BIG DOUBLE HEADER WIN & MORE BRENDAN DONOVAN CHATTER

Fresh off a doubleheader sweep and a monster day for the Yankees on Sunday, why are we even stressing about finding a new third baseman? The offense finally looks like it remembered what bats are for. If anything, maybe we should be shopping for some arms, not gloves. But hey, duty calls — and I can’t ignore this Brendan Donovan chatter that's bubbling up again.

We’ve kicked this around before here at BYB, but now Dylan Sanders over at Yankees on SI is stirring the pot again. He’s pitching Cardinals Swiss Army knife Brendan Donovan — team-controlled through 2027 — as the guy to patch up the Yankees’ infield woes.

Sanders writes: “The Cardinals are knee-deep in a rebuild and this could be their golden ticket to move Donovan. He’s been outstanding this season and his trade value is through the roof.” Hard to argue: Donovan's hitting a sizzling .367 with three homers and 15 RBI, leading the entire National League in batting average. Not bad for a guy who brings a Gold Glove and a do-it-all résumé to the table.

Of course, Donovan’s been a white whale for the Yankees the last couple of off seasons now, with St. Louis clutching him tighter than a toddler with a teddy bear. So, what we’ve got here is a classic game of "hurry up and wait" — lots of buzz, little movement.

In the meantime, can we take a second to appreciate that Oswaldo Cabrera is holding his own just fine? Third base drama will always be a Yankee tradition, but for now, let’s enjoy the wins — and maybe, just maybe, save the trade talk for when the bats cool off.

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SOLID INFIELD CHOICE MAY BECOME AVAILABLE SOON!

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO OSWALD PERAZA?

With all the ongoing chatter about the Yankees still searching for a second baseman, third baseman, names like Nolan Arenado and even his Cardinals teammate Brendan Donovan continue to pop up in discussions. This is despite the fact that a month ago, Aaron Boone—dubbed "No Championships" Boone by Bleeding Yankee Blue—stated the team would go with DJ LeMahieu or Oswaldo Cabrera. Yet, the speculation hasn’t died down.

One name, however, seems to be quietly fading from the Yankees' infield conversation: Oswald Peraza. And it almost feels intentional. The Yankees appear to be in control of the narrative surrounding his role on the team, and whether he remains in favor seems to be a question they're steering.

Of course, this is just speculation—nothing more than my opinion—but the situation with Peraza feels off. He’s a dynamic defender, someone who grinds every day despite an already crowded Yankees infield. I admire his effort, but something about his standing with the team makes him look like the odd man out. One major factor working against him is that he's out of minor-league options. That alone puts immense pressure on him to make the major league roster because the Yankees can't simply send him down without exposing him to waivers.

Offensively, Peraza isn’t a standout. He’s a career .216 hitter, showing flashes at times but never enough to cement himself as a regular starter. But if hitting struggles were a deal-breaker, how did Joey Gallo ever stick around? The Yankees have endured worse at the plate, so that argument doesn’t completely hold up.

Then there’s Marcus Stroman, who—let’s be honest—hasn’t exactly been a quiet presence. With rumors swirling that he could be on the move now that he only wants to be a starter, could Peraza, Stroman, and maybe someone like Will Warren be part of a bigger package to acquire a dynamic infielder with both a bat and a glove? It’s pure speculation on my part, but I can’t shake the feeling that Peraza’s days in pinstripes are numbered. If Brian Cashman can use him as a trade chip, it might make sense for the Yankees to pull the trigger.

As with all things in baseball, we’ll have to wait and see how it plays out. But for now, keep an eye on Peraza—his future in the Bronx is anything but certain.

SOLID INFIELD CHOICE MAY BECOME AVAILABLE SOON!

The Yankees' secret weapon could be on the St. Louis Cardinals. As they sit back and wait for the perfect moment to pounce, we’re back at it—yes, discussing the infield, and yes, Brendan Donovan. Spring training is like a treasure hunt for unexpected gems, and with the trade market doing its usual dance, the Yankees just might stumble upon their perfect match at the most divine moment.

Adding Donovan to the squad would be a masterstroke of flexibility. Picture this: Jazz Chisholm, with his already dazzling defensive versatility, could slide over to second base, letting Donovan dazzle at third. This kind of shuffle would allow the Yankees to whip their infield into top shape, balancing their power-heavy lineup with Donovan’s top-notch contact skills and plate discipline.

Let’s not forget Donovan’s resume: last season, he rocked 421.1 innings at second base with a single, solitary error. At third base, he’s a pro too, with 269.2 innings, seven defensive runs saved, and three outs above average. Oh, but wait—DJ LeMahieu? Cabrera? Peraza? They’re all right there. The Yankees could totally ace this without bringing in anyone new. But it wouldn't be the rumor season without a little chatter! Am I right?

