With the trade deadline fast approaching, the St. Louis Cardinals may have tipped their hand on a major roster shakeup. In a surprise move before their series opener against the Miami Marlins, the Cardinals started Ivan Herrera in left field. This marks the first outfield appearance of his career. While at first glance this might seem like a creative way to keep Herrera’s hot bat in the lineup, it could signal a strategic shift with bigger implications. Namely? Preparing to trade Brendan Donovan.
Ivan Herrera to LF and Brendan Donovan to another team?
Donovan, the 28-year-old All-Star and 2022 Gold Glove winner, has long been valued for his versatility — logging innings across the infield and outfield. But with Herrera now taking reps in left, and Nolan Gorman nearing a return from injury, Donovan’s positional flexibility suddenly looks a bit expendable.
Donovan brings the most ROI from a trade
In 2025, Donovan is having a strong season at the plate, hitting .288 with a .780 OPS, nine home runs and 42 RBIs through 99 games. He earned his first All-Star nod and continues to provide value as a steady left-handed bat. Yet, with team control only through 2027 and the Cardinals slipping out of contention at 54-53, his name has surfaced in serious trade speculation.
But where could Donovan go? We have some ideas.
Moving Ivan Herrera to the outfield allows St. Louis to experiment with DH and left field depth while evaluating whether Donovan is truly indispensable. If not, the Cardinals could look to capitalize on his peak value by flipping him for a prospect-rich return.
With Gorman due back, Masyn Winn emerging, and the team trying to avoid a full-scale rebuild, Donovan might be the odd man out — not because of underperformance, but because he’s the rare player who can net immediate and meaningful assets in a seller’s market.
The front office’s intentions are becoming clearer by the day. If Herrera holds his own in the outfield, don’t be surprised if Brendan Donovan is wearing a new uniform by August 1.
