What is B. Donovan's best defensive position?

[rockondlouie]

I keep seeing some sites saying if he's not traded B. Donovan will be at 2nd base (most of the time) instead of being at 3rd base or in LF.

Let's look at his career defensive metrics at each of these positions:

2nd Base

-5 career DRS
+5 career OAA

3rd Base

+6 career DRS
+3 career OAA

Leftfield

0 career DRS
-2 career OAA

The data seems to suggest that Donny, should he still be on the team, needs to be at 3rd Base w/JJW at 2nd Base and N. Gorman sharing the DH role and only some times playing 3rd Base.

One issue though is he's played his fewest career innings (269.2) at 3rd Base -vs- 1756.2 at 2nd Base & 1450.1 in the OF.

IF JJW makes the team out of STing (and he d a m n well better), then what position would you play Donny at?

[OldRed]

I always thought his best position was second base.

[KeeptheRamsinSTL]

I always thought his best position was second base.

I agree.

[Carp4Cy]

I always thought his best position was second base.

So is Gormans and So is JJWs.

We are a team of MI'ers.

We completely lack a true Rolen GG/Cleanup hitter type for 3b anywhere in our system.

[Jatalk]

I keep seeing some sites saying if he's not traded B. Donovan will be at 2nd base (most of the time) instead of being at 3rd base or in LF.

Let's look at his career defensive metrics at each of these positions:

2nd Base

-5 career DRS
+5 career OAA

3rd Base

+6 career DRS
+3 career OAA

Leftfield

0 career DRS
-2 career OAA

The data seems to suggest that Donny, should he still be on the team, needs to be at 3rd Base w/JJW at 2nd Base and N. Gorman sharing the DH role and only some times playing 3rd Base.

One issue though is he's played his fewest career innings (269.2) at 3rd Base -vs- 1756.2 at 2nd Base & 1450.1 in the OF.

IF JJW makes the team out of STing (and he d a m n well better), then what position would you play Donny at?

For 2026 I’m putting JJ at his most comfortable position and letting Donovan take the other. I’m not sure where Gorman is fitting in. DH??????

[Adam2]

I always thought his best position was second base.

So is Gormans and So is JJWs.

We are a team of MI'ers.

We completely lack a true Rolen GG/Cleanup hitter type for 3b anywhere in our system.

hall of fame 3rd basemen aren't that easy to find

[Carp4Cy]

I always thought his best position was second base.

So is Gormans and So is JJWs.

We are a team of MI'ers.

We completely lack a true Rolen GG/Cleanup hitter type for 3b anywhere in our system.

hall of fame 3rd basemen aren't that easy to find

None of our championship rosters have been easy to create. That should still be the goal though. Not just who "isn't bad at 3b, that'll do pig, that'll do."

[renostl]

It might be 3B but that is slightly difficult to know.

He had that flexor surgery that ended his 2023.
He has since played less and less innings at other positions
than 2B. In 2023 and prior to that there are innings at other
positions that show good velocity on throws. Since then the velo
appears to be down. His secondary position had some LF action in
2024. His arm strength was down but so were his innings.
2025 showed little position variety beyond 2B. Coincidence of other players
on the team or was there some concerns of placing him at positions
that test the stamina of his arm.

He seems to have good keystone abilities by my eyes. It might be one of those
situations where a team can increase the range at 2B and save hits with a different player but if the 3B has
to play a step in due to arm there's a few more hits there.

[rockondlouie]

I keep seeing some sites saying if he's not traded B. Donovan will be at 2nd base (most of the time) instead of being at 3rd base or in LF.

Let's look at his career defensive metrics at each of these positions:

2nd Base

-5 career DRS
+5 career OAA

3rd Base

+6 career DRS
+3 career OAA

Leftfield

0 career DRS
-2 career OAA

The data seems to suggest that Donny, should he still be on the team, needs to be at 3rd Base w/JJW at 2nd Base and N. Gorman sharing the DH role and only some times playing 3rd Base.

One issue though is he's played his fewest career innings (269.2) at 3rd Base -vs- 1756.2 at 2nd Base & 1450.1 in the OF.

IF JJW makes the team out of STing (and he d a m n well better), then what position would you play Donny at?

For 2026 I’m putting JJ at his most comfortable position and letting Donovan take the other. I’m not sure where Gorman is fitting in. DH??????

I agree and to me that's 2nd Base for JJW, 3rd Base for Donny (if he's still here) and platoon DH for Gorman (which will make BDog happy since he hates the idea of him being at 3rd base.......as do most of us).

[45s]

Seattle

[Strummer Jones]

Defensive metrics are helpful, but it's still hard to put all of that stuff into numbers. Maybe I'm too old school, but you've really got to have the eye test, too. And from what I see, Donovan passes that. He's not a gold glover, but he's steady.

[Absolut]

Seattle

[12xu]

I have not seen him play enough at 3B, so I think 2B is his best position. He does not have the greatest range there, but he does the pivot on the DP well, and his arm is reliable and accurate. If JJ Wetherholt fits better at 2B, then if Donovan remains in St. Louis, I suspect he will be playing in LF, at least until Gorman proves unreliable, and Noot is finally able to play.

[zoiks]

His best defensive position is 3B, due to lack of range, and it’s not really close. Most teams would play him at 2B though, preferring a bigger hitter with more power to play 3B.

This is why the team doesn’t need to trade him. If they were actually trying to win games, Donovan would be the 3B with Wetherholt at 2B. But Dewitt is determined to dump any salary he can, so we’ll be sold another season of Nolan Gorman as a player with upside.

[renostl]

I always thought his best position was second base.

So is Gormans and So is JJWs.

We are a team of MI'ers.

We completely lack a true Rolen GG/Cleanup hitter type for 3b anywhere in our system.

hall of fame 3rd basemen aren't that easy to find

None of our championship rosters have been easy to create. That should still be the goal though. Not just who "isn't bad at 3b, that'll do pig, that'll do."

I understand the kid hasn't done jack at MLB level but he will get a long look
maybe a 3 season trial. It's your comment though that makes me want JJ at the corner.
There only 2 or 3 players putting up those huge 3B numbers.

Rolen is a high bar. His best power numbers were 1997 through 2004. He averaged
27 HR's for those 8 seasons. JJ may totally fail but with success I do not see 25HR's
as unreachable for him. That's top 5 in today's game and where some very large contracts
reside. 2B not as much. TE/BD/Lowe contracts more often.
jmo.

[rockondlouie]

I have only seen small clips of JJW at 2nd Base but from what I've seen and know about the position he looks to be an above average 2nd sacker w/solid range and a good arm.

As for Donny, I've always felt his best position was 3rd Base.

He's steady but lacks range up the middle at 2nd Base where to many ground balls seem to get by him.

And w/Bumbles now full time at 1st Base Donny's limited range to his left is going to really show on balls in the hole between 1st & 2nd.

The Cards need a 2nd Baseman who can compensate for Burly's lack of range to his right and to me that's JJW.