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Brendan Donovan’s identify has been talked about in commerce rumors for a few years now, however with the Cardinals shifting right into a full-on rebuild mode this winter, it has appeared like solely a matter of time earlier than the versatile All-Star is dealt. That stated, it isn’t a assure that one other membership will meet what’s reportedly a excessive asking worth on the Playing cards’ half, and Donovan received’t essentially stay available on the market perpetually.
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom naturally didn’t share many particulars on the commerce talks when talking with reporters (together with Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Publish-Dispatch) this weekend on the Playing cards’ Winter Heat-Up fan occasion, however Bloom would “I feel ideally” prefer to see Donovan’s state of affairs settled a method or different by the beginning of Spring Coaching. That is definitely loads much less concrete than Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen firmly declaring the tip to the Ketel Marte commerce negotiations, however it’s some indication that Bloom might need some sort of unfastened deadline in thoughts.
This could possibly be a approach of placing a bit extra strain on Donovan’s suitors to up their affords, or it may reflection the straightforward proven fact that Donovan and the Cardinals have a season to organize for, and fixed commerce buzz will proceed to be a distraction. Whereas the new range received’t solely cool till a deal truly occurs, Donovan would certainly want to only concentrate on baseball throughout Grapefruit League motion. Having rumors weigh on Donovan to the purpose that it impacts his play isn’t useful for Donovan, the Cardinals, or the group’s efforts to command a excessive return on the commerce market.
Since Donovan is arbitration-controlled by way of the following two seasons, there isn’t any rapid motive St. Louis must commerce him this offseason. The state of affairs additionally received rather less urgent when Nolan Arenado was dealt to the Diamondbacks, thus opening up the Cardinals’ third base spot and creating much less want for Donovan to be moved out of second base.
Shifting a few of Arenado’s wage was definitely a think about his commerce, however from a pure baseball standpoint, the rebuilding Cardinals needed as a lot runway as potential for his or her youthful gamers to get common at-bats. Nolan Gorman and Thomas Saggese ought to profit from extra accessible third base enjoying time, however each Bloom and supervisor Oliver Marmol reiterated this weekend (to Gould and different media) that prime prospect JJ Wetherholt has an opportunity to make the Playing cards’ Opening Day roster.
Baseball America ranked Wetherholt fourth on its up to date August checklist of the highest 100 prospects in baseball, and MLB Pipeline has Wetherholt fifth on its present checklist. The 23-year-old infielder is bound to occupy one other top-shelf rating when the 2026 prospect lists are launched, as Wetherholt excelled in his first full professional season — he hit .300/.425/.466 over 275 plate appearances for Double-A Springfield, after which hit .314/.416/562 over 221 PA after an in-season promotion to Triple-A ball.
Wetherholt totaled 17 homers and 23 steals (out of 26 probabilities) over the total 496 PA and 109 whole video games whereas enjoying primarily at shortstop, however he made 20 appearances as a second baseman and 12 appearances at third base. The Cardinals aren’t going to hurry issues with their prized prospect, and if the new nook is probably going going to be Wetherholt’s entry level into his huge league profession, his fielding growth often is the deciding think about whether or not or not he can break camp. Nevertheless, each evaluators and the Cardinals themselves have a excessive opinion of Wetherholt’s glovework, and really feel he can adapt wherever.
“There’s a versatility there. His mindset will enable him, in my view, to excel at any of these [positions],” Marmol stated. “It’s a particular mindset. It’s one I proceed to be impressed with.”
The shortstop place may not open for Wetherholt so long as Masyn Winn is there, as Winn is without doubt one of the sport’s prime defenders. Winn received his first Gold Glove in 2025 regardless of enjoying by way of a martial meniscus tear throughout the second half of the season, and he underwent an arthroscopic knee surgical procedure in late September to right the difficulty.
The comparatively minor process wasn’t anticipated to affect Winn’s readiness for Spring Coaching, and Bloom confirmed as a lot to reporters (together with Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Publish-Dispatch) this weekend. Winn is “not even in rehab mode. He’s simply making ready for the season at this level,” Bloom stated.
Ivan Herrera can be making good progress in his restoration from October surgical procedure to take away a bone spur from his throwing arm. Bloom stated Herrera has began his throwing program, and his offseason prep over the following week will embody the beginning of his hitting work, in addition to blocking and receiving work behind the plate. Herrera acted largely as a DH throughout an injury-marred 2025 season, as he performed in solely 107 video games. Whereas his bat definitely didn’t endure (19 homers and a .284/.373/.464 slash line in 452 PA), Herrera is keen to return to catching in 2026.
Protection was seen as a query mark for Herrera even earlier than his well being points cropped up, so his future as a catcher is much from settled. Spring Coaching will present some solutions on Herrera’s restoration and growth, however “I feel it’s exhausting to guage strictly in spring,” Marmol stated. “When you consider what pitchers are doing in spring, they’re engaged on a particular pitch. You’re not game-planning in opposition to a hitter. There are specific issues we’ll have the ability to proceed to handle and enhance upon throughout spring. However I feel that’s a tricky ask.”
As Goold notes, Herrera’s capability to catch impacts the Cardinals’ wider roster choices. If Herrera will once more be a main DH, the Playing cards might want to roster two correct catchers — Pedro Pages, and certainly one of Yohel Pozo or Jimmy Crooks. If the Cardinals really feel ok about Herrera’s protection to make him a part-time backstop, that most likely means Pozo and Crooks will begin the season in Triple-A, or certainly one of them may presumably be commerce fodder.
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