The San Francisco Giants have already checked one major box this winter. By signing Harrison Bader, they patched a glaring hole in the outfield and injected much-needed defense, speed, and reliability into a roster that couldn’t afford more uncertainty.
But the offseason doesn’t feel finished yet.
Not when one clear upgrade still sits within reach.
According to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, the Giants remain actively engaged with the St. Louis Cardinals on a potential trade for Brendan Donovan—and if that deal gets done, it could put the perfect finishing touch on a smart, calculated winter.
“[The Giants] remain engaged with the Cardinals on Brendan Donovan,” Baggarly reported, noting that Donovan’s left-handed contact skills would immediately balance the lineup as an everyday second baseman.
That detail matters.
San Francisco took a swing earlier in the offseason, attempting to pry CJ Abrams from the Washington Nationals. When those talks collapsed, the Giants pivoted—but didn’t retreat. Donovan has long been on their radar, and for good reason.
He fits. Almost too well.
The Giants have been linked to Donovan for months, and while negotiations with St. Louis cooled briefly, the pursuit never truly stopped. When Jeff Passan reported that San Francisco was “aggressively pursuing” a second baseman—specifically naming Nico Hoerner and Donovan—it was always clear which target was realistic.
Hoerner would be ideal, but the Cubs are pushing to contend in 2026. They won’t move him unless someone delivers an overwhelming, franchise-altering offer.
The Cardinals? They’re in a very different place.
St. Louis is rebuilding, openly seeking young, controllable talent, and that’s exactly where the Giants have leverage. San Francisco’s farm system is flush with shortstop prospects, more than enough to justify dealing from depth. Donovan, an All-Star last season, would immediately step in as the Giants’ everyday second baseman—and likely become one of the most reliable bats in the lineup.
This isn’t about star power.
It’s about balance.
The Giants’ offense still carries swing-and-miss risk throughout the order. Donovan’s profile—high-contact, left-handed, tough to strike out—would act as a stabilizer. He doesn’t need to hit 30 home runs. He needs to keep innings alive, punish mistakes, and force pitchers to work.
Add that to a lineup that already features more power and athleticism, and suddenly the Giants don’t look patchwork anymore. They look complete.
And context matters here.
San Francisco’s offseason was never going to be a spending spree. Ownership made that clear early. Instead, the front office took a measured approach:
– They addressed rotation needs
– Added intriguing bullpen arms
– Improved defense in the outfield
– Avoided long-term financial landmines
What’s missing is one last positional upgrade—and second base is the final obvious pressure point.
Landing Donovan wouldn’t make headlines like a megadeal would. But it would eliminate one of the lineup’s last weak spots and allow the Giants to head into spring training with clarity instead of questions.
That’s why this move feels so important.
The Bader signing was smart.
A Donovan trade would be decisive.
And if the Giants can pull it off without sacrificing their future, they’ll walk into 2026 knowing they squeezed everything possible out of a frugal offseason.
Not flashy.
Not reckless.
Just effective.
Sometimes, that’s all you need.