Brendan Donovan DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

According to John Denton of MLB.com, the St. Louis Cardinals and infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan could not come to a long-term agreement before Thursday's arbitration deadline. Earlier this week, it was reported that both sides were inching towards a long-term deal but were unable to finalize it. The 27-year-old has spent his entire three-year major league career in St. Louis. Last season, he held a .278/.342/.417 line with 14 home runs and five stolen bases. He showed an elite eye at the plate with a stellar 12.4% K rate and a 15.1% whiff rate. Fantasy managers should expect Donovan to operate as the team's starting second baseman in 2025 but could also see time in the outfield. In addition, he may eventually be shifted to the hot corner with Nolan Arenado's name on the trade block.

St. Louis Cardinals infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan (foot) is starting at second base and is batting leadoff on Tuesday at Busch Stadium against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds and rookie right-hander Rhett Lowder. Donovan will return to the top of the Red Birds' batting order against the Reds after missing the previous two games due to a foot infection. There was some worry that the 27-year-old utility man might need a stint on the injured list, but he appears fine for now and will have some DFS appeal as a low-cost sleeper on Tuesday at the top of the lineup. Shortstop Masyn Winn is getting a day off, which has allowed Donovan to hit leadoff for the first time in a month. The left-handed-hitting German lacks notable speed or pop, but he's gone 7-for-20 (.350) with two doubles in five games so far in the month of September.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Brendan Donovan went 2-for-5 with a home run, a single, and three RBI in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday evening to lead the Cardinals to a victory. The 27-year-old launched a solo shot in the fifth inning and then knocked a two-run single in the ninth to score Alec Burleson and Willson Contreras. After going 0-for-4 in the opening game of the doubleheader, Donovan got himself right back on track in the nightcap. The South Alabama Product has been swinging a hot bat since the start of July with an excellent .346/.414/.423 line. Donovan has been used as a utility defender and should always have a spot in the starting nine due to his defensive flexibility.