As the San Francisco Giants continue to fine-tune their roster for the 2026 season, they’ve been identified as the most sensible suitor for Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cardinals have already been active in the trade market, as they’ve sent Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras to the Boston Red Sox in separate deals. Donovan, who made his first All-Star team in 2025, could soon be moved as well.
In a Dec. 30 article, Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report called the Giants the “best trade fit” for Donovan.
“The Giants don’t desperately need to add a second baseman, but Donovan would be an improvement over Casey Schmitt,” Kelly noted. “The other thing that makes Donovan such an intriguing trade candidate is that he has pretty extensive experience in left field, and can play pretty much every spot on the diamond. So you could trade for Donovan with the thought that he will be your second baseman on Opening Day, while knowing he could shift to first base or left field if a need arises there.”
Indeed, when looking into it, the fit makes sense.
Brendan Donovan’s Offensive Skillset Would Help the San Francisco Giants
There’s a natural concern anytime a veteran hitter joins the Giants. How well will his offense translate to the famously pitcher-friendly Oracle Park? For two reasons, that’s not a big concern with Donovan.
One, while St. Louis’ Busch Stadium is regarded as a better hitter’s park than San Francisco’s Oracle Park, Donovan wouldn’t be coming from a fertile hitting ground. This is especially true with power. In 2025, Busch Stadium was graded as the fifth-toughest park to homer in, while Oracle was the second-toughest.
Two, Donovan’s not a particularly big power hitter. He’s never had more than 14 home runs in a season. In 2025, Donovan hit only 10 home runs. Despite that, he’s been an effective hitter throughout his career. Donovan carries a career slash line of .282/.361/.411. In 2025, he slashed .287/.353/.422.
So, this wouldn’t be akin to other recent additions like Matt Chapman, Willy Adames and Rafael Devers, who all rely a lot on power to be successful hitters. In fact, Donovan more closely resembles so many of the hitters the Giants had in their early 2010s teams in that he consistently puts the ball in play.
Donovan has never struck out more than 81 times in a season. In 2025, he struck out only 67 times. And while the Giants weren’t terrible in strikeouts in 2025, their 1,380 strikeouts were above the league average. It’s certainly an area where they can improve, especially since their home runs and slugging percentages were also below average in 2025.
Donovan’s Defensive Versatility Would Serve Him Well in San Francisco
While Kelly was correct in saying that Donovan would be an upgrade over Casey Schmitt, he wouldn’t necessarily be limited to just second base.
Donovan isn’t just capable of playing anywhere on the diamond. He plays strong defense at multiple spots. In 2022, Donovan won the National League’s Gold Glove Award for utility players. Being able to play the outfield, and specifically left field, could work wonders for the Giants.
Maria Guardado of MLB.com detailed the struggles of Heliot Ramos in left field, noting that the San Francisco outfield posted “-18 Outs Above Average in 2025,” adding that “Heliot Ramos’ struggles in left field (-9 OAA) were particularly pronounced.”
Ramos still figures to be San Francisco’s primary left fielder. But Donovan could serve as a late-inning replacement for him. And while first base will likely to be held down by Rafael Devers and Bryce Eldridge with the other playing DH, Donovan’s versatility could serve as insurance. If Eldridge needs more seasoning, Donovan could play more in left field with Ramos handling DH duties.
It’s good to have options in the field. Having Donovan on board would give the Giants those options.
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