme high risk minor league players. Not one of whom is likely to come close to ever providing what Donovan would have over the next 2 years.
Bloom waited too long to pull the trigger and with the clock running out he was forced to take what he could get. Bloom placed himself into a weak position and paid the price for it.
Once Seattle made clear that the return would be discounted, Bloom would have done better to simply keep Donovan until July and try again
Odds are strongly against STL "winning" the Donovan trade.

The problem with the deal is that now we have the big whiff playing 3rd base instead of Donovan.
I sure hope it works out. Don't bother to reply, I've seen your act too many times.

We all hope it works out.
But fact is the odds are very long against it.
As for 3b - no, that is not why Bloom should have retained him.
The ability to play LF, 3B, SS,2B, 1B, and DH - and bring quality AB's whenever coming off the bench on "off days"- would be a massive asset to STL this season.
Utterly foolish to trade that valuable leverage away for an odd ball collection of long shots.
Bloom made some solid moves.
Which makes his foolishness in moving Donovan for exceptionally weak return all the more surprising.
Painting himself into a corner and then panicking is pretty much the only reasonable explanation.

Well stated! I think painting himself in a corner is a probability. Only 29, leads by example, surrounded by rookies and young players. I don't get it!

"Only 29, leads by example, surrounded by rookies and young players. I don't get it".
Simply outstanding point!
You hit the nail on the head.
Donovan is EXACTLY the type of player a team should want as a model and mentor for younger guys - while himself not yet being on the wrong side of 30.

If he does, indeed possess those attributes…..what is the value?

How many wins does he add? So a 70 win team becomes a 75 win team?

Is that worth passing on an opportunity for long term improvement?

You're trying to assign a number value to a player who is a leader and sets examples daily, for a young team?? That part of the game is not measurable by a stat. But every winning team as their good mix of vets and rookies and in betweens. Regardless, it will go down as one of my least very trades.

And if the club was a winning team those attributes would be relevant…..

but they’re not………so Donovan’s value is what talent he would bring for the future as the club builds to be a winning team..

you’re dislike for the trade is noted….great thing about baseball discussions, reasonable people can disagree..

But who says we can’t be winning, and by when?

This lineup has suddenly come to life, Gorman and Walker might finally be improving. Libby and McGreevey have looked good all March. JJW off to the races. We have Matthews, Baez, Fitts in AAA knocking on the door.

Who’s to say we won’t have critical mass with plenty of money to fill remaining holes by end of this season and start competing in 27? Donny still would have been under contract and would only help that team a lot. January was too early to punt on 2027 unless Bill is completely unwilling to spend at all before he dies.

Odd as it may sound, if you are correct about the lineup, where
does he play? His D in that OF is meh. Baez, Church others.

Donovan was likely a short timer in St. Louis. He could
be a short timer in Seattle if he wants to test the market.

3B I suppose. Gorman can DH and Hererra can C some of the time.

But still you make a point that I posted on last October - if we "did trade" Donovan it should have been for a MLB ready/proven player at a position of need, such as a good OFer. Talent for talent. And add other pieces to get who we really needed.

Instead we went proven talent for high risk and long development runway, which at best sets back the potential 2027 competitive window, likely unnecessarily.

Imagine a good hitting CF from the trade, Baez, and a much improved Walker in our 2027 OF.
OR
good hitting CF/RF still in their ARB years from the Donny Trade, Baez (potentially in CF), and bring in a FA 100 RBI Matt Holliday type in LF on a long term extension.

We can easily afford that for 2027. And we probably won't be paying Noots salary by then either.

Yeah, I recall that.
I am not saying you are wrong at all just a discussion that has
more than 1 good outcome along with a con or two with other paths.

I think Donovan needs PT if kept. That decreases others regardless of who or
Donovan's value gets decreased. He needs to play more games than his 122 game average
the last 3 seasons.
The trade market is interesting. Donovan's versatility says he fits a lot of teams. But, IMO, those teams
are more in the win now. Seattle, Boston, KC, SF all made some sense. A current MLB OFer
coming from one of those seem slim since they won't be apt to move a contributor.

