With Trent Grisham officially accepting the Yankees’ one-year, $22 million qualifying offer on Wednesday, New York’s outfield picture appears locked in for 2026. If the club brings back free-agent slugger Cody Bellinger as expected, the everyday lineup would essentially mirror the one that fell short in October.
But the Bronx Bombers might not be content standing pat.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the Yankees are one of several clubs that have reached out to the St. Louis Cardinals about versatile left-handed hitter Brendan Donovan, a player widely projected to be moved this offseason.
“The Cardinals figure to be the most active team on the trade market this winter, with Donovan, Nolan Arenado (more on him shortly) and Sonny Gray all prime candidates to be dealt,” Feinsand wrote.
“The Astros, Yankees and Guardians are among the teams believed to have interest in the 28-year-old, giving the Cardinals multiple options to pursue.”
Donovan, who earned his first All-Star nod in 2025, posted a .287/.353/.422 slash line with 10 home runs and 50 RBI across 515 plate appearances. The 28-year-old spent the bulk of the season at second base but has experience at virtually every position except catcher and center field. He’s not a standout defender anywhere, yet his ability to fill multiple roles carries obvious appeal for a team looking to maximize roster flexibility.
The bigger question is how Donovan would crack New York’s everyday lineup. If Jazz Chisholm Jr. remains at second base and the Yankees hold onto Ryan McMahon at third, consistent at-bats for Donovan would likely come only through rotation and rest days.
One intriguing possibility: Donovan could directly challenge McMahon at the hot corner. Since debuting in 2022, the German-born infielder owns a career .282/.361/.411 line—noticeably better offensively than McMahon’s recent production. Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch could also coax additional power from the left-handed Donovan, whose disciplined approach (9.1% walk rate, 13.5% strikeout rate) fits perfectly with New York’s contact-oriented philosophy.
The trade-off, of course, would be a significant defensive drop at third base.
Donovan is under team control through the 2027 season and is coming off an All-Star campaign, so St. Louis will demand a sizable return. The Yankees possess the prospect capital to get a deal done, but with rumors also swirling about pursuits of frontline starting pitching, general manager Brian Cashman will have to weigh whether to spend big on a super-utility bat or preserve ammunition for the rotation.
Even if the current lineup looks familiar on paper, adding Donovan could provide the kind of high-contact, positional flexibility the Yankees lacked during their 2025 postseason run.
Whether that move happens before the pursuit of an ace—or becomes the consolation prize—remains one of the winter’s most compelling Yankees subplots.
