Brendan Donovan Fantasy Stats

MLB.com's Daniel Kramer writes that Seattle Mariners utility man Brendan Donovan, who was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this week in a three-team trade, will play all over the field based on matchups, according to sources familiar with the club's thinking. The 2025 All-Star is expected to enter spring training as the primary third baseman, but it could change based on positional competitions, specifically among infielders Cole Young and Colt Emerson, Seattle's first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Donovan's presence as an option all around the infield could benefit both Young and Emerson long term and take pressure off them to perform right away in 2026. Donovan, who had an .853 OPS against righties and a .614 OPS against lefties last year, won't be in a platoon. In addition to playing every day, Donovan will be the M's leadoff hitter. The 29-year-old rarely strikes out (13% K rate in 2025), but his lack of power and speed severely limit his fantasy appeal in mixed leagues.

The Seattle Mariners are officially acquiring infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday in a three-team trade that will include third baseman Ben Williamson going to the Tampa Bay Rays and pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje going to the Cardinals, a source told Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Donovan has mostly played second base in St. Louis in his four years in the big leagues, but he can also play third, shortstop, and the outfield, giving Seattle some positional versatility. In his new digs, Donovan will most likely play third base and is a candidate to hit atop the batting order for the M's. The 29-year-old was a first-time All-Star in 2025 with the Cards, but he could have had an even bigger season if not for toe and groin injuries that limited him to 118 games. Donovan slashed .287/.353/.422 with a .775 OPS, 10 homers, 50 RBI, and 64 runs. He makes plenty of contact and can hit for average, but outside of that, he's not a great fantasy baseball asset with limited power and speed.

The Seattle Mariners are nearing a deal on Monday to acquire infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals as part of a three-way trade that also includes the Tampa Bay Rays, sources tell Jeff Passan of ESPN. Third baseman Ben Williamson is expected to go from Seattle to Tampa, but the rest of the trade is unknown. The 29-year-old Donovan has been a popular trade candidate this offseason and will give the M's a versatile piece that will likely hit leadoff in his new home. He slashed .287/.353/.422 with a .775 OPS, 10 home runs, 50 RBI, 64 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 118 games for the Cardinals last year while earning his first All-Star nod. Donovan dealt with turf-toe and groin injuries in 2025 and was shut down early due to his groin issue. He also had offseason surgery to fix a sports hernia, although he's expected to be ready for Opening Day. With limited power and speed, Donovan is merely a utility infielder/outfielder in deeper fantasy leagues, even with the impending move to Seattle.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Kansas City Royals are unlikely to land either of the two hitters they have been pursuing in trade talks, Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals, or Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox. Through the winter, both the Cardinals and Red Sox have been listening to offers for these two players, but have yet to strike a deal. However, Rosenthal believes that the Royals appear to be out of the running to bolster their lineup ahead of spring training. Donovan is a super-utility infielder who turned in a productive 2025 campaign, posting a .287/.353/.422 line with 10 home runs and three stolen bases. Duran took a step back in 2025 as he held a lower .256/.332/.442 line compared to the impressive .285/.342/.492 slash line he held in 2024. With the Royals likely missing out on both bats, managers should expect Jonathan India to remain the primary second baseman heading into camp, while Lane Thomas, Kyle Isbel, and Jac Caglianone hold the positions in the outfield. This is an excellent sign for former top prospect Caglianone, as he will face even less competition for a full-time role.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Seattle Mariners are viewed as the leading suitor to land St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan, largely because Seattle possesses the strongest farm system to facilitate a deal. Rosenthal added that the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals have also expressed interest. However, he believes the Giants lack the prospect capital to entice the Cardinals, while the Royals could make a competitive offer only by parting with some of their minor-league pitching depth. Donovan has posted a 115 wRC+ or better in each of the past four seasons with St. Louis. In 2025, he slashed .287/.353/.422 with 10 home runs, 50 RBI, 64 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 515 plate appearances. If Donovan is traded to any of these clubs, his draft value should remain largely unchanged. For fantasy purposes, the 28-year-old profiles as a solid middle-infielder in 12- or 15-team leagues who can help improve batting average.

