Feb 26, 2021; Jupiter, Florida, USA; A general view of the St. Louis Cardinals logo on the stadium at Roger Dean Stadium during spring training workouts. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

Cardinals All-Star Available For 'Extremely High Price'

Originally posted on St. Louis Cardinals on SI
By Patrick McAvoy | Last updated Dec 31, 2025 11:34 AM ET

The St. Louis Cardinals have been busy on the trade block and right now all eyes remain on All-Star utility man Brendan Donovan.

Donovan quickly emerged as a legit trade candidate after the 2025 season came to an end. He's coming off the best season of his career and his first All-Star appearance. In 2025, Donovan slashed .287/.353/.422 with 10 homers, 50 RBIs, 32 doubles, and 64 runs scored in 118 games played. He missed time due to injuries, but when he was on the field, he was incredible.

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Another thing that makes Donovan stand out is his presence in the clubhouse. Early on in 2025, he was praised over and over for essentially stepping into a leadership position vacated by Paul Goldschmidt when he exited in free agency.

Donovan remains the talk of the trade block but where does the market stand? ESPN's Jeff Passan addressed it when asked by a fan on Threads.

The Cardinals All-Star is available

Joe Puetz-Imagn Images

"Nope," Passan wrote when asked if the price for Donovan will come down. "And it's not going to. The Cardinals do not need to trade Brendan Donovan. They can move him at the deadline. They can move him next winter. His consistency is among his best attributes, and his value is unlikely to crater between now and then. So, Chaim Bloom should do exactly what he's doing: set an extremely high price and know that teams valuing flexibility will continue wanting him."

It has been reported that the Cardinals want at least two high-end prospects for Donovan. Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reported that the Seattle Mariners are willing to include at least switch-pitcher prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje in a deal for Donovan.

As of writing, the Cardinals have swung two separate major trades in Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras. A deal centered around Donovan would likely bring back the biggest return. But is a team willing to meet a rightfully high asking price from St. Louis? That is the question. Even if Donovan doesn't get moved, there could be other trades on the way, like Nolan Arenado.

This article first appeared on St. Louis Cardinals on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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