The Toronto Blue Jays and St Louis Cardinals could look at trade for utility man

If Toronto needs infield coverage, Donovan brings a steadier offensive floor than most utility options. In 2025 with St. Louis, he hit .287 with a .775 OPS, adding 10 homers and 50 RBIs.

The counting stats round out the case. Donovan scored 64 runs, ripped 32 doubles, and appeared in 118 games, production that played like everyday value even with missed time.

A Donovan acquisition would not mirror Bo Bichette's top-end impact at shortstop, but it would change Toronto's lineup options quickly. His contact-first profile and left-handed bat can slide into several lineup spots without heavy platooning.

Toronto fans tend to gravitate toward players who cover multiple positions cleanly, and Donovan's track record feeds that appetite.

This is also not the first time this off-season that the two have been linked as a recent proposal stated the two could be a great fit if the Blue Jays end up needing a new infielder.

That versatility is not theoretical. Donovan won the National League's first utility Gold Glove in 2022 after appearing everywhere except center field, catcher, and pitcher, which is the kind of flexibility that protects a bench.

It also fits how Toronto has built its roster in recent years, leaning into interchangeable defenders to survive injuries and matchup-heavy stretches. With a utility piece who can handle second base, the corners, and even short bursts in the outfield, the club can carry one extra bat or reliever.

The market angle matters, too, because interest is not expected to be limited to one buyer. Reports and speculation have linked the Boston Red Sox to Donovan, creating a familiar AL East dynamic where the same target solves the same problems.

Donovan is also not some late-blooming unknown. He is 28, drafted by St. Louis in the seventh round in 2018 out of South Alabama, and has already stacked an All-Star season on top of the Gold Glove resume.

If Toronto does explore this, the next milestone is cost, because St. Louis can ask for real value when the player covers half a diamond. That price will decide whether Donovan stays a rumor or becomes the kind of quiet trade that reshapes a season.

Source: Jays Journal
1 lightweight, 1 middleweight, and 1 heavyweight Blue Jays trade target for 2026