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman/outfielder Brendan Donovan has been linked to numerous trade discussions this offseason. However, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic reported that the Seattle Mariners are currently viewed as the "best fit" for the 28-year-old utility man. Given that the Mariners have numerous young prospect hitters like Colt Emreson and Lazaro Montes, they seemed positioned to offer the Cardinals the best return. Additionally, the Mariners could use an offensive boost in the infield as Cole Young is currently projected to be the everyday second baseman, while Ben Williamson shares the hot corner with Ryan Bliss. Last season, Donovan posted a strong .287/.353/.422 line with 10 home runs and three stolen bases. While he would be moving to a tougher home park for hitters, his counting stats could improve if he bats near the top of the Seattle lineup.

The Kansas City Royals have shown interest in acquiring Cardinals infielder Brendan Donovan, according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic. The Cardinals have shopped Donovan all offseason but have struggled to find a trade partner. While he is under club control for another two seasons, the Cardinals are looking for a sizeable return for Donovan, who the team views as a high-end player. This offseason, the Royals did not make many major additions to their starting lineup, which means Donovan could fill a super-utility role, playing time at second base and the outfield, as he has done in St. Louis. Last season, the 28-year-old posted a career-best .287 AVG with 32 doubles, 10 home runs, and three stolen bases. He showed an elite eye at the plate, striking out at just 13.0% of the time. Donovan could see an uptick in counting stats if he joins Kansas City, batting alongside Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and Salvador Perez.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox have discussed a trade for Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan, per Will Sammon and Katie Woo of The Athletic. Across 515 plate appearances for St. Louis in 2025, Donovan slashed .287/.353/.422 with 10 home runs, 50 RBI, 64 runs scored, and three stolen bases. Donovan turns 29 in mid-January and is under club control through the 2027 season. His best attribute might be his versatility, as he's spent time at second base, third base, corner outfield, and even shortstop. In Boston, Donovan would likely see most of his playing time in the infield, depending on whether or not the Red Sox bring back free agent third baseman Alex Bregman. Donovan is a better real-life player than a fantasy asset, given his limited power and speed contributions. However, he could see a slight jump in value if he lands an everyday role in a more potent lineup, such as Boston's.

The St. Louis Cardinals are not necessarily looking to trade infielder Brendan Donovan, but ESPN's Jeff Passan reports that the "market for him is percolating." Several teams see Donovan as an option at second base, third base, or left field. The 28-year-old left-handed hitter gives teams options, as he can hit leadoff or bat in the middle of the order because of his elite bat-to-ball skills and gap power. He has two years of club control left and is very affordable in arbitration before he reaches free agency. The Cardinals are retooling under new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, and almost nobody on the roster is off limits. For fantasy purposes, outside of Donovan's excellent contact and on-base skills and positional versatility, he doesn't bring much intrigue. The Dodgers, Mariners, Yankees, Red Sox, Pirates, Giants, Royals, and Guardians are teams that could come calling for Donovan.

The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Friday that second baseman Brendan Donovan (hernia) underwent sports hernia surgery on Oct. 7, according to John Denton of MLB.com. Donovan was shut down towards the tail end of the regular season in September due to a hernia that he dealt with during the second half. The 28-year-old should be recovered well in time to be ready for the start of spring training in February, though. While Donovan is a much better real-life asset than a fantasy one because of his limited power and speed, it doesn't take away from the fact that he was one of the team's most consistent contributors in 2025 while playing multiple positions on the diamond. Donovan, a former seventh-rounder in 2018 out of South Alabama, was a first-time All-Star in his fourth MLB season and slashed a healthy .287/.353/.422 with 10 home runs, 50 RBI, 64 runs scored, and three steals in 118 games played.