Why Donovan Hasn’t Been Traded, And Why WC and Arenado Have

[2ninr]

I was entertained by your post. But I think you are dead wrong about waiting.

[woofy25]

Waiting is a terrible idea. You either extend him or trade him now. Look what waiting has done in recent memory. Hasn’t worked out.
The Cardinals and fans need to realize Donovan isn’t a superstar and the return will be good, not great.
Waiting will be a disaster. The new FO can’t practice these same tactics.

[Goldfan]

See my WOO posting. She sums it up pretty well. The previous trades were essentially salary dumps and teams don’t value Donny as highly as the Cards
Where have we heard this before

[ramfandan]

I don't view it as 'waiting' . There are multiple teams seeking a 2nd baseman. First , the free agent infielders were considered by some of those teams .. Bregman for example and some were looking at Marte too .. Bregman gone and Marte taken off the market by Ariz. reportedly .
So now Donovan remains for those teams ( Hoerner too ) .
Obviously , the other teams want to pay as little as possible in a trade but they know others want Donny too
The 11th hour can get teams increasing their offer. At least Bloom is banking on that . We shall see the final result.

[rockondlouie]

If a team see's Donny as being the final piece that puts them over the top, then they'll pay up.

He's at his maximum trade value right now since he's 100% healthy and has two full yrs of control.

While I agree w/the OP that he may not be dealt until midseason and the return could still be just as good if a team loses their 2nd Baseman/SUP you do risk 1) injury and 2) him not having a good first half.

[ScotchMIrish]

I disagree. 2 years left on his contract is more valuable than 1 year and 2 months. If Bloom trades him in late July it's because he botched the winter.

[HorseTrader]

No there will be a smaller return at the deadline. Teams will use the it’s only two months of control for sure because of the looming lock out to drive the price down. There will be less control and that’s if its best case scenario and he doesn’t go on the IL at that time. Teams that are looking now could have prospects emerge at that time and not need one

Ozzie, Donovan is controlled for 2 more seasons. So a trade this year at the deadline gives the other team a full year plus 2 months. I do agree that the return will probably be smaller.

[Cardinals4Life]

No there will be a smaller return at the deadline. Teams will use the it’s only two months of control for sure because of the looming lock out to drive the price down. There will be less control and that’s if its best case scenario and he doesn’t go on the IL at that time. Teams that are looking now could have prospects emerge at that time and not need one

Donovan has 2 years of control left. At teh deadline, he would still have 2 months, plus the additional year.

[Cardinals4Life]

No there will be a smaller return at the deadline. Teams will use the it’s only two months of control for sure because of the looming lock out to drive the price down. There will be less control and that’s if its best case scenario and he doesn’t go on the IL at that time. Teams that are looking now could have prospects emerge at that time and not need one

BD should have been traded July 2025.

All-star season, years remaining.

Mo’s ceremonial year was the most idiotic thing imaginable.

Now that I agree with although I didn’t trust mo
To trade Donovan though I think he would have done a Fedde type trade for him. He should have traded edman for top tier minor leaguers but he was dumb and went for a trade for fedde and pray to squeak in to the post season and pray for miracles. If he had traded edman for top tier minor leaguers and traded helsley in the offseason instead of being dumb and waiting for the deadline the cardinals would be well of schedule in the rebuild

Fedde was good for us until he wasn’t.
Mo did the same kind of trade with Bader for Monty and Monty was good for us until then he flipped Monty for those coveted prospects, and how much good have they done??

Saggese will surprise you this year.
Hopefully Roby next year.

[Hoosier59]

Donovan only has two years of “ Playing time “ if you think there won’t be a lock out or strike! Otherwise he only has one! Which is the main reason I think the Cardinals want to trade him and Nootbaar. So they won’t owe either one anything if the lockout does happen.

[Cusecards]

I understand that there are valid points on either side as to trading OR keeping Donovan.
But...I still laugh at some of the angst over NOT dealing him when NOBODY here has the slightest clue over what SPECIFICALLY has been offered for him?
Donovan- good(not great or All Star) with solid value at the plate and in the field. He is being paid squat for two more years and would be a solid contributor on a contending team.
But....the Cards are not a contending team and getting to that point is more about:
1)Solidifying the rotation
2)Figuring out the entire OF
3)Identifying middle of the order bats

Donovan can’t pitch. He is best probably batting #1 or #2 in the order maybe(?) #5?
He could fill out the OF(LF?) or possibly the IF(3B?) if others are moved.
Now....if moving Donovan can help rectify #1,2, or 3 above and make the team better then you move him.
If not...you keep him.

[Melville]

The type of player he is, the tier of player he is, would yield (by far) the biggest return in July.

I, of course, was first and best to understand and explain this long ago.
Bloom should attempt to extend Donovan sometime between now and June.
If Donovan refuses, he should be traded in July.
If Donovan is healthy and having another good season at that time, there is no question his value will be higher than it is currently.
There will be 20-22 teams who view themselves as "in the hunt" and every one of them will be looking for opportunities to strengthen themselves for the stretch drive and playoffs.
That sense of urgency will result in the final 60 games (and playoffs) placing more value on a player like Donovan than having him for the previous 100 games would.
And being under control for an added season would give him more value than a pending FA "rental".
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Why would July be better? Less teams in the hunt. Less control. Is Donovan really the type of bat you need to put a team at the deadline over the top and give up a big return on? What if he gets hurt?

Plus, we tried to make a deal last trade deadline, if I remember correctly, but the team wasn't getting the type of offers they were looking for and decided to hold onto him.

[OldRed]

Why would July be better? Less teams in the hunt. Less control. Is Donovan really the type of bat you need to put a team at the deadline over the top and give up a big return on? What if he gets hurt?

Plus, we tried to make a deal last trade deadline, if I remember correctly, but the team wasn't getting the type of offers they were looking for and decided to hold onto him.

I really don't know the need to trade him.

[Cardinals1964]

I won’t hedge my bets here. Put me on record for predicting EXACTLY what will happen with Donovan.
He will be traded before spring training.
Or during Spring training.
Or after spring training.
Or at the deadline.
Or won’t be traded all year.
If he is traded, we will get too little, just right, or too much.
Bookmark that so I can say I told you so.

[Cardinals1964]

The type of player he is, the tier of player he is, would yield (by far) the biggest return in July.

I, of course, was first and best to understand and explain this long ago.
Bloom should attempt to extend Donovan sometime between now and June.
If Donovan refuses, he should be traded in July.
If Donovan is healthy and having another good season at that time, there is no question his value will be higher than it is currently.
There will be 20-22 teams who view themselves as "in the hunt" and every one of them will be looking for opportunities to strengthen themselves for the stretch drive and playoffs.
That sense of urgency will result in the final 60 games (and playoffs) placing more value on a player like Donovan than having him for the previous 100 games would.
And being under control for an added season would give him more value than a pending FA "rental".
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Why extend them when you already control them for two years?
He has no future with this team. Like when we extended Carpenter at a time we didn’t need to?