4 top prospects Cardinals are eyeing in a Donovan deal ..2 Mariners & 2 Giants

[Melville]

I want this one:

#3 Prospect ... OF Lazaro Montes AA age 21 6-5 210 ETA 2026 ranked 29th in Top 100

Especially if C. Bloom feels his team down below can up his other tools to close to league average.

This team desperately needs a power hitting OF'er, this kid could be it.

The Seattle package is a dreadful idea.
A "could be it" outfielder who is lesser than options STL already has in the system and a pitcher who's only significant upside is a novelty act?
No thanks.

[sikeston bulldog2]

I want this one:

#3 Prospect ... OF Lazaro Montes AA age 21 6-5 210 ETA 2026 ranked 29th in Top 100

Especially if C. Bloom feels his team down below can up his other tools to close to league average.

This team desperately needs a power hitting OF'er, this kid could be it.

The Seattle package is a dreadful idea.
A "could be it" outfielder who is lesser than options STL already has in the system and a pitcher who's only significant upside is a novelty act?
No thanks.

Mediocre field and run. Too slow to be effective. At best a bunch of long singles, at worse, a torn hanmy stretching one of those singles into a double. Too slow.

[rockondlouie]

I want this one:

#3 Prospect ... OF Lazaro Montes AA age 21 6-5 210 ETA 2026 ranked 29th in Top 100

Especially if C. Bloom feels his team down below can up his other tools to close to league average.

This team desperately needs a power hitting OF'er, this kid could be it.

The Seattle package is a dreadful idea.
A "could be it" outfielder who is lesser than options STL already has in the system and a pitcher who's only significant upside is a novelty act?
No thanks.

Ha!

NOT even close to being "lesser than options STL already has" which is NOTHING!

[Ozziesfan41]

I would like Montes and cijntje Montes is the kind of outfield prospect they need to go with Baez. He’s got big time power and gets on base. Strikes out a lot though but he gets on base

Montes' loudest tool is still his top-of-the-scale raw power from the left side of the plate, and he's continuing to learn how to get to that pop consistently in games. He has outstanding bat speed with plenty of loft in his swing to drive the ball in the air, and he can regularly register elite-level exit velocities. There is some swing-and-miss to his game and there will always be strikeouts, but he also draws walks (14.4 percent walk rate in 2024) as he's learning to find better pitches to hit. He models his game after and is often compared to fellow Cuban Yordan Alvarez.

He is slow and below average defensively so only corner OF and very likely could end up being a DH due to defensive woes. He is a beast though that can launch the ball with the best of them.

Him and Baez at the corners would make for a pretty good outfield

More unproven talent that will take the Cards to the promised land. Hallelujah! Pass the plate. LOL

Well Donovan hasn’t and won’t take the cardinals to the promised land so pretty dumb to keep him. It’s hilarious some people think Donovan is the type of player you build a team around

[BleedingBleu]

Mariners

#3 Prospect ... OF Lazaro Montes AA age 21 6-5 210 ETA 2026 ranked 29th in Top 100
#7 prospect ... RHP/LHP Jurrangelo Cijntje 5-11 ,200 age 22 ETA 2027 ranked 90th in Top 100


Giants

#3 prospect 2B Gavin Kilen 2025 1st rounder (13th pick from Tenn. ) age 21 bats L throws R ETA 2028
#7 prospect LHP Carson Whisenhunt age 25 6-3 214

Link "https://redbirdrants.com/cardinals-rumo ... ovan-trade

Montes plus raw power ..can really launch it .. models his game and compared to Cuban Yordan Alvarez slow runner though .. Cijntge interesting
Kilen shined at Tenn. ..no surprise he went 13th in draft
Whisenhunt had PED in college .. another lefty P

Am I being ridiculous when I say none of those guys interests me?

