The Los Angeles Angels are heading into the 2025-26 offseason with one primary objective in mind: to strengthen their starting rotation. The team’s pitching depth has been a persistent issue for years, and despite moving Reid Detmers back into the rotation for the 2026 campaign, there remain two open spots that must be filled.
Internally, there aren’t any sure-fire options ready to take on those roles, and that’s a serious concern for a club that has missed the postseason repeatedly despite having the talent to compete. While the Angels’ top priority is understandably improving their rotation, simply patching up that area without addressing the rest of the roster would be a mistake.
There are other glaring holes that could hold the team back from making a legitimate playoff push. Fortunately, an opportunity may be emerging in St. Louis that could help the Angels solve one of their biggest problems: infield stability.
At the moment, the Angels’ infield is only partially set. Zach Neto has cemented himself as one of the most promising young shortstops in the league, combining elite defense with developing offensive potential. He’s viewed as a long-term cornerstone player for the franchise — someone who can anchor the middle of the diamond for years to come.
Over at first base, Nolan Schanuel continues to defy expectations. While he doesn’t fit the traditional mold of a power-hitting first baseman, his consistency, plate discipline, and ability to get on base have made him one of the Angels’ most reliable contributors. Between Neto and Schanuel, the Angels have two positions that are in great shape.
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The rest of the infield, however, is far less certain. Third base remains an open question heading into the offseason. Luis Rengifo and Yoan Moncada split time at the hot corner in 2025, and while each had stretches of strong performance, neither was consistent enough to claim the position outright.
Both players are now set to enter free agency, and as of now, there have been no reports suggesting that either will return to Anaheim. Their departures would leave a glaring hole at third base, one that the Angels can’t afford to leave unaddressed if they plan to be competitive in 2026.
Second base offers a bit more optimism, though it still comes with question marks. Christian Moore, who showed flashes of potential in 2025, is the leading candidate to handle the job full-time next season. When he’s locked in, Moore brings energy, athleticism, and an impressive mix of power and speed to the lineup.
The challenge for him will be cutting down on strikeouts and improving his overall approach at the plate. The Angels believe he can develop into a dependable everyday player, but they know it’s risky to rely solely on that outcome. To be a legitimate playoff contender, the front office must secure a proven option who can either complement Moore or step in if he struggles.
That’s where the St. Louis Cardinals come in. The Cardinals, who appear to be entering the early stages of a retool or rebuild, may be open to trading some of their more valuable but increasingly expensive players. Among those names is Brendon Donovan — a player who would fit perfectly with what the Angels need.
Since debuting with St. Louis in 2022, Donovan has quietly become one of the most dependable and versatile players in the National League. He’s not flashy, but he’s consistent in all the ways that matter. Donovan hits for average, works counts effectively, and has proven to be a doubles machine, consistently finding the gaps.
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Defensively, his value is amplified by his flexibility — he’s capable of playing second base, third base, and even left field at a high level. Baseball Reference lists him primarily as a second baseman, third baseman, and left fielder, but he’s also filled in at first base when needed. That type of versatility is a rare commodity in today’s game and exactly what a team like the Angels could use.
Now entering his second year of arbitration eligibility, Donovan’s salary is beginning to rise. For a St. Louis team trying to shed payroll and accumulate young assets, that makes him a logical trade candidate.
The Cardinals aren’t in a position to contend immediately, and dealing Donovan while his value is high could help them accelerate their retooling efforts. For the Angels, though, acquiring Donovan would be an investment in both stability and flexibility — two qualities that have been missing from their roster for years.
Donovan’s offensive skill set would make an immediate impact in Anaheim. He’s a disciplined hitter who consistently posts strong on-base percentages and makes contact at an above-average rate. He doesn’t chase pitches out of the zone, and his ability to use the whole field would complement a lineup that has been overly reliant on right-handed power hitters.
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While he may not be a middle-of-the-order slugger, he’s the kind of player who makes an offense more efficient. The Angels ranked near the top of the league in right-on-right matchups in 2025, which contributed to their high strikeout rate and offensive inconsistency. Adding a left-handed contact hitter like Donovan could help balance the lineup and improve their situational hitting.
Defensively, Donovan’s versatility could solve multiple problems at once. He could open the season as the team’s starting third baseman while serving as a backup option at second base or left field. That flexibility would give manager Ron Washington the ability to mix and match lineups depending on matchups or injuries.
Moreover, his steady glove work would strengthen an infield that has struggled with defensive lapses in recent years. Pairing Donovan with Neto on the left side of the infield would give the Angels a reliable defensive foundation — one capable of turning double plays and preventing the kind of mistakes that cost the team games in tight situations.
If the Angels were to make a deal for Donovan, the long-term benefits could be substantial. He’s under team control through the 2028 season, which means the Angels could pencil him in as a regular contributor for the next three years.
During that time, the team would have a core infield consisting of Schanuel, Moore, Neto, and Donovan — a group that could develop into one of the most well-rounded units in the American League. Each player brings something different to the table: Neto’s athleticism and arm strength at shortstop, Moore’s emerging power at second base, Donovan’s contact skills and defensive adaptability, and Schanuel’s steady presence at first. That combination would provide balance, reliability, and versatility — all essential traits for a playoff-caliber team.
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From the Cardinals’ perspective, moving Donovan would be a matter of timing and long-term strategy. St. Louis has several young infielders waiting for opportunities, and trading Donovan now could bring back pitching prospects or cost-controlled players to help restock their roster. The Angels, meanwhile, have a number of young pitchers who could appeal to the Cardinals, such as Sam Bachman, Ky Bush, or even a more established arm like Griffin Canning if the deal were structured around multiple pieces.
For the Angels, this type of move would represent a shift in how they approach roster building. In recent years, the team has often focused on acquiring big-name players or short-term rentals, only to end up with an unbalanced roster. By targeting a player like Donovan, they would be prioritizing depth, versatility, and long-term value over pure star power. That’s the kind of strategic thinking that successful organizations rely on to sustain playoff runs.
In many ways, Donovan embodies the qualities the Angels have been missing: reliability, consistency, and adaptability. He’s the type of player who quietly makes a team better in countless small ways — extending at-bats, making smart defensive plays, and giving the manager flexibility in how to construct lineups. In an Angels lineup that already has its share of star potential with players like Mike Trout and Zach Neto, adding a steady contributor like Donovan could bring the balance and dependability the team needs.
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Ultimately, while fixing the rotation remains the Angels’ top priority, their path to contention will require a more holistic approach. Filling out the pitching staff will keep them competitive on the mound, but to become a true playoff contender, they must also address the everyday lineup and defensive structure. Brendon Donovan represents a realistic and attainable solution — a player who could solidify the infield, balance the lineup, and contribute to a more cohesive, fundamentally sound team.
If general manager Perry Minasian can pull off a trade with the Cardinals, the Angels would not only improve their roster for 2026 but also take a significant step toward building a sustainable foundation for the future. With Neto, Schanuel, Moore, and Donovan anchoring the infield, the Angels could finally move past the patchwork approach that has defined their recent seasons and instead field a lineup capable of competing consistently in the tough American League West.
In short, acquiring Brendon Donovan might not be the flashiest move of the offseason, but it could be one of the smartest. For a team looking to turn the corner and end a long postseason drought, adding a versatile, high-IQ player like Donovan could be the missing piece that helps the Angels finally make that leap from rebuilding to contending.
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