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

[TheSolution]

Brendan Donovan is not a winter trade chip.

That’s not how to maximize his value.

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

He should have been traded last year but Mo wasn’t making any moves of that magnitude on the way out.

Brendan Donovan can play so many positions he’s less likely to harm the development of Cardinals that need room to develop this year.

BD can hide in LF and focus on hitting or wherever injuries open spots for him to play.

The infield, more than anything, needed to be cleared out to create the right opportunities.

He is a classic Cardinal type and worthy of helping transition culture to the next group.

WC is not a classic Cardinal, a high emotion, low IQ ipad smasher. He takes up 3 positions (catcher, 1b, and DH) that need to be cleared for younger players to develop and grow their asset value.

Arenado, obviously also takes up an infield spot that we need to clear and he’s not the leader to help in a transition and we all understand the mutual decision to move on.

[Ozziesfan41]

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

[RamFan08NY]

BD is a very nice complimentary player, to a good team. I just dont believe he is worth of getting a #1 or #2 prospect in return. It would be like the Cardinals trading JJ for Donovan.

I also think all these click bait writers on the internet, who claim to be experts, have us convinced there's going to be a bidding war over him. Maybe they prove me wrong, but I just dont think he's that guy. If he was, he would have been dealt by now.

[rage-STL]

Brendan Donovan is not a winter trade chip.

That’s not how to maximize his value.

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

He should have been traded last year but Mo wasn’t making any moves of that magnitude on the way out.

Brendan Donovan can play so many positions he’s less likely to harm the development of Cardinals that need room to develop this year.

BD can hide in LF and focus on hitting or wherever injuries open spots for him to play.

The infield, more than anything, needed to be cleared out to create the right opportunities.

He is a classic Cardinal type and worthy of helping transition culture to the next group.

WC is not a classic Cardinal, a high emotion, low IQ ipad smasher. He takes up 3 positions (catcher, 1b, and DH) that need to be cleared for younger players to develop and grow their asset value.

Arenado, obviously also takes up an infield spot that we need to clear and he’s not the leader to help in a transition and we all understand the mutual decision to move on.

I think this is a big factor being considered by the front office and likely why their asking price for Donny is so high. Having a veteran that has a GG and an All-Star nod under his belt who can play multiple positions might be just what a primarily young and unproven roster needs.

It’s not apples to apples, but it makes me think of Brett Gardner being a career Yankee. In his age 29-35 seasons, Gardner consistently put up 3.0-4.0+ WAR seasons. He had pretty decent 15+ HR power develop into his 30s as well. I know they’re not exactly the same and the edge likely goes to Gardner, but Donovan’s situation made me think of BG.

With Donovan being the leader and cultural fit that he is; I could see him continuing to thrive in the organization through his prime years if he were to be extended.

[TheSolution]

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.

[TheSolution]

BD is a very nice complimentary player, to a good team. I just dont believe he is worth of getting a #1 or #2 prospect in return. It would be like the Cardinals trading JJ for Donovan.

I also think all these click bait writers on the internet, who claim to be experts, have us convinced there's going to be a bidding war over him. Maybe they prove me wrong, but I just dont think he's that guy. If he was, he would have been dealt by now.

Agree, he’s complimentary and a nice one at that but not what you unload the war chest for, especially in the winter.

IF any big asset from a war chest is used to acquire BD it’s because teams are desperate for themselves and desperate to keep a competitor from getting him for a final stretch and playoff run.

The story here on BD is Bloom was done no favors by Mo’s lame duck season in ‘25, openly admitting to not making dramatic moves bc it’s his final year.

The timing of all of this with the lockout couldn’t be worse.

Huge mistake not trading him last July.

[renostl]

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

Both sides of that coin can be played with valid points.

However I agree with you especially if either is true.
He isn't projected projected on the infield. He doesn't want to extend. Either sooner is better than later.

[Hoosier59]

Well, after seeing MLB’s top 100 prospects, I think it’s easy to see why Seattle hasn’t given in yet! Rumors have been that for Donovan, the Cardinals have been holding out for Montes and Sloan. Well, that would be like the Cardinals trading Raniel Rodriguez and Liam Doyle! If the Cardinals add Jo Jo and Noot, I’m still not sure that deal gets done!

[renostl]

Well, after seeing MLB’s top 100 prospects, I think it’s easy to see why Seattle hasn’t given in yet! Rumors have been that for Donovan, the Cardinals have been holding out for Montes and Sloan. Well, that would be like the Cardinals trading Rangel Rodriguez and Liam Doyle! If the Cardinals add Jo Jo and Noot, I’m still not sure that deal gets done!

There's no way they get those 2. Sloan by himself is difficult.
Montes and a different pitcher maybe. Arroyo and a different pitcher maybe.
We'll see I guess

[Hoosier59]

Eldridge of the Giants, was ranked higher than Rodriguez, so it’s doubtful, they are moving him for Donovan either. After him, the Giants don’t have whole lot, so unlikely a deal gets done there. The Nats didn’t like the Giants offer for Abram's, so I’m sure they are offering less for Donovan. I still think Seattle or Boston are the two best options, but Bloom may be holding out for too much, but that’s ok. I would still rather see Nootbaar moved, even though he would garner even less than Donovan.

[Ozziesfan41]

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

[Dicktar2023]

Nuts. Holding on to him would be stupid. You're risking a regression or an injury...for what?

[Carp4Cy]

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??

[Ozziesfan41]

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??

Mo had a dumb habit of waiting until the deadline to trade players when their value was at its lowest that’s why he got poor returns dumb and waiting until players lost value he did the same with helsley and Fedde just an awful POBO. People mistakenly believe players value is higher at the deadline it’s not it’s lower. Teams place higher value on team control the less control the less value

[Cardinals1964]

Brendan Donovan is not a winter trade chip.

That’s not how to maximize his value.

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

He should have been traded last year but Mo wasn’t making any moves of that magnitude on the way out.

Brendan Donovan can play so many positions he’s less likely to harm the development of Cardinals that need room to develop this year.

BD can hide in LF and focus on hitting or wherever injuries open spots for him to play.

The infield, more than anything, needed to be cleared out to create the right opportunities.

He is a classic Cardinal type and worthy of helping transition culture to the next group.

WC is not a classic Cardinal, a high emotion, low IQ ipad smasher. He takes up 3 positions (catcher, 1b, and DH) that need to be cleared for younger players to develop and grow their asset value.

Arenado, obviously also takes up an infield spot that we need to clear and he’s not the leader to help in a transition and we all understand the mutual decision to move on.

WC is low IQ?

[Cardinals1964]

Unless Brendan Donovan was gonna bring a top pick, he wasn’t going to be traded. Other teams don’t value him as much as CT talkers.