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The Diamondbacks checked in on Brendan Donovan as a potential Ketel Marte replacement.
The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals on January 14. While Arenado is now a Diamondback, he wasn’t the only Cardinals infielder Arizona showed interest in this offseason. Derrick Gold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the two teams discussed utility infielder Brendan Donovan.
With three-time All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte being shopped in the offseason, it made sense for the Diamondbacks to look at potential replacements. Ultimately, Arizona pulled Marte from the market after failing to get any viable offers.
It’s unclear if discussions on Donovan came to an end as a direct result of that decision. The two teams quickly shifted to Arenado and worked out a trade. Arenado is expected to man third base for the Diamondbacks in 2026, while Arizona is paying just $5 million of his salary.
After the Arenado trade, Arizona’s infield is mostly set. All that’s left is for the Diamondbacks to find a platoon partner for Pavin Smith. The most logical candidate is a first baseman who previously played for both teams.
Why the Diamondbacks Checked In on Brendan Donovan
Brendan Donovan would have been a solid replacement at second base in the event of a Ketel Marte trade.
A Marte trade would have left the Diamondbacks with a massive hole at second base and in the starting lineup. He was arguably Arizona’s best hitter in 2025, slashing .283/.376/.517 with 28 home runs and a 145 wRC+. His 4.6 fWAR ranked second among MLB second basemen, behind just the Cubs’ Nico Hoerner (4.8).
Donovan comes with two years of control left and immediately plugs in at second base for 2026. His .287 average and .353 on-base percentage are close to what Marte produced in 2025, but there is a significant dropoff in slugging percentage (.422) and home runs (10).
Due to his defensive versatility and shorter control, he wasn’t blocking any of their infield prospects. Infield depth is arguably the biggest strength of the Diamondbacks’ farm system entering 2026. Top prospects such as Tommy Troy and LuJames Groover III should debut next season. Both prospects project as regulars at second and third base long-term.
It’s unlikely what the prospect cost would be, had the Diamondbacks more aggressively pursued Donovan. Katie Woo of The Athletic reported on December 13 that St. Louis discussed Lazaro Montes and Jurrangelo Cijntje in talks with the Mariners. The equivalent of those two prospects in the Diamondbacks system would have likely been Daniel Eagen and Ryan Waldschmidt. That may have been too much of a cost to include either prospect.
Why Brendan Donovan Was Available to the Diamondbacks
GettyBrendan Donovan’s two years of control plus lower salary should make him an attractive trade target.
The Cardinals are embarking on a rebuild, offloading aging veterans who don’t fit long-term. In addition to Arenado, St. Louis parted ways with Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras. Contreras, Arenado, and Gray are all at least 33 years old and have less than two years left under contract. To facilitate those deals, they’ve had to pay down significant portions of those contracts.
Donovan is another trade candidate this offseason, as St. Louis needs to free up playing time for JJ Wetherholt. Wetherholt is their top prospect and one of the preseason favorites to win the 2026 National League Rookie of the Year. With the potential reward being a first round pick in the 2027 MLB Draft, they’ll give him every shot to make the club next spring.
Unlike their other trades, the Cardinals can focus on the return in a potential Donovan trade. The Cardinals infielder will earn $5.8 million in 2026, and has one year of arbitration eligibility left afterward. With that low a salary relative to the value he brings a club, Donovan appeals to any club looking to bolster their infield.
In addition to the Diamondbacks, the San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, and Boston Red Sox also checked in on the Cardinals’ utility infielder.
Michael McDermott Michael McDermott is a writer at Heavy Sports covering the Arizona Diamondbacks and Major League Baseball. Michael has 10 years experience writing about the D-backs and their farm system for AZ Snake Pit, Burn City Sports, and Diamondbacks On SI. More about Michael McDermott
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