The New York Yankees front office still has work to do, as they need to secure another infielder to complete their starting lineup before Opening Day. While Nolan Arenado initially seemed like the top candidate from the St. Louis Cardinals to fill that gap, a new opportunity may have emerged due to John Mozeliak’s failure to secure a long-term deal with second baseman.
Tension could build between Him and the Cardinals after failing to reach an agreement before arbitration. The 27-year-old has been a consistently above-average starter for St. Louis over the past three seasons and is deserving of a long-term contract.
Despite this, the Cardinals maintain significant leverage over Him, as he isn’t set to become an unrestricted free agent until 2028. Even so, exploring his trade value in the coming weeks might be a worthwhile move. If St. Louis is open to dealing him, the Yankees would likely be very interested in making a trade.
How a Yankees-Cardinals trade for Brendan Donovan might look
Yankees fans hoping to trade Marcus Stroman and his hefty contract for Brendan Donovan should think twice. St. Louis isn’t likely to entertain that kind of deal. Unlike the Arenado trade, where clearing payroll was a priority, Donovan is a young, cost-controlled player in his prime. The Cardinals would require valuable prospects to even consider parting with him.
The Yankees, led by Brian Cashman, have a history of being protective of their young talent, often hesitant to include prospects with even a slim chance of stardom in trades. This approach aligns with their effort to manage payroll by holding onto players under cost control for multiple seasons.
For a deal to work, the Yankees will need to make concessions. That doesn’t mean sending a top-five prospect for a player without All-Star potential. Instead, they’d likely offer two quality, though not elite, prospects to balance the trade.
Everson Pereira could be the centerpiece of the package. Once a top-five prospect, injuries have slowed his progression, and there isn’t currently room for him in New York’s outfield. However, he could make an impact on the Cardinals’ roster as early as next year, given his impressive skill set.
The second piece could be Will Warren, a solid depth option in the Yankees’ rotation. With the offseason addition of Max Fried, Warren’s role in New York has diminished. In St. Louis, he’d provide a dependable middle-of-the-rotation arm, contributing immediately even if his ceiling isn’t elite.
While Cardinals fans might hope for more upside in return for Donovan, this hypothetical deal would still bring in two top-10 Yankees prospects. For a reliable regular who doesn’t fit the Cardinals’ long-term financial or competitive plans, it’s a fair return.
Be the first to comment