The St. Louis Cardinals have had many players on the hot seat in terms of trade rumors, with stars such as third baseman Nolan Arenado, reliever Steven Matz, and closer Ryan Helsley likely playing their final games at Busch Stadium.
However, there is one notable name on the Cardinals team that Cliff Williams of Redbird Rants believes the team would be ‘foolish’ to sell on or before Thursday, that name being All-Star and Gold Glover Brendan Donovan, with Williams saying that trading the fourth-year star would be a “significant mistake.”
The utility player born in Germany was named to the National League roster for this year’s All-Star Game as a second baseman, though his versatility has seen also stand in at shortstop and in the outfield for the Cards since his debut in 2022, which saw him awarded his lone Gold Glove Award to date.
Donovan has certainly been a positive for the team’s order this season, currently batting a .288 average with nine home runs and 42 RBI in 99 games played, also racking up 110 hits up to this point.
Williams goes on to say that dealing away Donovan has the potential to cause an uproar amongst the St. Louis fans and should be viewed as a piece of foundation for the future rather than a payday for the team.
“Ultimately, dealing Donovan would signal a full-blown fire sale, alienating a fanbase already frustrated by recent struggles. He’s a homegrown fan favorite who provides a rare combination of skills,” Williams wrote. “The Cardinals should resist the temptation to cash in on his peak value and instead view him as a foundational piece for years to come.”
Donovan is currently under contract with the Cardinals through the 2027 season.
