The New York Yankees are reportedly looking to address their infield needs, and a potential trade could see them acquiring Gold Glove-winning infielder Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for two top prospects.
MLB analyst Rucker Haringey of FanSided suggested a trade that would send Donovan to New York, with the Yankees sending outfielder Everson Perreira and right-handed pitcher Will Warren to the Cardinals.
In this proposed deal, the Yankees would strengthen their infield, while the Cardinals would receive two promising prospects to aid in their rebuilding efforts.
Donovan, who is in arbitration and has three years of team control left, won a Gold Glove in 2022 and posted a solid .278 batting average with 14 home runs and 73 RBIs in 2024. He would likely slot in as New York’s second baseman, allowing Jazz Chisholm Jr. to remain at third base.
The Yankees would part with Perreira, their 10th-ranked prospect, who spent last season in Triple-A and hit .265 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs. Perreira is expected to make his MLB debut this season.
The key asset in the trade for St. Louis would be Warren, New York’s fifth-ranked prospect. Warren had a 5.91 ERA in 23 Triple-A starts last season but is currently blocked from a rotation spot in New York, especially after the Yankees signed Max Fried in the offseason.
On paper, the deal makes sense for both teams. The Yankees would get the second baseman they need, while the Cardinals would add two highly regarded prospects to their system.
Haringey emphasized that Perreira, once considered a top-five prospect, could provide immediate impact for St. Louis, and Warren could emerge as a solid middle-of-the-rotation arm for the Cardinals.
The proposed trade also makes sense given that the Cardinals have shown little interest in negotiating a long-term deal with Donovan, as confirmed by MLB.com’s John Denton.
Donovan and the team failed to reach an agreement during arbitration talks and could head to a hearing in late January. The Cardinals appear focused on their future and rebuilding, which could make this trade a beneficial move for both sides.
