Dodgers Rumors: Dodgers Expressing Early Interest in Brendan Donovan
If available, the Dodgers are expected to express interest in utilityman Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason.
LOS ANGELES, CA—While the early priority for the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason appears to be a solution for a late-inning right-handed option for their bullpen, the team also has to plug up their position player core with an opening in the outfield.
While that opening could be filled internally by recently added 27-year-old prospect Ryan Ward, the Dodgers have been linked heavily in the trade and free agent market for available outfielders, including Kyle Tucker, Steven Kwan, and now utilityman Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals.
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Dodgers are among several teams expected to be interested in Donovan should he become available this winter.
“Infielder Brendon Donovan, who is arbitration-eligible for two more years, is also drawing a lot of interest and seems likely to be traded,” Feinsand wrote in a story.
“The Yankees, Dodgers, Royals, and Guardians are among the teams believed to be potential landing spots for Donovan.”
Donovan, turning 29 in January, has a notable major league history. He has played in 492 games and had 2,006 plate appearances. His walk rate of 9.1% is solid, and his strikeout rate of 13.5% exceeds typical standards. He has a slash line of .282/.361/.411 with a 119 wRC+, showing he’s performed 19% above league average overall. Additionally, he has played multiple positions, including all four infield spots and the outfield corners.
According to Baseball Savant, his whiff rate was in the 95th percentile, his strikeout rate in the 92nd percentile, and his expected batting average in the 93rd percentile. He also ranked in the 66th percentile for base running value.
Donovan provides valuable support to the Dodgers across various aspects of the game, offering versatility in multiple positions. He is capable of playing second base, shortstop, first base, left field, and center field.
This past season was the best of Donovan’s career, with the four-year player winning a Gold Glove and making the All-Star team, and, most attractively, he has two more arbitration years left.
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