3 sensible St. Louis Cardinals trade targets for KC Royals

Brendan Donovan, UTL

If St. Louis wants to maximize its strengths and pursue more pitching power or prospect value for 2025, infield depth is likely the area to trade from. With Jordan Walker at third base, Thomas Saggese at second, and hopes for Nolan Gorman to finally take that next step, the Cardinals' infield picture for 2026 and beyond seems set. But if next season started today, utilityman Brendan Donovan deserves a spot in the lineup and on the field.

So, if the Cardinals wants to prioritize its internal prospects at their natural positions, why not consider moving on from one of the game's best utility players?

The 213th overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, Donovan has developed into a highly valuable MLB player. Across three seasons in St. Louis, he’s accumulated 7.4 fWAR, playing multiple positions while adjusting his approach at the plate each year. Donovan started his career as a walk-heavy lefty, drawing a free pass 12.8% of the time and reaching a career-high .394 on-base percentage in 2022. By 2024, he'd evolved into a different — but still effective — hitter, shifting his approach without losing his overall impact.

Donovan hit a career-high 14 home runs in 2024, sacrificing some contact for power but still managing a career-best 12.4% strikeout rate alongside a 7.2% walk rate. His .278/.342/.417 slash line is solid, and he hit all over the Cardinals’ lineup. While he saw plenty of time as the team’s leadoff man, his 99 wRC+ and .314 on-base percentage kept him from standing out in that role. Even so, his 2024 numbers were a slight dip in what has otherwise been steady production when the Cardinals have needed him at the top of the order.

At 27 and entering his first year of arbitration, Brendan Donovan’s value could soar after a strong 2025 season. The South Alabama alum is already deserving of an extension, though the Cardinals may hesitate to commit. Kansas City could face similar concerns, but Donovan’s skill set aligns well with several of the Royals’ clubhouse needs.

The Royals have made it clear that on-base ability is a bigger priority than home run power heading into the offseason. That focus makes it easy to see how Brendan Donovan fits into their plans. Manager Matt Quatraro values positional versatility, and Donovan brings plenty of it. He can play all four infield spots competently and spent most of last season in left field. Defensively, Donovan could shore up multiple positions while contributing an above-average bat. Acquiring him wouldn’t come cheap, but it would signal Kansas City’s commitment to competing in 2025 and beyond.