Peete was a 30 overall pick Ledbetter #55 both from 2023 draft well have to see what they become.
In the meantime, maybe 2026 helps clarify the exact need going forward. It might become more
pitching is needed more than an outfielder.

[ecleme22]

It will take years to sort out this trade. I was hoping the Cards would get the pitcher they received plus Arroyo in return. Arroyo has a chance to be at least as good a hitter as Donnie and be hear during 2026, plus they would have a pitcher as well. Instead we received an OF, Thai Peete who has potential, but has struggled to date in pro ball and is likley ETA 2028, if ever. A middling OF prospect and 2 comp picks. It could turn out to be a total haul or just a pitcher with 4 busts.

I understand the Mariners didn't want to trade Arroyo. But with them having Donnie, Emerson and Cole Young, it seemed they had the ability to trade Arroyo and still have a lot of young infield talent. In 4 years we can evaluate this trade.

The problem with the deal is that Bloom traded the best trade asset the team had - and its most complete player - for extreme high risk minor league players. Not one of whom is likely to come close to ever providing what Donovan would have over the next 2 years.
Bloom waited too long to pull the trigger and with the clock running out he was forced to take what he could get. Bloom placed himself into a weak position and paid the price for it.
Once Seattle made clear that the return would be discounted, Bloom would have done better to simply keep Donovan until July and try again
Odds are strongly against STL "winning" the Donovan trade.

The problem with the deal is that now we have the big whiff playing 3rd base instead of Donovan.
I sure hope it works out. Don't bother to reply, I've seen your act too many times.

We all hope it works out.
But fact is the odds are very long against it.
As for 3b - no, that is not why Bloom should have retained him.
The ability to play LF, 3B, SS,2B, 1B, and DH - and bring quality AB's whenever coming off the bench on "off days"- would be a massive asset to STL this season.
Utterly foolish to trade that valuable leverage away for an odd ball collection of long shots.
Bloom made some solid moves.
Which makes his foolishness in moving Donovan for exceptionally weak return all the more surprising.
Painting himself into a corner and then panicking is pretty much the only reasonable explanation.

Well stated! I think painting himself in a corner is a probability. Only 29, leads by example, surrounded by rookies and young players. I don't get it!

"Only 29, leads by example, surrounded by rookies and young players. I don't get it".
Simply outstanding point!
You hit the nail on the head.
Donovan is EXACTLY the type of player a team should want as a model and mentor for younger guys - while himself not yet being on the wrong side of 30.

If he does, indeed possess those attributes…..what is the value?

How many wins does he add? So a 70 win team becomes a 75 win team?

Is that worth passing on an opportunity for long term improvement?

You're trying to assign a number value to a player who is a leader and sets examples daily, for a young team?? That part of the game is not measurable by a stat. But every winning team as their good mix of vets and rookies and in betweens. Regardless, it will go down as one of my least very trades.

And if the club was a winning team those attributes would be relevant…..

but they’re not………so Donovan’s value is what talent he would bring for the future as the club builds to be a winning team..

you’re dislike for the trade is noted….great thing about baseball discussions, reasonable people can disagree..

But who says we can’t be winning, and by when?

This lineup has suddenly come to life, Gorman and Walker might finally be improving. Libby and McGreevey have looked good all March. JJW off to the races. We have Matthews, Baez, Fitts in AAA knocking on the door.

Who’s to say we won’t have critical mass with plenty of money to fill remaining holes by end of this season and start competing in 27? Donny still would have been under contract and would only help that team a lot. January was too early to punt on 2027 unless Bill is completely unwilling to spend at all before he dies.

Odd as it may sound, if you are correct about the lineup, where
does he play? His D in that OF is meh. Baez, Church others.

Donovan was likely a short timer in St. Louis. He could
be a short timer in Seattle if he wants to test the market.

3B I suppose. Gorman can DH and Hererra can C some of the time.

But still you make a point that I posted on last October - if we "did trade" Donovan it should have been for a MLB ready/proven player at a position of need, such as a good OFer. Talent for talent. And add other pieces to get who we really needed.

Instead we went proven talent for high risk and long development runway, which at best sets back the potential 2027 competitive window, likely unnecessarily.