Jurrangelo Cijntje is a gimmick Reliever at Best. Carson Whisenhunt is a 6th Starter Memphis Shuttle Candidate based on the Standards set by this club over the course of every year the last 25 years. You hope Gavin Kilen is Donovan 2.5 and Montes feels like a bust but his size is “tantalizing”

[82birds]

Mariners

#3 Prospect ... OF Lazaro Montes AA age 21 6-5 210 ETA 2026 ranked 29th in Top 100
#7 prospect ... RHP/LHP Jurrangelo Cijntje 5-11 ,200 age 22 ETA 2027 ranked 90th in Top 100


Giants

#3 prospect 2B Gavin Kilen 2025 1st rounder (13th pick from Tenn. ) age 21 bats L throws R ETA 2028
#7 prospect LHP Carson Whisenhunt age 25 6-3 214

Link "https://redbirdrants.com/cardinals-rumo ... ovan-trade

Montes plus raw power ..can really launch it .. models his game and compared to Cuban Yordan Alvarez slow runner though .. Cijntge interesting
Kilen shined at Tenn. ..no surprise he went 13th in draft
Whisenhunt had PED in college .. another lefty P

Am I being ridiculous when I say none of those guys interests me?

Jurrangelo Cijntje is a gimmick Reliever at Best. Carson Whisenhunt is a 6th Starter Memphis Shuttle Candidate based on the Standards set by this club over the course of every year the last 25 years. You hope Gavin Kilen is Donovan 2.5 and Montes feels like a bust but his size is “tantalizing”

they interest me but certainly don't excite me.

[Talkin' Baseball]

Mariners

#3 Prospect ... OF Lazaro Montes AA age 21 6-5 210 ETA 2026 ranked 29th in Top 100
#7 prospect ... RHP/LHP Jurrangelo Cijntje 5-11 ,200 age 22 ETA 2027 ranked 90th in Top 100


Giants

#3 prospect 2B Gavin Kilen 2025 1st rounder (13th pick from Tenn. ) age 21 bats L throws R ETA 2028
#7 prospect LHP Carson Whisenhunt age 25 6-3 214

Link "https://redbirdrants.com/cardinals-rumo ... ovan-trade

Montes plus raw power ..can really launch it .. models his game and compared to Cuban Yordan Alvarez slow runner though .. Cijntge interesting
Kilen shined at Tenn. ..no surprise he went 13th in draft
Whisenhunt had PED in college .. another lefty P

Am I being ridiculous when I say none of those guys interests me?

Jurrangelo Cijntje is a gimmick Reliever at Best. Carson Whisenhunt is a 6th Starter Memphis Shuttle Candidate based on the Standards set by this club over the course of every year the last 25 years. You hope Gavin Kilen is Donovan 2.5 and Montes feels like a bust but his size is “tantalizing”

they interest me but certainly don't excite me.

Cijntje is probably the most certain to have some level of success at the big league level. He is said to be a much better pitcher from the right side than the left. I wondered how it would work to use him as a starter right-handed only, and use him as a multi-inning reliever left-handed only between starts. That sounds crazy.

[Melville]

I want this one:

#3 Prospect ... OF Lazaro Montes AA age 21 6-5 210 ETA 2026 ranked 29th in Top 100

Especially if C. Bloom feels his team down below can up his other tools to close to league average.

This team desperately needs a power hitting OF'er, this kid could be it.

The Seattle package is a dreadful idea.
A "could be it" outfielder who is lesser than options STL already has in the system and a pitcher who's only significant upside is a novelty act?
No thanks.

Ha!

NOT even close to being "lesser than options STL already has" which is NOTHING!

Stupid the swap for Montes when they already have Baez knocking on the door.
One is no better or worse a bet than the other - neither are sure things.
Bloom must get someone who has already has a successful MLB look.
Trading Donovan for one or two rolls of the dice would be idiocy that I would expect from Super Slo Mo - not from Bloom.