Now, let's talk about how the Yankees might actually snag Donovan. The Yankees’ potential path to Donovan is rooted in the Cardinals’ current situation. Donovan and the Cardinals failed to avoid arbitration, with the team filing at $2.85 million compared to Donovan’s $3.3 million. The two sides had reportedly discussed a long-term extension, but no deal came to fruition. Arbitration disputes are rarely a good sign for long-term harmony, and the Cardinals’ apparent reluctance to commit to Donovan financially suggests that his future in St. Louis may not be as secure as it once seemed. Empire Sports Media wit tat.

So, if the Yankees are feeling cheeky, they might just find the perfect opportunity to swoop in and make Donovan part of their infield dream team.

ARE THE YANKS TRYING TO SHED STROMAN OR ARE US FANS TRYING TO?

Picture this: two dudes, Ryan Garcia and Alex Wilson, kicking off the 2025 season with their first "Fireside Yankees" podcast. They're talking shop, spit balling ideas, and throwing out some bold trade scenarios. It’s not gospel, but it’s an interesting thought experiment—one that has Yankees fans tipping their caps.

Here’s the gist: The Yankees might want to move on from 33-year-old Marcus Stroman, who signed a two-year, $37 million deal before the 2024 season. In my opinion, having Stroman on the Yankees didn't work out.  Stroman struggled down the stretch, didn’t make the postseason roster, and now his contract feels more like an albatross than an ace.

The guys at "Fireside Yankees" floated an intriguing possibility: Could the Yankees unload Stroman’s salary on the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for their 27-year-old super-utility man, Brendan Donovan?

Why Donovan Makes Sense for the Yankees

Donovan, a 2022 National League Gold Glove winner for utility players, has played everywhere except pitcher and catcher. He’s got versatility, a career .280 batting average, and a .364 on-base percentage that could make him a great fit in the Bronx. Over three seasons, Donovan’s also posted a .771 OPS and smacked 30 home runs in 374 games. That kind of reliability and flexibility screams “Cashman player.”

But What About Stroman?

The Cardinals might balk at taking on Stroman’s remaining $18.5 million for 2025 unless the Yankees sweeten the deal. Maybe New York eats some salary, or maybe they throw in a prospect to even things out. Spencer Jones, anyone? Yes, this is actually being talked about.  Though let’s be real—this part feels like a stretch. No way Cashman includes a high-upside outfielder like Jones just to make this happen, right?

So, have the Yankees and Cardinals actually talked about this? No confirmation, at least not yet. But the Yankees’ desire to move on from Stroman feels legit, and Brendan Donovan is exactly the kind of player the Yankees love—versatile, consistent, and affordable.

For now, it’s all speculation, just two guys riffing on a podcast. Still, the idea has legs. If Brian Cashman can get creative, maybe there’s a way to turn Stroman’s sour stint into a fresh start with a player like Donovan.

Until then, we’ll just have to see how this unfolds. Tip your cap to Fireside Yankees for the idea, even if it’s still just a conversation.

Stay tuned.

WHY WOULD THE YANKEES TRADE FOR ANOTHER HURT CARDINAL?

I'm tired to hearing about guys that could help the Yankees. Look, we all loved Harrison Bader for a hot second in the Bronx.  But he's already gone and we're seeing his trade partner Jordan Montgomery shine with the Rangers! A big tree lefty that we HAD to trade away to get an injured Bader, only to replace him with big tree lefty Carlos Rodon and somehow the Yankees got ZERO from all that.  By the way, not to harp on it again, but what the F were the Yankees thinking with all that?  Horrendous.

Now comes word the Yankees may benefit in getting another gold glover from the Cardinals.  You know, a must-have that's gonna help them in 2024?  His name is Brendan Donovan.  Got it.  OK, tell me, what's so special Inside the Pinstripes?

"The Yankees simply need more good hitters heading into next season, and Donovan fills that hole...

"Because Donovan is a pre-arbitration player, it will likely take a lot for the Cards to consider moving someone like him."...

New York has been linked to Donovan in the past and a move could make sense this offseason. The Cardinals seem to have an overflow of young offensive talent and need pitching.

Donovan impressed again in 2023 with a .284/.365/.422 slash line and 11 home runs and 34 RBIs, but appeared in just 95 games due to injuries. If he's healthy, he could really help New York."

And did you notice that last sentence? If he's healthy, he could really help New York. IF HEALTHY. That's no throw away line... that's significant when you think about the Yankees track record.

Why? Why, why, why, why, why. why, why? Why would we do this to ourselves again? And does anyone really think our medical staff can handle another injury? They couldn't handle what we already had?  And if we're gonna go after a gold glover from the Cards that gets hurt a lot, just re-sign Bader. At least then we know what we're gonna get and he LOVED the Bronx. Am I right?

Donovan was shut down in September.  FOX Sports wrote: "Donovan underwent season-ending surgery in August to repair the flexor strain in his right elbow, so a move to the 60-day IL was expected. His spot on the 40-man roster will be filled by Ryan Helsley (forearm), who came off the 60-day injured list Friday."

The bottom line with all of this? The Yankees need to learn from bad mistakes... we've seen this before.  We don't need turmoil; we need sure things.  That's the bottom line.