Imagine a good hitting CF from the trade, Baez, and a much improved Walker in our 2027 OF.
OR
good hitting CF/RF still in their ARB years from the Donny Trade, Baez (potentially in CF), and bring in a FA 100 RBI Matt Holliday type in LF on a long term extension.

We can easily afford that for 2027. And we probably won't be paying Noots salary by then either.

1. When trading a player, like Donovan, you might get a good return, but you won't always get EXACTLY the position you want. But I would argue that Walker, Baez, Scott and Church is a nice internal start (I know, I know, it's early).
2. Donovan was traded for Cijntje and Ledbetter, who will be MLB ready VERY SOON. Also, they got Peete and two draft picks (all could also be traded for MLB talent if need be).
3. Also, Donovan's trade freed up money for 2027.

Now you may think they need an OFer. Actually, they will need pitching, and hopefully Cijntje will be ready.

I think Bloom will start to spend money in '27...

[renostl]

The problem with the deal is that Bloom traded the best trade asset the team had - and its most complete player - for extreme high risk minor league players. Not one of whom is likely to come close to ever providing what Donovan would have over the next 2 years.
Bloom waited too long to pull the trigger and with the clock running out he was forced to take what he could get. Bloom placed himself into a weak position and paid the price for it.
Once Seattle made clear that the return would be discounted, Bloom would have done better to simply keep Donovan until July and try again
Odds are strongly against STL "winning" the Donovan trade.

The problem with the deal is that now we have the big whiff playing 3rd base instead of Donovan.
I sure hope it works out. Don't bother to reply, I've seen your act too many times.

We all hope it works out.
But fact is the odds are very long against it.
As for 3b - no, that is not why Bloom should have retained him.
The ability to play LF, 3B, SS,2B, 1B, and DH - and bring quality AB's whenever coming off the bench on "off days"- would be a massive asset to STL this season.
Utterly foolish to trade that valuable leverage away for an odd ball collection of long shots.
Bloom made some solid moves.
Which makes his foolishness in moving Donovan for exceptionally weak return all the more surprising.
Painting himself into a corner and then panicking is pretty much the only reasonable explanation.

Well stated! I think painting himself in a corner is a probability. Only 29, leads by example, surrounded by rookies and young players. I don't get it!

"Only 29, leads by example, surrounded by rookies and young players. I don't get it".
Simply outstanding point!
You hit the nail on the head.
Donovan is EXACTLY the type of player a team should want as a model and mentor for younger guys - while himself not yet being on the wrong side of 30.

If he does, indeed possess those attributes…..what is the value?

How many wins does he add? So a 70 win team becomes a 75 win team?

Is that worth passing on an opportunity for long term improvement?

You're trying to assign a number value to a player who is a leader and sets examples daily, for a young team?? That part of the game is not measurable by a stat. But every winning team as their good mix of vets and rookies and in betweens. Regardless, it will go down as one of my least very trades.

And if the club was a winning team those attributes would be relevant…..

but they’re not………so Donovan’s value is what talent he would bring for the future as the club builds to be a winning team..

you’re dislike for the trade is noted….great thing about baseball discussions, reasonable people can disagree..

But who says we can’t be winning, and by when?

This lineup has suddenly come to life, Gorman and Walker might finally be improving. Libby and McGreevey have looked good all March. JJW off to the races. We have Matthews, Baez, Fitts in AAA knocking on the door.

Who’s to say we won’t have critical mass with plenty of money to fill remaining holes by end of this season and start competing in 27? Donny still would have been under contract and would only help that team a lot. January was too early to punt on 2027 unless Bill is completely unwilling to spend at all before he dies.

Odd as it may sound, if you are correct about the lineup, where
does he play? His D in that OF is meh. Baez, Church others.

Donovan was likely a short timer in St. Louis. He could
be a short timer in Seattle if he wants to test the market.

3B I suppose. Gorman can DH and Hererra can C some of the time.

But still you make a point that I posted on last October - if we "did trade" Donovan it should have been for a MLB ready/proven player at a position of need, such as a good OFer. Talent for talent. And add other pieces to get who we really needed.

Instead we went proven talent for high risk and long development runway, which at best sets back the potential 2027 competitive window, likely unnecessarily.

