The New York Yankees’ front office still has work to do, as they aim to secure one more infielder to complete their starting lineup before Opening Day. While Nolan Arenado initially seemed the most likely trade target from the St. Louis Cardinals, recent developments with Brendan Donovan could shift the focus for GM Brian Cashman and his team.
Negotiations between the Cardinals and Donovan hit a snag, with the two sides unable to reach a long-term agreement before arbitration. This unresolved situation could strain relations with Donovan, who has been an above-average starter for St. Louis over the past three seasons and has earned consideration for a multi-year contract.
Despite Donovan’s value, the Cardinals retain significant leverage, as the 27-year-old isn’t set to reach unrestricted free agency until 2028. However, exploring his trade market in the coming weeks could prove worthwhile. If the Cardinals decide to shop Donovan, the Yankees would undoubtedly express strong interest in bringing him aboard.
How a Yankees-Cardinals trade for Brendan Donovan might look
Yankees fans hoping to flip Marcus Stroman and his hefty contract for Brendan Donovan should reconsider. The Cardinals have little interest in such a deal. Unlike the Nolan Arenado situation, where St. Louis was motivated by a desire to free up payroll, Donovan is a young, cost-controlled player in his prime. Any potential trade involving him would require a return of talented prospects, not a salary dump.
Brian Cashman and the Yankees’ front office are known for their reluctance to part with young players they believe have even a remote chance of developing into stars. This approach is driven in part by New York’s efforts to manage their payroll. Retaining cost-controlled talent is a critical strategy in achieving that goal.
For a deal to materialize, it’s the Yankees who would need to make concessions. However, that doesn’t mean New York is likely to offer one of their top-five prospects for Donovan, a solid contributor but not a player with perennial All-Star potential. Instead, the Yankees would likely try to close the value gap by offering a package of good—though not elite—prospects to entice the Cardinals.
A potential trade for Brendan Donovan could be headlined by Everson Pereira, a former top-five Yankees prospect whose development has been hindered by injuries. While Pereira currently finds himself without a clear path to New York’s outfield, his tools remain impressive, and he could force his way onto the Cardinals’ roster as early as next season.
The second piece of the deal would be Will Warren, a valuable depth option for the Yankees’ rotation. However, the offseason acquisition of Max Fried has made Warren less critical to New York’s plans. The Yankees could look to replenish their pitching depth in a separate trade, potentially involving Marcus Stroman. For the Cardinals, Warren offers a dependable, high-floor arm to slot into their future rotation—a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter with immediate potential to contribute.
While Cardinals fans may hope for higher-upside talent in exchange for Donovan, receiving two top-10 Yankees prospects represents a strong return. Donovan is a reliable regular, but his contract demands and timeline may no longer align with St. Louis’ competitive window, making this trade a logical step for both teams.
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