Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers have continued to be reported as a potential suitor for St. Louis Cardinals’ utilityman Brendan Donovan, who is the subject of widespread interest this offseason.
With the trade of Willson Contreras, the Cardinals have shown a willingness to move on from pieces that don’t fit their current timeline as they work to open a new contention window down the line.
According to Will Sammon and Katie Woo of the Athletic, there hadn’t been much buzz surrounding Donovan but that is expected to change over the coming weeks:
No deal with any team appears to be close, but with the Contreras trade completed, St. Louis will shift back to making Donovan a priority. Expect trade talks to pick up over the next couple of weeks.
The Dodgers’ rumored interest in Donovan dates back to the 2025 trade deadline. His ability to play in the outfield and infield, along with his left-handed bat, were attractive traits L.A. was looking for. However, a deal never materialized with the Dodgers or any other team for that matter and could be because the Cardinals were reportedly looking for a significant return.
This past season, Donovan set career highs in batting average and slugging percentage. Overall, he hit .287/.353/.422 with 32 doubles, 10 home runs and 50 RBI.
In addition to his offensive and defensive positives, Donovan is also relatively inexpensive and has two more years of salary arbitration remaining before becoming a free agent after the 2027 season.
For all of these reasons, the Dodgers are seemingly facing significant competition for Donovan’s services from other contenders around the league.
It is believed the Dodgers are looking to add an outfielder this offseason, and while Donovan has primarily appeared at second base in his career, he can play either of the corner spots. His addition to the roster would give the Dodgers another versatile chess piece with infield and outfield capabilities alongside Tommy Edman.
Edman was limited by right ankle trouble for most of the 2025 season, which impacted his ability on the field in a variety of ways. But he aims to be back at 100% in 2026 following a procedure on his right ankle in the offseason.
Could Brendan Donovan follow Tommy Edman’s example?
If the Dodgers do acquire Donovan, it would not be the first time that they have successfully negotiated with the Cardinals for this specific player archetype.
Coincidentally, the Dodgers received Edman and Michael Kopech in a three-team trade with the Cardinals and Chicago White Sox in 2024. That move worked out better than they hoped for, as Edman was named National League Championship Series MVP in 2024 en route to the Dodgers’ World Series championship.
Edman later signed a five-year, $74 million contract extension in the offseason.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!