Imagine a good hitting CF from the trade, Baez, and a much improved Walker in our 2027 OF.
OR
good hitting CF/RF still in their ARB years from the Donny Trade, Baez (potentially in CF), and bring in a FA 100 RBI Matt Holliday type in LF on a long term extension.

We can easily afford that for 2027. And we probably won't be paying Noots salary by then either.

1. When trading a player, like Donovan, you might get a good return, but you won't always get EXACTLY the position you want. But I would argue that Walker, Baez, Scott and Church is a nice internal start (I know, I know, it's early).
2. Donovan was traded for Cijntje and Ledbetter, who will be MLB ready VERY SOON. Also, they got Peete and two draft picks (all could also be traded for MLB talent if need be).
3. Also, Donovan's trade freed up money for 2027.

Now you may think they need an OFer. Actually, they will need pitching, and hopefully Cijntje will be ready.

I think Bloom will start to spend money in '27...

#1 agree, as stated above

As of now I will consider it a good trade and
assume that it was the best return on the table.
No POBO would accept the second-best right?

I liked seeing both Peete and Ledbetter this ST.
The OF become ironically crowded. Imagine Baez good enough to
bat #4.

[Melville]

Melville thinks the Cards got fleeced on the Donovan trade. We’ll see. Again, he won’t say for whom the Cards should have traded him. Weak.

But let’s remember his prediction for Donny after the 2021 season when he said relying on Donovan (and Noot) as the LH solution to the team's woeful performance against RH pitching … would be utter foolishness.”

It will take years to sort out this trade. I was hoping the Cards would get the pitcher they received plus Arroyo in return. Arroyo has a chance to be at least as good a hitter as Donnie and be hear during 2026, plus they would have a pitcher as well. Instead we received an OF, Thai Peete who has potential, but has struggled to date in pro ball and is likley ETA 2028, if ever. A middling OF prospect and 2 comp picks. It could turn out to be a total haul or just a pitcher with 4 busts.

I understand the Mariners didn't want to trade Arroyo. But with them having Donnie, Emerson and Cole Young, it seemed they had the ability to trade Arroyo and still have a lot of young infield talent. In 4 years we can evaluate this trade.

The problem with the deal is that Bloom traded the best trade asset the team had - and its most complete player - for extreme high risk minor league players. Not one of whom is likely to come close to ever providing what Donovan would have over the next 2 years.
Bloom waited too long to pull the trigger and with the clock running out he was forced to take what he could get. Bloom placed himself into a weak position and paid the price for it.
Once Seattle made clear that the return would be discounted, Bloom would have done better to simply keep Donovan until July and try again
Odds are strongly against STL "winning" the Donovan trade.

The problem with the deal is that now we have the big whiff playing 3rd base instead of Donovan.
I sure hope it works out. Don't bother to reply, I've seen your act too many times.

We all hope it works out.
But fact is the odds are very long against it.
As for 3b - no, that is not why Bloom should have retained him.
The ability to play LF, 3B, SS,2B, 1B, and DH - and bring quality AB's whenever coming off the bench on "off days"- would be a massive asset to STL this season.
Utterly foolish to trade that valuable leverage away for an odd ball collection of long shots.
Bloom made some solid moves.
Which makes his foolishness in moving Donovan for exceptionally weak return all the more surprising.
Painting himself into a corner and then panicking is pretty much the only reasonable explanation.

Well stated! I think painting himself in a corner is a probability. Only 29, leads by example, surrounded by rookies and young players. I don't get it!

"Only 29, leads by example, surrounded by rookies and young players. I don't get it".
Simply outstanding point!
You hit the nail on the head.
Donovan is EXACTLY the type of player a team should want as a model and mentor for younger guys - while himself not yet being on the wrong side of 30.

People are looking at it for only one season, but the impact Donovan would have on the young players could be career lasting.
So, yes, it might only be 5 more wins in ‘26, but what about in ‘27, ‘28, etc….

Donovan would have been here in 2027 if retained.
And longer if extended.
But, that aside, there is a very slim likelihood that any of the 4 pieces acquired will ever contribute to the same level that Donovan could have been expected to produce in 2026 and 2027.

[ecleme22]

Melville thinks the Cards got fleeced on the Donovan trade. We’ll see. Again, he won’t say for whom the Cards should have traded him. Weak.

