Donovan's stock would not get higher than it is now

[C-Unit]

I don't think, at least

There was a good portion of this last season where he was among the league leading hitters. I think he really raised some eyebrows. Donovan is going to be a solid big league hitter long-term, no doubt. But would you expect him to start this season as hot as he did last year? I wouldn't call it a guarantee, and there is injury risk. If they're going to trade him then they should probably be motivated to get it done before ST.

I think we're at the right time in the offseason. He's a bigger value piece, not a salary dump so it makes sense he'd be here after Gray and Contreras. Now most the big FAs are off the board, the only one in Donovan's range as an offensive player being Eugenio Suarez. It seems this is naturally where teams pick up interest in Donovan.

[rockondlouie]

Solid logic for sure.

BUT

If a strong playoff contender loses their 2nd baseman----3rd baseman----or an OF'er to a L-T or even season ending injury in the first half, then Donny's value could even be higher than it is now if he's healthy and off to a good start.

[12xu]

Donovan is only 29 years old and could very well exceed his previous performances in several years to come, and so his stock could improve a lot.

[45s]

Donovan is only 29 years old and could very well exceed his previous performances in several years to come, and so his stock could improve a lot.

Potentially, yes..

however, given the state of the club, those years would be wasted…

Move him now…

[Hoosier59]

Donovan is only 29 years old and could very well exceed his previous performances in several years to come, and so his stock could improve a lot.

Potentially, yes..

however, given the state of the club, those years would be wasted…

Move him now…

OR…..keep him and add to him, so he’s not just wasted! What a novel idea, except DeWitt isn’t trying to win, so yes, might as well trade him and make the team even worse!

[CorneliusWolfe]

I don't think, at least

There was a good portion of this last season where he was among the league leading hitters. I think he really raised some eyebrows. Donovan is going to be a solid big league hitter long-term, no doubt. But would you expect him to start this season as hot as he did last year? I wouldn't call it a guarantee, and there is injury risk. If they're going to trade him then they should probably be motivated to get it done before ST.

I think we're at the right time in the offseason. He's a bigger value piece, not a salary dump so it makes sense he'd be here after Gray and Contreras. Now most the big FAs are off the board, the only one in Donovan's range as an offensive player being Eugenio Suarez. It seems this is naturally where teams pick up interest in Donovan.

You’re probably right, but stock can also be influenced by unexpected need, such as a team that is better than expected and needs a LH bat/OBP guy at the deadline and they feel they have a legitimate shot at making a run. Or maybe a team that was already well-positioned but had a critical injury that they don’t want to derail an otherwise strong season. Trade deadline can create a greater sense of urgency in a few cases.

[C-Unit]

I think it has to come down to Seattle or SF

Seattle has a potential World Series roster. Their offense includes 3 cornerstone players including a few at premier positions (J. Rodriguez in CF, Raleigh at C). Naylor and Arozarena are championship caliber players as well. And then their lineup projects to have Dominic Canzone hitting 5th, a 28 year old who had a lucky .354 babip season last year. Donovan would look really good on that team batting anywhere 1-5, and might put them over the top. They are connected with Eugenio Suarez but really, he didn't do exceptionally well their either time he was with the team. He hit most his HRs this past season while with Arizona. Donovan seems like a better fit.

SF has done well to add Devers, a true impact bat, to their lineup. However the big addition this offseason to the lineup is Harry Bader who should be a bottom of the order/platoon player. I thought they should have been in on Bichette/Bellinger etc. Donovan would seem useful there.

For Seattle, I don't think Emerson or Sloan are coming easy. But I don't like combining players in this case because Donovan should be valuable enough on his own to net something like Montes + Arroyo or similar. I think I would draw a hard line on getting those two, two position players to gamle on who could factor into the lineup in the very near future.

Or if it's SF, I'd put Eldridge in the hard to get category. Why would SF trade a guy that looks like he's going to hit just as many balls in the water as Bonds did. I don't know if Tidwell is good enough, he looks to be barely better than Fitts or Dobbins if at all.

