Ok, admittedly I have been planning on writing this since last week’s article about solutions to the outfield conundrum/dilemma/failure. But just before writing this I found a link to an mlb trade rumors
article talking about the same deal! So now it’s time to compare my limited ideas with whatever mlb trade rumors is talking about.
Sorry, I’m not that excited about trading Brendan Donovan, but it sure seems like a good idea at the same time. He should bring back a decent value. I am hoping for a starting pitcher that is cromulent at least, with maybe a little potential to be more than a #3 or 4. But probably safe bet to be mid rotation starter, if we are lucky. But heck, even a solid #4 would be nice given the challenges that the starting rotation absolutely faces in 2026.
Who could we get for Brendan Donovan? Remember, I am trying to shore up the rotation here…
- Ryan Pepiot of the Rays https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/ryan-pepiot-686752?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb I would think that it would take Donovan as well as a pretty good prospect to pry a promising starting pitcher age 28 from the Rays… maybe wishful thinking but perhaps a package could be put together, somehow. Why he’s good: offspeed pitch
- Tanner Bibee https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/tanner-bibee-676440?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb Bibee would be more of a straight up trade, I would guess. He is much less of a certainty, with what seems to be potentially high upside with a relatively low floor. His 2023 and 2024 showed more rate stat promise as a better pitcher, but he didn’t fare as well in 2025 with a 4.24 ERA, more walks and hits per inning. But, he was pushed further in 2025 with a higher inning total in the same amount of games started. He could go either way next year, but could be a nice gamble for a solid #3 or 4. Why he’s good: effective breaking pitch and age 26
- Edward Cabrera https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/edward-cabrera-665795?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb perhaps a bigger gamble than Bibee, Cabrera is 27 and has reduced his walks and hits so appears to be making progress as a starting pitcher. While he only pitched 137.2 innings last year, he appears to be ready to make the leap to 150 or so. Why he’s good: both his breaking pitches and offspeed pitches are a big strength of his, while his fastball is rather lackluster
- Shane Baz https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/shane-baz-669358?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb at age 26 he is not too proven and is not a lock for a rotation spot, on most teams… if the Cardinals could get Baz plus another player from the Rays for Donovan, it would possibly make some sense. Why he’s good: can regularly hit 97 mph with the fastball, he can strike out some guys, while also having good numbers grounding out batters but none of his pitches really stick out so he’s a bit unfinished
- Mitch Keller https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/mitch-keller-656605?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb is the most proven arm on the list, if perhaps the least exciting… still if we wanted to deal with the lowly Pirates and help each other out, Keller has a decent enough fastball and doesn’t walk a lot of guys. He will eat innings much more effectively than some older pitcher. Why he’s good: fastball run value is very good, coupled with very good walk rates he is just a very sensical pitcher
Now to compare to the MLB Trade Rumors article published yesterday: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/looking-for-a-match-in-a-brendan-donovan-trade.html
The Mark Polishuk article has a much wider scope with many hitters considered. After reading the article, it would seem that he is mostly writing about Donovan’s versatility. Which could both broaden his trade market, and bolster his overall value in trade. Sure he might best be traded at the deadline to the team who needs him most, but there are already plenty of teams that he would fit on, so maybe one of Chaim Bloom’s first moves will be to move Brendan Donovan simply due to his marketability, skillset, and plus hitting.
What do you think? Should the Cardinals keep and continue to build around Donovan? Should they only trade Donovan for whatever the best offer is, regardless of position? Or should the Cardinals aggressively pursue a trade of Donovan for a starting pitcher to address the rotation?
If you answered yes to the first question, what should the Cardinals do?
- Sign Nabil Crismatt
- Throw tons of money at Shane Bieber or even Dylan Cease… maybe Zac Gallen?
- Bring back Jack! (Flaherty)
There are actually a TON of free agent starting pitchers on the market if anyone has any ideas. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/2025-26-mlb-free-agents.html