But let’s remember his prediction for Donny after the 2021 season when he said relying on Donovan (and Noot) as the LH solution to the team's woeful performance against RH pitching … would be utter foolishness.”

It will take years to sort out this trade. I was hoping the Cards would get the pitcher they received plus Arroyo in return. Arroyo has a chance to be at least as good a hitter as Donnie and be hear during 2026, plus they would have a pitcher as well. Instead we received an OF, Thai Peete who has potential, but has struggled to date in pro ball and is likley ETA 2028, if ever. A middling OF prospect and 2 comp picks. It could turn out to be a total haul or just a pitcher with 4 busts.

I understand the Mariners didn't want to trade Arroyo. But with them having Donnie, Emerson and Cole Young, it seemed they had the ability to trade Arroyo and still have a lot of young infield talent. In 4 years we can evaluate this trade.

The problem with the deal is that Bloom traded the best trade asset the team had - and its most complete player - for extreme high risk minor league players. Not one of whom is likely to come close to ever providing what Donovan would have over the next 2 years.
Bloom waited too long to pull the trigger and with the clock running out he was forced to take what he could get. Bloom placed himself into a weak position and paid the price for it.
Once Seattle made clear that the return would be discounted, Bloom would have done better to simply keep Donovan until July and try again
Odds are strongly against STL "winning" the Donovan trade.

The problem with the deal is that now we have the big whiff playing 3rd base instead of Donovan.
I sure hope it works out. Don't bother to reply, I've seen your act too many times.

We all hope it works out.
But fact is the odds are very long against it.
As for 3b - no, that is not why Bloom should have retained him.
The ability to play LF, 3B, SS,2B, 1B, and DH - and bring quality AB's whenever coming off the bench on "off days"- would be a massive asset to STL this season.
Utterly foolish to trade that valuable leverage away for an odd ball collection of long shots.
Bloom made some solid moves.
Which makes his foolishness in moving Donovan for exceptionally weak return all the more surprising.
Painting himself into a corner and then panicking is pretty much the only reasonable explanation.

Well stated! I think painting himself in a corner is a probability. Only 29, leads by example, surrounded by rookies and young players. I don't get it!

"Only 29, leads by example, surrounded by rookies and young players. I don't get it".
Simply outstanding point!
You hit the nail on the head.
Donovan is EXACTLY the type of player a team should want as a model and mentor for younger guys - while himself not yet being on the wrong side of 30.

People are looking at it for only one season, but the impact Donovan would have on the young players could be career lasting.
So, yes, it might only be 5 more wins in ‘26, but what about in ‘27, ‘28, etc….

Donovan would have been here in 2027 if retained.
And longer if extended.
But, that aside, there is a very slim likelihood that any of the 4 pieces acquired will ever contribute to the same level that Donovan could have been expected to produce in 2026 and 2027.

Hey Mehl, let's look at it.
1. With BD, 2026, 3B: Does really well (Let's say .810 OPS) helps the team. Gorman is a bit blocked.
2. Without BD, 2027: Gorman gets to play. Saved money from BD's arbitration.
3. With BD 2027, 3B: Does really well (Let's say .810 OPS) helps the team. Gorman is probably gone.
4. Without BD, 2027: 3B? Maybe Gorman. A) But we have Clintje in the rotation or as a reliever. B) Ledbetter is in the mix. C) Peete in the minors, growing. D) We have those two draft picks to use or be traded. E. Saved money from BD's arbitration.
5. 2028: 1) Clintje is hopefully good. 2) Ledbetter and/or Peete are in the mix 3) Those two draft picks? 4) Money from the 'Donovan extension is used elsewhere.

*Also, note: Let's keep in mind that Clintje, Ledbetter and Peete are probably under team control until 2033.

You said: But, that aside, there is a very slim likelihood that any of the 4 pieces acquired will ever contribute to the same level that Donovan could have been expected to produce in 2026 and 2027.

I don't think you can look at it like that, because Donovan WINS 2026 hands down. But if you take into consideration 1) The years of control/talent of the young players 2) and the Donovan money being spent elsewhere, it's a great trade.

Lastly, hope you're well. Go Cards!