Cardinals Gold Glove Award Winner Could Be Offseason Trade Target For Yankees

Should the Cardinals engage with the Yankees on an offseason trade involving a Gold Glove Award winner?

When the 2024 season rolls around, the St. Louis Cardinals' roster certainly will look different. 

St. Louis will add starting pitching this offseason. This is the club's biggest need and the Cardinals have said all of the right things so far this offseason about it. St. Louis also likely will trade away at least one or two outfielders due to a logjam. The Cardinals have been in trade rumors over the last year but it sounds like this offseason they will end up making a move or two. 

One team that has been linked to the Cardinals as a trade partner is the New York Yankees and one player who could make sense in a trade is Brendan Donovan, according to the New York Post's Joel Sherman.

"I suspect Cincinnati’s T.J. Friedl and Philadelphia’s Brandon Marsh are not in play, but the Yankees and Cardinals talked a lot at the deadline and St. Louis has potential center field alternatives such as Dylan Carlson, Tommy Edman, and Lars Nootbaar," Sherman said. "Furthermore, the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak, has said the team not only needs to add starting pitching but wants to thin its positional/outfield surplus to clarify playing time. Yet, the Cardinals lefty bat I think fits the Yankees best is Brendan Donovan, who plays all over, but not in center field."

Donovan only appeared in 95 games for the Cardinals in 2023 due to injuries but likely will have the most trade value of St. Louis' available outfielders. He is just 26 years old and already has a Gold Glove Award under his belt. He slashed .281/.394/.379 with five home runs and 45 RBIs as a rookie and was on pace to improve in 2023. He clubbed 11 home runs, drove in 34 runs, and slashed .284/.365/.422 across 95 games. 

New York has been mentioned as a possible trade partner for the Cardinals on numerous occasions and it sounds like it will continue throughout the offseason. It's unclear exactly who the Cardinals will trade away, but it sounds like the club will speak with the Yankees.

More MLB: Cardinals Reportedly Aren't Planning To Trade These Two Outfielders Despite Chatter