The infield market was supposed to be busy this offseason, but it hasn’t actually moved. Alex Bregman opted out of his contract with the Boston Red Sox. Bo Bichette is on the market.
But the one player seemingly holding everything up isn't even available of the free agent market. That player is Brendan Donovan.
The St. Louis Cardinals' utility man has quietly become one of the most discussed trade candidates in baseball, and his unresolved status is helping freeze the rest of the infield market.
Donovan, who turns 29 next month, offers exactly what multiple contenders want right now: positional flexibility, a reliable left-handed bat, and two more years of affordable team control.
Since the start of the 2023 season, Donovan has produced a 119 wRC+ while bouncing between the infield and outfield, delivering roughly six wins above replacement in just over 270 games. He is not the type of player teams usually build an offseason around, but his fit across rosters makes him the first domino everyone is watching.
The Red Sox are among the teams focused on Donovan, according to reporting from the Boston Globe. Boston has already added Willson Contreras to its lineup, but remains in the market for another infield bat. The club has been linked to higher-profile options such as Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, Ketel Marte, and Isaac Paredes, yet none of those paths have cleared.
That may be because Donovan represents the most efficient solution. Unlike Bregman or Bichette, he does not require a long-term free-agent commitment. Unlike Marte, he does not come with a significant salary obligation, with just $5.75 million expected for 2026 in his second year of arbitration. He also has another year of team control. And unlike Paredes, he can slot into multiple roles without forcing a lineup reshuffle.
St. Louis, meanwhile, has little incentive to rush. Newly appointed president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom is well aware of Boston’s system and needs, and the Cardinals know they are not dealing from desperation. Seattle, San Francisco, Kansas City, Houston, and others have also been connected to Donovan, creating a competitive market that allows the Cardinals to wait.
Until Donovan either moves or is definitively pulled off the market, teams remain hesitant to pivot. Once that decision is made, the rest of the infield market — including the bigger names — may finally loosen.
For now, everything else is waiting.
