Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar: The Cardinals’ Hidden Gems
It’s no secret that the St. Louis Cardinals have a talented roster, but there are two players who may be more valuable to other teams than they are to the Redbirds. Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar, two rising stars in the Cardinals’ farm system, have caught the attention of other teams with their impressive performances.
Donovan, a 22-year-old infielder, was drafted by the Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2018 MLB Draft. In just his second season in the minors, he has already made a name for himself with his powerful bat and solid defensive skills. He currently boasts a .300 batting average and has hit 10 home runs in just 50 games with the Springfield Cardinals.
Nootbaar, a 23-year-old outfielder, was also drafted in 2018, but in the ninth round. He has been making waves in the minors with his consistent hitting and impressive speed on the base paths. In 2019, he hit .301 with 10 home runs and 20 stolen bases in 118 games with the Peoria Chiefs.
Both Donovan and Nootbaar have been turning heads with their performances, and it’s no surprise that other teams are taking notice. In fact, there have been rumors that the Cardinals have older
Cardinals’ Analyst Predicts Key Starters May Leave in 2026, Team in Rebuild Mode
The St. Louis Cardinals are facing a crucial offseason as they continue their rebuilding process. After missing the playoffs for the past two years, the team is looking to make some changes in order to improve their chances for the future.
In a recent interview with ESPN’s Brandon Kiley, it was revealed that two key players on the Cardinals’ roster may not be with the team for much longer. Second baseman Brendan Donovan and outfielder Lars Nootbaar, both on one-year contracts with two years of arbitration remaining, could potentially be more valuable to other teams in need of their skills.
“A guy like (Brendan Donovan), a guy like (Lars) Nootbaar who come in and bring a lot of different factors to a lineup, they would make a ton of sense for a contender,” Kiley said. “Those guys make more sense in those kinds of lineups than what they would potentially hear in St. Louis next year.”
Donovan has had a strong season, with a .279 batting average, .750 OPS, nine home runs, and 45 RBI. Nootbaar’s numbers are also impressive, with an OPS over .700 and 13 home runs. However, their value may be even greater on a team with superstar players surrounding them, forcing pitchers to give them more pitches to hit.
On the other hand, third baseman Nolan Gorman is a player that Kiley believes the Cardinals will prioritize keeping. Despite a lower batting average of .221, Gorman has a .734 OPS and is tied with Nootbaar for 13 home runs in 20 fewer games. As he enters his first year of arbitration in 2026, Gorman’s value to the team may increase even more.
“I think the way that the Cardinals should be operating right now is with the assumption Gorman actually might have played his way into our lineup in 2026 because of what he brings to the table,” Kiley said.
The Cardinals will have to make some tough decisions this offseason as they continue their rebuild. With Gorman potentially becoming a key player for the team, they may have to let go of Donovan and Nootbaar in order to make room for other necessary pieces. Only time will tell how the team will navigate these changes in order to become a stronger and more competitive team in the future.