[Melville]

Mariners

#3 Prospect ... OF Lazaro Montes AA age 21 6-5 210 ETA 2026 ranked 29th in Top 100
#7 prospect ... RHP/LHP Jurrangelo Cijntje 5-11 ,200 age 22 ETA 2027 ranked 90th in Top 100


Giants

#3 prospect 2B Gavin Kilen 2025 1st rounder (13th pick from Tenn. ) age 21 bats L throws R ETA 2028
#7 prospect LHP Carson Whisenhunt age 25 6-3 214

Link "https://redbirdrants.com/cardinals-rumo ... ovan-trade

Montes plus raw power ..can really launch it .. models his game and compared to Cuban Yordan Alvarez slow runner though .. Cijntge interesting
Kilen shined at Tenn. ..no surprise he went 13th in draft
Whisenhunt had PED in college .. another lefty P

Am I being ridiculous when I say none of those guys interests me?

Jurrangelo Cijntje is a gimmick Reliever at Best. Carson Whisenhunt is a 6th Starter Memphis Shuttle Candidate based on the Standards set by this club over the course of every year the last 25 years. You hope Gavin Kilen is Donovan 2.5 and Montes feels like a bust but his size is “tantalizing”

You are being intelligent, not ridiculous.

[rockondlouie]

I want this one:

#3 Prospect ... OF Lazaro Montes AA age 21 6-5 210 ETA 2026 ranked 29th in Top 100

Especially if C. Bloom feels his team down below can up his other tools to close to league average.

This team desperately needs a power hitting OF'er, this kid could be it.

The Seattle package is a dreadful idea.
A "could be it" outfielder who is lesser than options STL already has in the system and a pitcher who's only significant upside is a novelty act?
No thanks.

Ha!

NOT even close to being "lesser than options STL already has" which is NOTHING!

Stupid the swap for Montes when they already have Baez knocking on the door.
One is no better or worse a bet than the other - neither are sure things.
Bloom must get someone who has already has a successful MLB look.
Trading Donovan for one or two rolls of the dice would be idiocy that I would expect from Super Slo Mo - not from Bloom.

What's wrong with doubling your odds of finding that desperately needed powerhitting OFer?

And reading up on Montes, I'm definitely interested in a powerhitting OF'er w/30-40 HR power potential who's swing is being compared to
J. Alvarez and he's got a solid batting eye (re: takes walks).

If he develops into that 35-40 HR hitter w/a .350+ OB%, then he's a winner even if he KO's 150 times.

For one who labeled N. Gorman the "unicorn" when he projected to those exact stats, sans the batting eye needed to take walks and get t that .350 OB%, I'm surprised you're taking shots at this kid.

BTW, very few prospects are a "sure thing", most are just a c r a p shoot.

Remember this is B. Donovan we're trading, not a superstar player (RE: J. Soto when traded) who's brings back that "sure thing(s)".

[Talkin' Baseball]

I want this one:

#3 Prospect ... OF Lazaro Montes AA age 21 6-5 210 ETA 2026 ranked 29th in Top 100

Especially if C. Bloom feels his team down below can up his other tools to close to league average.

This team desperately needs a power hitting OF'er, this kid could be it.

The Seattle package is a dreadful idea.
A "could be it" outfielder who is lesser than options STL already has in the system and a pitcher who's only significant upside is a novelty act?
No thanks.

Ha!

NOT even close to being "lesser than options STL already has" which is NOTHING!

Stupid the swap for Montes when they already have Baez knocking on the door.
One is no better or worse a bet than the other - neither are sure things.
Bloom must get someone who has already has a successful MLB look.
Trading Donovan for one or two rolls of the dice would be idiocy that I would expect from Super Slo Mo - not from Bloom.

What's wrong with doubling your odds of finding that desperately needed powerhitting OFer?

And reading up on Montes, I'm definitely interested in a powerhitting OF'er w/30-40 HR power potential who's swing is being compared to
J. Alvarez and he's got a solid batting eye (re: takes walks).

If he develops into that 35-40 HR hitter w/a .350+ OB%, then he's a winner even if he KO's 150 times.

