Cardinals 29-year-old 'near-lock' To Leave St. Louis

The St. Louis Cardinals shouldn't do thing hasty, but if nan correct connection comes astir for All-Star inferior man Brendan Donovan, nan nine should see each options.

Donovan notably has been nan taxable of waste and acquisition rumors each offseason to this point. The Cardinals are conscionable a fewer weeks distant from reporting to Spring Training and there's presently nary woody successful show for nan organization. While speaking to nan fanbase this past weekend, Cardinals president of shot operations Chaim Bloom didn't adjacent nan doorway connected immoderate move, but noted that his "general thought" astatine this clip of nan twelvemonth is that players connected presently connected the nine are "likelier" than not to stay.

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"My wide thought, you know, absent thing that I cognize is imminent, is that astir of nan time, if a subordinate is here, it's likelier that they're going to beryllium present than not," Bloom said.

The Cardinals All-Star is still connected nan block

While this is nan case, MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand called a Donovan woody a "near-lock" past week.

"Donovan seems for illustration a near-lock to beryllium traded, but pinch a number of clubs perchance interested, nan Cardinals are going to hold for nan correct woody to look earlier making a move," Feinsand wrote. "In summation to nan Giants and Mariners, nan Red Sox are 1 of nan clubs successful request of a 2nd baseman...

"Hoerner is an intriguing waste and acquisition campaigner pursuing nan Bregman deal, but nan Cubs aren’t successful nan aforesaid position arsenic nan Cardinals successful that they don’t person to waste and acquisition Hoerner, who is simply a free supplier adjacent season. Chicago could support Hoerner, usage Matt Shaw arsenic a super-utility subordinate and slot Shaw successful astatine 2nd guidelines a twelvemonth from now. If nan Giants do waste and acquisition for a 2nd baseman, Donovan has to beryllium considered nan frontrunner."

Bloom didn't adjacent nan doors connected thing and Donovan remains 1 of nan astir intriguing waste and acquisition candidates connected nan board. If thing is going to happen, expect it to beryllium connected nan sooner side. At this point, Spring Training is little than a period out. The Arizona Diamondbacks group a deadline for a Ketel Marte waste and acquisition and it passed. Arguably, it's clip for nan Cardinals to do thing similar. Set a deadline and if a squad meets nan asking price, get a woody done. If they don't, unopen down nan noise.

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