According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Yankees have explored Brendan Donovan and Alec Burleson as potential trade possibilities. This combination is one of several controllable Cardinals hitters who could be the subject of trade rumours this summer.
Donovan is the more visible and preferred option. The South Alabama graduate has a.283/.381/.398 batting line in two major league seasons. He has walked at a great 11.1 percent rate while striking out at a mediocre 14.7 percent rate. Donovan doesn’t have a lot of power (he’s only hit 16 home runs in 839 plate appearances), but he’s a strong clean hitter.
When healthy, he also adds positional flexibility. As a rookie, he won the National League Gold Glove Award for utility players after seeing significant action at second base, third base, and both corner outfield positions. In the early going of 2023, he primarily played second, left field, or first base. In the middle of the summer, a forearm strain prohibited him from pitching, relegating him to designated hitter. Donovan shut things down completely and underwent season-ending surgery to repair the flexor tendon as the Cardinals were reeling and trading off components at the trade deadline.
Other teams might be concerned about Donovan’s health as a result of this. Nonetheless, there is much to enjoy about the athlete. He’s only for a season.
The Yankees have no need for a second baseman. Gleyber Torres is available, and while New York may consider trading him before his final year of arbitration control, Oswald Peraza might fill in. Donovan’s outstanding contact skills from the left side of the batter’s box would add some balance to a Yankee lineup dominated by right-handed power batters. New York general manager Brian Cashman said Tuesday that the team would want to add some lineup balance, preferably by bringing in an outfielder or two that meet the bill. Donovan is a candidate to get time in left field.Burleson is a pure corner outfielder. This past season, he struggled in his first extensive major league action, hitting.244/.300/.390 in 347 plate appearances. He only struck out once.
Burleson, a second-round pick in 2020, has a much stronger minor league track record than his mediocre ’23 season would suggest. In 641 Triple-A plate appearances, he hit.306/.356/.486. There is danger because he has yet to demonstrate the ability to hit MLB pitching. However, for a St. Louis team trying to reload, he may be a more viable trade possibility than Donovan. At the very least, the asking price for Burleson is likely to be far reduced.On a team that includes Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Carlson, Jordan Walker, and Lars Nootbaar, he doesn’t have a clear path to quick playing time. If a suitable trade is not found, the Cards could keep him in the minors. They might also barter.
To be clear, there’s nothing to suggest the Yankees and Cardinals have any traction on a deal. St. Louis has reportedly set high asking prices for Donovan in previous trade windows. The Yankees are undoubtedly casting a broad net in their search for outfield help. At the same time, it alludes to the potential that St. Louis president of baseball operations John Mozeliak and his front office have.The Cardinals have made it known that they want to add three starting pitchers this winter. It’s unlikely they’ll be able to accomplish all of this through free agency. Mozeliak stated Tuesday that the club would contemplate trading a bat in order to acquire big league ready or upper minors pitching help.
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