STLtoday.com

Posted: **14 Dec 2025 15:59 pm**

Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 14:29 pm Would the returns for Contreras, Romero, Nootbaar, Arenado and a catcher bring back enough help for the next few seasons to make not trading Donovan a better choice? I think so. With the added starting pitching An infield of Donovan 3B, Winn SS, Wetherholt 2B and Burleson 1B and adding a really productive outfield hitter might be very competitive for, at least, a wildcard in '26. Adding a really productive outfield hitter, somehow, is probably the key.

Shut up Bobo.

Posted: **14 Dec 2025 16:04 pm**

craviduce wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 15:14 pm
ecleme22 wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 15:11 pm
Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 14:29 pm Would the returns for Contreras, Romero, Nootbaar, Arenado and a catcher bring back enough help for the next few seasons to make not trading Donovan a better choice? I think so. With the added starting pitching An infield of Donovan 3B, Winn SS, Wetherholt 2B and Burleson 1B and adding a really productive outfield hitter might be very competitive for, at least, a wildcard in '26. Adding a really productive outfield hitter, somehow, is probably the key.
I thought this OP looked familiar. Shady’s OP last Wednesday:

“Maybe Bloom, first, wants to see what he can get for Contreras, Nootbaar, Romero, Arenado, some catcher depth and even Gorman. An infield of Donovan, Winn, Wetherholt and Burleson might just compete for a Division title in '26, already, if the others mentioned can bring back enough to fill some needs.”

viewtopic.php?t=1518571&hilit=Enticing

Pretty similar, no?
and Cusecards is there both times saying "it could happen"

hmmm...

Ok Sarge whatever you say!

Truth is.....the word “could” is pretty open ended.
As in Dumb & Dumber....”so you think there’s a chance??”
And you know as well as I do that if other players are moved(especially Gorman AND Arenado) that there is a reason to keep Donovan.
But.....sorry if I got in the way of your Shady Bashing obsession.
LOL

Posted: **14 Dec 2025 16:15 pm**

Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 14:29 pm Would the returns for Contreras, Romero, Nootbaar, Arenado and a catcher bring back enough help for the next few seasons to make not trading Donovan a better choice? I think so. With the added starting pitching An infield of Donovan 3B, Winn SS, Wetherholt 2B and Burleson 1B and adding a really productive outfield hitter might be very competitive for, at least, a wildcard in '26. Adding a really productive outfield hitter, somehow, is probably the key.

How can an impactful outfield hitter be acquired for next season without trading Donovan for one? Or could it be Herrera?

Posted: **14 Dec 2025 16:19 pm**

Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 16:15 pm
Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 14:29 pm Would the returns for Contreras, Romero, Nootbaar, Arenado and a catcher bring back enough help for the next few seasons to make not trading Donovan a better choice? I think so. With the added starting pitching An infield of Donovan 3B, Winn SS, Wetherholt 2B and Burleson 1B and adding a really productive outfield hitter might be very competitive for, at least, a wildcard in '26. Adding a really productive outfield hitter, somehow, is probably the key.
How can an impactful outfield hitter be acquired for next season without trading Donovan for one? Or could it be Herrera?

Posted: **14 Dec 2025 16:28 pm**

zuck698 wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 15:27 pm
I think that one is solved, now on to figuring out where Jimmy Hoffa is!

I believe that is covered in the Tarik Skubal deal.

Posted: **14 Dec 2025 16:30 pm**

Cusecards wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 16:04 pm
craviduce wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 15:14 pm
ecleme22 wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 15:11 pm
Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 14:29 pm Would the returns for Contreras, Romero, Nootbaar, Arenado and a catcher bring back enough help for the next few seasons to make not trading Donovan a better choice? I think so. With the added starting pitching An infield of Donovan 3B, Winn SS, Wetherholt 2B and Burleson 1B and adding a really productive outfield hitter might be very competitive for, at least, a wildcard in '26. Adding a really productive outfield hitter, somehow, is probably the key.
I thought this OP looked familiar. Shady’s OP last Wednesday:

“Maybe Bloom, first, wants to see what he can get for Contreras, Nootbaar, Romero, Arenado, some catcher depth and even Gorman. An infield of Donovan, Winn, Wetherholt and Burleson might just compete for a Division title in '26, already, if the others mentioned can bring back enough to fill some needs.”