I want the package of close to mlb ready position players from Seattle. If we can't press them to that point, I think you can take Donovan into the season and keep a tab open on actually extending him. Who knows, you might be able to get him down on a 5-6 year deal for 70-80 mil. Why not. He is absolutely young enough he could be a part of the core that includes Wetherholt, Baez, and RRodriguez. I'm not wanting to sell Donovan for any less than a player, or combination of players who have a good chance of becoming just as good as Donovan at the major league level. I'm not going to call Donovan as good as Freeman or Altuve, but the Braves and Astros held those two during their rebuild. And Donovan has a good chance IMO to be a well above average hitter for at least 5-6 years. Consistent 115 wRC+ seasons with upside for more I think. I've put the Daniel Murphy comp down before. I like it.

[C-Unit]

I don't think, at least

There was a good portion of this last season where he was among the league leading hitters. I think he really raised some eyebrows. Donovan is going to be a solid big league hitter long-term, no doubt. But would you expect him to start this season as hot as he did last year? I wouldn't call it a guarantee, and there is injury risk. If they're going to trade him then they should probably be motivated to get it done before ST.

I think we're at the right time in the offseason. He's a bigger value piece, not a salary dump so it makes sense he'd be here after Gray and Contreras. Now most the big FAs are off the board, the only one in Donovan's range as an offensive player being Eugenio Suarez. It seems this is naturally where teams pick up interest in Donovan.

You’re probably right, but stock can also be influenced by unexpected need, such as a team that is better than expected and needs a LH bat/OBP guy at the deadline and they feel they have a legitimate shot at making a run. Or maybe a team that was already well-positioned but had a critical injury that they don’t want to derail an otherwise strong season. Trade deadline can create a greater sense of urgency in a few cases.

Yes, you can make arguments for why teams like Detroit getting in if they get into the season with Skubal and then get emotional like the Angels did with Ohtani. Detroit actually has a legit farm system, maybe you get them to start blowing pieces.

NYY could come up but you have to ask yourself is Spencer Jones or Jasson Dominguez is intriguing enough. Are they going to be good as Donovan? Spencer Jones has some Joey Gallo in him, not even a top 100 guy on some lists.

Who else. Mets, Toronto, Dodgers, Phillies, Red Sox (again), Royals all theoretically should have interest. I saw the A's mentioned. I wouldn't mind netting Arjun Nimmala from Toronto's system. He's got a chance at breaking out into a Tatis Jr. type of SS prospect. What if Okamoto flops in the US, now all of a sudden they don't have an infielder with the promise to fill Bichette's shoes.

Then there's Miami. They've been very active making deals. And you know they have a decent floor of young MLB talent here already, still with a good system, that they might have a chance to be around 0.500 this season or even shout at a WC spot.

I feel like the easiest approach is to come up with the exact names of the prospects around the league you'd accept straight across for Donovan. It probably isn't a very long list, in all honesty. They should be players preferably AA or above who project to be likely big leaguers with a chance to be just as good and consistent as Donovan. You hold up Donovan and if you can't get any of those exact names you take him in to seriously talk about an extension.

[scoutyjones2]

I don't think, at least

There was a good portion of this last season where he was among the league leading hitters. I think he really raised some eyebrows. Donovan is going to be a solid big league hitter long-term, no doubt. But would you expect him to start this season as hot as he did last year? I wouldn't call it a guarantee, and there is injury risk. If they're going to trade him then they should probably be motivated to get it done before ST.

I think we're at the right time in the offseason. He's a bigger value piece, not a salary dump so it makes sense he'd be here after Gray and Contreras. Now most the big FAs are off the board, the only one in Donovan's range as an offensive player being Eugenio Suarez. It seems this is naturally where teams pick up interest in Donovan.

He's 29

I don't see "long term."

[45s]

Donovan is only 29 years old and could very well exceed his previous performances in several years to come, and so his stock could improve a lot.

Potentially, yes..

however, given the state of the club, those years would be wasted…

Move him now…

OR…..keep him and add to him, so he’s not just wasted! What a novel idea, except DeWitt isn’t trying to win, so yes, might as well trade him and make the team even worse!

