The big name so far in this winter’s rumor mill is Super Utility Man Brendan Donovan. Donovan has already been linked to Royals, Guardians and Astros, with other teams also expected to be involved. As robust as the market for the 28-year-old’s services appears to be, taking his salary off the books (which, according to MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz, will reach $5.4 million in 2026) won’t do much to the team’s bottom line. Of course, Donovan is far from the only name on the St. Louis trade market. Six Cardinals appeared on MLBTR’s list of the top 40 trade candidates for this offseason.
That includes three veterans making significant money: Right-handed Son Graythird baseman Nolan Arenadoand catcher turned first baseman Willson Contreras. Ownership is reportedly willing to absorb cash in trades for higher-priced veterans, and the club’s trio of veterans with no-trade clauses have all expressed a willingness to be more lax with their no-trade protections than they were last winter. Goold writes that the Cardinals are “actively looking for “fits”” for both Arenado and Gray on the trade market. That’s hardly a surprise between St. Louis’ efforts to move Arenado all last winter and the $40 million payout Gray is guaranteed between his $35 million salary in 2026 and a $5 million buyout on his 2027 option.
Even with some salary deductions, moving Gray and Arenado would open up the club’s finances significantly. Grid source expect the Cardinals to have a $124 million payroll in 2026. While that’s about $20 million less than last year and nearly $40 million less than two years ago, owners and the front office have been upfront about the plan to trim payroll in recent years. If trading both Gray and Arenado can take $30 million to $40 million off the Cardinals’ books this year, it should give them a lot more flexibility as they navigate free agency for short-term upgrades that could help the club compete next year or become trade chips themselves during the summer.
Conspicuously absent from Goold’s collection of rumors is Contreras. That’s an interesting development, because in theory Contreras would probably be the easiest of the three to move. That said, he’s also the one most hesitant to give up his non-trade protection. While he has indicated a willingness to consider potential trades, his preference remains to remain in St. Louis and serve as a veteran leader in a clubhouse that is expected to become considerably younger as the team reshapes its roster. A surprise trade of Contreras could ease the pressure to move both Gray and Arenado or open up even more opportunities on the trade market for St. Louis, but it’s reasonable to expect the Cardinals to spend most of their energy trying to move the veterans most willing to waive their no-trade clauses.
Donovan looks beyond the club’s expensive veterans and is joined by players like Lars Nootbaar And JoJo Romero as potential trade chips, Goold writes that the Cardinals told rival clubs they were willing to listen. Goold notes that all three of these players are free within two years, a fact that also applies to both Gray and Arenado. The only other players with less than three years of team control remaining in the organization are Jan Koningwho was reportedly a trade candidate over the summer, and a claim for waivers after the deadline Jorge Alcala. It wouldn’t be a surprise if King’s name reappears in the rumor mill at some point, although it seems unlikely that Alcala will have any real trade value after posting an ERA north of 6.00 this past year.
As for returns for the players they plan to use, Goold adds that the Cardinals have made it clear to rival clubs that they are prioritizing pitching help and looking to the future. Kansas City and Cleveland, as previously mentioned, are already known to be in the mix for Donovan and have the kind of young, controllable pitching that could intrigue the Cardinals. The same could be true for teams like the Yankees and Dodgers, who have also previously expressed interest in Donovan. An intriguing matchup could be with the Pirates.
Divisional trades are not typically particularly common, but Pittsburgh General Manager Ben Cherington has shown he was comfortable dealing with the Cardinals in the past, such as when the parties came together in a trade involving Jose Quintana And Johan Oviedo at the 2022 trade deadline. The Pirates have plenty of young pitching and need help in the outfield that both Donovan and Nootbaar could provide potential. Bloom’s old stomping grounds in Boston also boast a rich collection of young pitchers, though their existing abundance of left-handed outfield talent might make them less than ideal for someone like Donovan and especially Nootbaar.
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