viewtopic.php?t=1518571&hilit=Enticing

Pretty similar, no?
and Cusecards is there both times saying "it could happen"

hmmm...
Ok Sarge whatever you say!
Truth is.....the word “could” is pretty open ended.
As in Dumb & Dumber....”so you think there’s a chance??”
And you know as well as I do that if other players are moved(especially Gorman AND Arenado) that there is a reason to keep Donovan.
But.....sorry if I got in the way of your Shady Bashing obsession.
LOL

LOL . I was just having a laugh. It was funny you were 2nd each time.
I thought the wink was proof of the joke.

Posted: **14 Dec 2025 16:32 pm**

DwaininAztec wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 16:28 pm
zuck698 wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 15:27 pm
I think that one is solved, now on to figuring out where Jimmy Hoffa is!
I believe that is covered in the Tarik Skubal deal.

Aztec, are you sure it wasn't in the Burly is the next Joey Votto thread? You may be right, it might have been Skubal. Too many informative Shady posts to keep up with.

Posted: **14 Dec 2025 16:34 pm**

craviduce wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 14:56 pm
Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 14:49 pm
craviduce wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 14:43 pm
Cusecards wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 14:34 pm
Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 14:29 pm Would the returns for Contreras, Romero, Nootbaar, Arenado and a catcher bring back enough help for the next few seasons to make not trading Donovan a better choice?
Of course it could.
Every player move can create a “domino” affect.
You’re talking about trading 4 other players!
Be patient....take it one day at a time. Long offseason still to go!
there's no "good" scenario to keeping Donovan going into the 2026 season.
This is a scenario. That Bloom can't get enough for Donovan to make trading him worthwhile.
the longer you keep him the lower his value to other teams will be....b/c they would've filled their holes going into the season.

You want 2 established MLB players for Donovan....no team will give you that. So you'll keep him and get nothing for him?

As I have said before, and it scares me I agree with Shady, this is a similar situation the Royals for themselves in with Whit Merrifield. They couldn’t get enough in return to make it worthwhile to trade him. Of course, YEARS later, when they did trade him to Toronto, they got closer to his value. By then, of course, his value had declined. The Cardinals are kind of in a dammed if they do and dammed if they don’t, situation.

Posted: **14 Dec 2025 17:33 pm**

craviduce wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 16:30 pm
Cusecards wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 16:04 pm
craviduce wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 15:14 pm
ecleme22 wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 15:11 pm
Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 14:29 pm Would the returns for Contreras, Romero, Nootbaar, Arenado and a catcher bring back enough help for the next few seasons to make not trading Donovan a better choice? I think so. With the added starting pitching An infield of Donovan 3B, Winn SS, Wetherholt 2B and Burleson 1B and adding a really productive outfield hitter might be very competitive for, at least, a wildcard in '26. Adding a really productive outfield hitter, somehow, is probably the key.
I thought this OP looked familiar. Shady’s OP last Wednesday:

“Maybe Bloom, first, wants to see what he can get for Contreras, Nootbaar, Romero, Arenado, some catcher depth and even Gorman. An infield of Donovan, Winn, Wetherholt and Burleson might just compete for a Division title in '26, already, if the others mentioned can bring back enough to fill some needs.”

viewtopic.php?t=1518571&hilit=Enticing

Pretty similar, no?
and Cusecards is there both times saying "it could happen"

hmmm...
Ok Sarge whatever you say!
Truth is.....the word “could” is pretty open ended.
As in Dumb & Dumber....”so you think there’s a chance??”
And you know as well as I do that if other players are moved(especially Gorman AND Arenado) that there is a reason to keep Donovan.
But.....sorry if I got in the way of your Shady Bashing obsession.
LOL
LOL . I was just having a laugh. It was funny you were 2nd each time.
I thought the wink was proof of the joke.

Hey Duce we’re good! You’re one of my favorite posters and you provide a ton of info on the Minors which I appreciate!
Wasn’t sure where you were going?
I admit.....I was hoping they could hang onto Donovan and deal Gorman & Noot(obviously Arenado also).
But....Gorman probably doesn’t return much.