For one who labeled N. Gorman the "unicorn" when he projected to those exact stats, sans the batting eye needed to take walks and get t that .350 OB%, I'm surprised you're taking shots at this kid.

BTW, very few prospects are a "sure thing", most are just a c r a p shoot.

Remember this is B. Donovan we're trading, not a superstar player (RE: J. Soto when traded) who's brings back that "sure thing(s)".

The Cardinals are sorely lacking someone to provide power. Not just home runs, but doubles as well. Montes has tremendous potential. He could be really, really good. However, don't ignore what you are seeing because you are so hopeful, or needy of something. He was promoted from high A to AA mid-season this year. In his 1/2 season at AA he hit .213 with a .752 OPS and struck out over 31% of the time. This is against AA pitching. AA is known as a hitter's league. He did not succeed there. He is not ready to be promoted. Will he get better? He could, but it's an open question.

[ramfandan]

Baseball America scouting report on Lazaro Montes

Scouting Report:
Montes’ calling card is his elite raw power. Every swing is geared to do damage, and the ball often leaves the yard when he connects. He had the highest 90th percentile exit velocity of any Mariners minor leaguer in 2025. However, his aggressive approach leads to swing-and-miss issues, with an overall miss rate that hovered around 38% and plenty of in-zone misses. After experimenting with a more contact-oriented approach in 2024 that suppressed some of his power, the Mariners shifted Montes back to more of a damage-focused philosophy in 2025 that aligns far better with his natural skills and offensive profile. While he strikes out plenty, he also has solid plate discipline and walked at a 14.2% clip in 2025. Defensively, Montes has the strongest arm in the system but is a limited defender in right field. The Mariners are prioritizing improving his mobility and outfield routes in 2026.

The Future: After finding Double-A more challenging, Montes will likely return to the level to start 2026. He has 30-homer upside in the majors, which should help him find a way into a lineup even if his corner outfield defense comes up short.

Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 70 | Run: 30 | Field: 40 | Arm: 60.

In your earlier post you noted ETA 2026? Sounds like that may be a stretch but AT LEAST WE ARE LOOKING AT AN OUTFIELDER!!!!! And he looks interesting.

To answer your question regarding the 2026 ... In the earlier post the 2026 ETA was the listing on MLB.com seattle mariner prsopect list .
the 'likely to return to Double A for 2026 is Baseball America's comment . So two different sources .. That is why the difference Thought I would clarify since you asked the question. Neither is my projection ..just what the two different sources cite. THanks for the quesion asking clarification.
He sure does look interesting as you stated.

[Shady]

So far, Dominguez and Lagrange from the Yankees, if truly offered, is the best offer I've seen proposed for Donovan.

[Talkin' Baseball]

So far, Dominguez and Lagrange from the Yankees, if truly offered, is the best offer I've seen proposed for Donovan.

I like Lagrange a lot, but Dominguez not so much. Does anyone else here like Dominguez? If so, why?

[NYCardsFan]

So far, Dominguez and Lagrange from the Yankees, if truly offered, is the best offer I've seen proposed for Donovan.

That offer is not materially better than the speculated Seattle package. FWIW, BTV actually rates it worse.

But could you repeat this idea a few more times, just in case anyone may have missed it the prior ten times you’ve posted it?

[BleedingBleu]

So far, Dominguez and Lagrange from the Yankees, if truly offered, is the best offer I've seen proposed for Donovan.

I like Lagrange a lot, but Dominguez not so much. Does anyone else here like Dominguez? If so, why?

Given the other hitters mentioned (Kilen, Montez), Dominguez at least shows an ability to hit MLB Pitching w/529 MLB PA before the age of 23. I don’t get the sentiment that Montes can even field a ball, let alone hit MLB Pitching. That said, he is 21.

Gavin Kilen will be 23 in March and… (checks notes)… had a .561 OPS in 43 PA in A-Ball.

Right now, there’s more certainty in the Yankees Package than the others.