A potential trade fit emerges as Yankees eye a Cardinals All-Star

The New York Yankees have spent the opening stretch of the offseason monitoring the top of the free-agent market, but the trade landscape may offer a cleaner path to upgrading their lineup. Brendan Donovan, the Cardinals’ versatile All-Star, is one of the names gaining traction across the league continues to tie the Yankees to the 28-year-old. 

MLB.com named Donovan the most likely second baseman to be traded this season. 

St. Louis is widely viewed as one of the most aggressive teams on the trade front this winter, and Donovan stands out as one of the club’s most tradeable pieces. 

He brings two years of remaining team control and a 2026 salary of roughly $5.75 million, a range that fits comfortably inside the Yankees’ budget as they sort out more expensive questions elsewhere on the roster. His profile checks every box New York has talked about: contact, versatility and lineup balance. Donovan hit .287/.353/.422 with a .775 OPS in 2025, posting a 119 wRC+ and a 2.9 fWAR season while ranking among the league’s best in whiff and strikeout suppression.

The fit becomes more defined when looking at the Yankees’ long-term infield map. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is entering his walk year in 2026 and is positioned to hit free agency after the season. Ryan McMahon is already locked in at $16 million for 2026, giving New York stability at third base but less flexibility if Chisholm departs. Donovan offers a way to cover second base if that happens, slide to third when McMahon moves to DH and handle both corner outfield spots when needed. His defensive range and contact profile make him one of the more natural fits for a roster still trying to reduce strikeouts in the middle third of the order.

With Nolan Arenado and Sonny Gray also surfacing in trade speculation, the Cardinals appear ready to retool. Donovan is valuable enough to bring back meaningful pitching help while still being replaceable given their internal depth. That combination makes him one of the more realistic targets for teams looking to add a controllable bat without entering the nine-figure free-agent tier.

New York has been reluctant to move its limited upper-minors pitching unless the return is a locked-in everyday player. Donovan fits that definition and offers the kind of short- and long-term roster cover the Yankees have lacked. If St. Louis pushes the market forward, the Yankees are expected to be in the conversation.