The club is already krapp…..how much worse can it get?

Trade him..

[cardstatman]

With Donovan and Romero, there are only 5 teams worse than the Cardinals.

Without them there would be only 3.

[Cardinals1964]

Donovan is only 29 years old and could very well exceed his previous performances in several years to come, and so his stock could improve a lot.

Or he could fall apart in 3 years like Arenado. I really didn’t have anything to say, I just wanted to participate in another Brendan Donovan thread.

[Cardinals1964]

With Donovan and Romero, there are only 5 teams worse than the Cardinals.

Without them there would be only 3.

Does it matter?

[renostl]

Donovan is only 29 years old and could very well exceed his previous performances in several years to come, and so his stock could improve a lot.

I usually double check when disagreeing with some.

I still do disagree. What would make Donovan's value go up
would seem unlikely to occur.
More speed and/or More SLG
He's done .422, .417 & .422 the last 3 seasons.
For that to increase now it
may come at the cost of OBP for minimal gains. jmo.

[Carp4Cy]

I don't think, at least

There was a good portion of this last season where he was among the league leading hitters. I think he really raised some eyebrows. Donovan is going to be a solid big league hitter long-term, no doubt. But would you expect him to start this season as hot as he did last year? I wouldn't call it a guarantee, and there is injury risk. If they're going to trade him then they should probably be motivated to get it done before ST.

I think we're at the right time in the offseason. He's a bigger value piece, not a salary dump so it makes sense he'd be here after Gray and Contreras. Now most the big FAs are off the board, the only one in Donovan's range as an offensive player being Eugenio Suarez. It seems this is naturally where teams pick up interest in Donovan.

You’re probably right, but stock can also be influenced by unexpected need, such as a team that is better than expected and needs a LH bat/OBP guy at the deadline and they feel they have a legitimate shot at making a run. Or maybe a team that was already well-positioned but had a critical injury that they don’t want to derail an otherwise strong season. Trade deadline can create a greater sense of urgency in a few cases.

Yes, you can make arguments for why teams like Detroit getting in if they get into the season with Skubal and then get emotional like the Angels did with Ohtani. Detroit actually has a legit farm system, maybe you get them to start blowing pieces.

NYY could come up but you have to ask yourself is Spencer Jones or Jasson Dominguez is intriguing enough. Are they going to be good as Donovan? Spencer Jones has some Joey Gallo in him, not even a top 100 guy on some lists.

Who else. Mets, Toronto, Dodgers, Phillies, Red Sox (again), Royals all theoretically should have interest. I saw the A's mentioned. I wouldn't mind netting Arjun Nimmala from Toronto's system. He's got a chance at breaking out into a Tatis Jr. type of SS prospect. What if Okamoto flops in the US, now all of a sudden they don't have an infielder with the promise to fill Bichette's shoes.

Then there's Miami. They've been very active making deals. And you know they have a decent floor of young MLB talent here already, still with a good system, that they might have a chance to be around 0.500 this season or even shout at a WC spot.

I feel like the easiest approach is to come up with the exact names of the prospects around the league you'd accept straight across for Donovan. It probably isn't a very long list, in all honesty. They should be players preferably AA or above who project to be likely big leaguers with a chance to be just as good and consistent as Donovan. You hold up Donovan and if you can't get any of those exact names you take him in to seriously talk about an extension.

That’s the right approach. I feel like Bloom hasn’t gotten a yes on that list of names yet, which is exactly why Donny is still here.

[mattmitchl44]

Donovan's trade value probably peaked after the 2024 season.

At that point, he'd proven himself over ~1500 PA, was coming off a 3.2 fWAR season, and had three valuable years of team control remaining.

His trade value probably keeps sliding now as his years of team control diminish unless he takes a significant leap forward to 4.0, 4.5, etc. fWAR per 600 PA production.

High levels of trade value don't come from being just a really good player. They come from being a really good player who the receiving team can have on its roster without having to pay full market value for.

Most prospects transitioning to proven, young, ML players seem to have the most value after about their 2nd full ML season, if they are producing at a suitable level.