Posted: **14 Dec 2025 17:35 pm**

Getting Ryan Sloan from the Mariners would seem to be close to a "windfall" for Donovan.

Posted: **14 Dec 2025 17:37 pm**

Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 16:15 pm
Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 14:29 pm Would the returns for Contreras, Romero, Nootbaar, Arenado and a catcher bring back enough help for the next few seasons to make not trading Donovan a better choice? I think so. With the added starting pitching An infield of Donovan 3B, Winn SS, Wetherholt 2B and Burleson 1B and adding a really productive outfield hitter might be very competitive for, at least, a wildcard in '26. Adding a really productive outfield hitter, somehow, is probably the key.
How can an impactful outfield hitter be acquired for next season without trading Donovan for one? Or could it be Herrera?

Technically.....if you were to deal Arenado and Noot you could still have a solid OF bat in Donovan and Burleson.
Not to mention Herrera could be converted to LF also?

Posted: **14 Dec 2025 17:44 pm**

Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 17:35 pm Getting Ryan Sloan from the Mariners would seem to be close to a "windfall" for Donovan.

Per BTV,

Sloan: 16.9 (FV 45+)
Donovan: 32.5
Net: -15.6

What a "windfall" for the Cardinals! Maybe even a "bonanza!"

Posted: **14 Dec 2025 18:15 pm**

Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 14:48 pm
Red7 wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 14:45 pm A windfall? For Donovan? Good grief. He’s a JAG. He might be the Cardinals’ best player, but that says a lot more about the team than it does him.
Big +1 he’s better than JAG but people are way overvaluing him they act like he’s an elite player when he’s just a complimentary piece on a good team

Good point. A good POBO evaluates players more against the league instead of his own club. Donovan was an All Star but that was due more to rule than merit. I like him but he's not a cornerstone player. They need to take a chance and flip him for a younger player who could become one.

Posted: **14 Dec 2025 18:57 pm**

Cusecards wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 17:37 pm
Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 16:15 pm
Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 14:29 pm Would the returns for Contreras, Romero, Nootbaar, Arenado and a catcher bring back enough help for the next few seasons to make not trading Donovan a better choice? I think so. With the added starting pitching An infield of Donovan 3B, Winn SS, Wetherholt 2B and Burleson 1B and adding a really productive outfield hitter might be very competitive for, at least, a wildcard in '26. Adding a really productive outfield hitter, somehow, is probably the key.
How can an impactful outfield hitter be acquired for next season without trading Donovan for one? Or could it be Herrera?
Technically.....if you were to deal Arenado and Noot you could still have a solid OF bat in Donovan and Burleson.
Not to mention Herrera could be converted to LF also?

I was thinking more of Donovan at 3B, Burleson at 1B.

Posted: **14 Dec 2025 19:13 pm**

Pura Vida wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 15:24 pm Donovan is your best all around player...can play 2nd, 3rd, RF, LF and believe it or not, there is interest.(sarcasm) They have much dead weight who are not performing...sorry! This is ridiculous unless Bloom scores BIG! Not to mention, Donovan plays "the Cardinal way".

Just because he can play those positions doesn’t mean he can play them particularly well.

Versatility is nice, but he was a mediocre defender at both 2B & LF.

Posted: **14 Dec 2025 19:44 pm**

Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 18:57 pm
Cusecards wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 17:37 pm
Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 16:15 pm
Shady wrote: ↑14 Dec 2025 14:29 pm Would the returns for Contreras, Romero, Nootbaar, Arenado and a catcher bring back enough help for the next few seasons to make not trading Donovan a better choice? I think so. With the added starting pitching An infield of Donovan 3B, Winn SS, Wetherholt 2B and Burleson 1B and adding a really productive outfield hitter might be very competitive for, at least, a wildcard in '26. Adding a really productive outfield hitter, somehow, is probably the key.
How can an impactful outfield hitter be acquired for next season without trading Donovan for one? Or could it be Herrera?
Technically.....if you were to deal Arenado and Noot you could still have a solid OF bat in Donovan and Burleson.
Not to mention Herrera could be converted to LF also?
I was thinking more of Donovan at 3B, Burleson at 1B.

Unless if Burleson steps up the power or pulls a Naylor and starts stealing bases his mediocre 1.9 bWAR value is likely at its peak. Trade him.

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