Dodgers, Yankees Showing Interest in Brendan Donovan
Brendan Donovan, a versatile player for the St. Louis Cardinals, has drawn trade interest from the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and other teams, according to a report by The Athletic. While the Cardinals are open to hearing offers, a trade involving Donovan appears unlikely unless a team meets their high asking price. He remains under team control through 2027, making him a valuable asset.
The Cardinals are more focused on moving pitchers nearing free agency, such as Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, Steven Matz, and Miles Mikolas. Erick Fedde, also in that group, was designated for assignment and placed on waivers earlier this week. As for position players like Donovan, Ivan Herrera, Alec Burleson, and Lars Nootbaar, St. Louis is unlikely to deal them unless presented with an overwhelming offer. Talks with other clubs have reportedly not gone beyond early discussions.
This isn’t the first time Donovan has been mentioned in trade rumors. The Yankees have been linked to him since at least the 2023–24 offseason, largely due to the Cardinals’ depth in middle infielders. Last year, St. Louis dealt Tommy Edman to the Dodgers in a three-team deal that also involved the White Sox and played a major role in Los Angeles’s World Series run.
Now in his fourth MLB season, Donovan has proven himself both offensively and defensively. He finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2022 and earned the first-ever utility Gold Glove. This season, he’s hitting .293 with a .360 on-base percentage, .428 slugging percentage, and nine home runs over 423 plate appearances. His advanced metrics suggest even more potential at the plate. Defensively, Donovan has appeared mostly at second base and left field, but he has also played all over the infield and in right field.
For the Dodgers, Donovan would fill multiple needs. His left-handed bat and defensive flexibility make him a strong fit, especially with Max Muncy still recovering from injury. Using Donovan at second base would allow Edman to move to the outfield and shift Andy Pages into a corner role. Given L.A.’s continued interest in bullpen upgrades, a package deal involving both Donovan and Helsley could be an option. That scenario might push the Dodgers to include one of their top prospects in a trade.
As for the Yankees, their recent acquisition of Ryan McMahon—also a left-handed hitter—may lessen their need for Donovan. New York is now thought to be targeting a right-handed bat. Still, Donovan could be a valuable addition, even if only for depth and overall roster improvement.
The Cardinals remain just 1.5 games out of a wild card spot, so they’re balancing short-term competitiveness with long-term planning. While they’re open to dealing expiring contracts for pitching help, they appear less inclined to part with core players like Donovan unless the return is substantial.
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