Cardinals fire sale could provide Guardians with prime opportunity to bolster lineup

Last year the St. Louis Cardinals came into Progressive Field at the end of June and swept the Guardians in a dominant three-game series punctuated by a five-run comeback in the second game of the series. 

A lot has changed since then for both sides. The Cardinals ended up finishing the year with a dismal 78-84 record, while the Guardians hit rock bottom a week after being swept by the Cardinals before bouncing back and winning the AL Central title.

Now those differing paths could lead to the Guardians using the Cardinals as a means to restock their lineup ahead of an incredibly important 2026 season. 

On Tuesday, The Athletic’s Katie Woo published a story (subscription required) detailing the Cardinals trade plans ahead of the Winter Meetings, where she wrote the Cardinals are interested in trading Willson Contreras, Brandon Donovan, Alec Burleson, Lars Nootbaar and Nolan Arenado. 

We already broke down why Contreras being willing to waive his no-trade clause could be a big win for the Guardians, but the Cardinals’ renewed focus in dealing Donovan and Nootbaar could end up being just as important in Cleveland’s quest to add more offense to its lineup. 

Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar would be solid fits in the Guardians lineup 

While Contreras would add some much-needed power to the Guardians’ lineup, Donovan may be the best fit given his offensive profile and ability to play multiple positions. 

He’d be a great fit on a Cleveland team that values versatility, but he’d also be a great fit on a variety of teams, which is something the Cardinals seem acutely aware of, according to Woo. 

“Donovan continues to be one of the most coveted trade candidates available, but the Cardinals are not inclined to move him unless they receive an offer they simply can’t refuse… 

“But the Cardinals have the leverage here, and while they are looking to alleviate their logjam of left-handed hitters by trade, that doesn’t make a Donovan deal an automatic guarantee. The likelihood Donovan is traded remains high due to his heavy interest, but if asking teams do not meet the Cardinals’ high price, they won’t deal him,” she wrote. 

The Guardians have the kind of pitching talent that would help them stand out in any talks for Donovan, but they’d probably have to part with at least one of their MLB-ready hitting prospects to get the deal over the finish line. 

Donovan hit .287 with 10 home runs and 50 RBI last season and underwent surgery in October for the groin injury that robbed him of the final six weeks of the year. He’s expected to be healthy for spring training and still has two years of team control left. 

And then there’s Nootbaar. According to Woo, Nootbaar stands out as a backup plan if the Cardinals aren’t able to trade Donovan. His trade value is down a bit since he underwent double heel surgery in the offseason, but he arguably is the best of the bunch.

He hit just .234 last season but finished in the 87th percentile in hard-hit rate and chase rate, which showcases how dynamic his approach at the plate is. Nootbaar is admittedly a tougher fit on the roster since the Guardians’ front office picked up Nolan Jones’ option, but he’d still be an upgrade in the outfield. 

Chaim Bloom is beginning to build the Cardinals in his image in his first offseason as St. Louis’ president of baseball operations, so Chris Antonetti and Co. should be doing everything in their power to see if they can take advantage of Bloom’s retooling.