10 Prospects the Cardinals Should Be Targeting (Pt. 1)
Credit: @terry_jack_photos on Intagram
Introduction
Before I begin, I want to clarify that this article will be divided into two parts (unless Donovan gets traded before part 2 comes out) and will cover four teams that have been reported to show serious interest in players such as Brendan Donovan and JoJo Romero. I’ll break down the prospects and players within those organizations that the Cardinals should either inquire about or keep on their radar this offseason. This doesn’t guarantee that the Cardinals will land any of these players, but there’s a realistic chance a deal could happen. With that said, here are ten prospects and players I believe the Cardinals should target during their selling spree.
San Francisco Giants
1B Bryce Eldridge
While I don’t think it’s likely the Cardinals could land Eldridge for one of the pieces they’re selling, I was surprised to see reports during the Winter Meetings that the Giants were willing to part with their top prospect Bryce Eldridge. As the 12th-ranked prospect in baseball and with the Cardinals needing true power beyond Herrera, Eldridge is someone they should closely monitor, especially if he could be acquired in a deal involving someone like Donovan.
Eldridge has flown through the Giants’ minor league system, and that success has pushed him close to a full-time major league role. He did get his first taste of big-league action with the Giants late in 2025, where he struggled, but his underlying metrics remain very appealing.
During his brief stint, Eldridge posted a .107 batting average with a .179/.297/.476 slash line, but the quality of his batted-ball data was impressive. His expected slugging percentage (xSLG) was .496, his average exit velocity sat at 95.6 mph, and his max exit velocity reached 109.7 mph, along with strong barrel and hard-hit rates. The main concern with Eldridge is his swing-and-miss profile. While he strikes out at a high rate, he also draws plenty of walks and rarely chases pitches outside the zone.
The defensive side of his game is a weakness, so while his bat provides significant value, his glove can be a liability at times. With the Cardinals shifting toward a more swing-and-miss pitching philosophy, his defense at first base isn’t as big of a concern.
OF Dakota Jordan
There have been mixed opinions on Mariners prospect Lazaro Montes — a player known for light-tower power but limited in other areas — and whether the Cardinals should pursue him. If you’re intrigued by Montes and his raw power, it’s worth taking a look at Giants No. 6 prospect Dakota Jordan, who also shares some similarities with Cardinals outfielder Joshua Baez.
Jordan was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB draft out of Mississippi State, and the Giants were pleasantly surprised he fell that far. In 2025, he put together an impressive season in Low-A, batting .311 with a .377 OBP and .497 SLG over 88 games, showcasing both his on-base ability and power potential. With the Cardinals in need of another power bat and additional right-handed outfield depth, Jordan fits a clear organizational need.
As mentioned earlier, power is something the Cardinals could use throughout the system, and Jordan provides exactly that. He hit 14 home runs in 2025, drove in 82 runs, and posted a strong 135 wRC+. The 22-year-old displays impressive bat speed and generates high exit velocities, allowing him to drive the ball to all fields. While there are concerns about his swing decisions and contact rates, particularly his tendency to chase breaking balls outside the zone and occasional swing-and-miss on pitches in the zone, his overall approach showed progress. Jordan’s strikeout rate remained manageable at 22.8%, and his walk rate jumped to an encouraging 8.9%, suggesting continued offensive development.
What makes Jordan even more intriguing is the speed he brings to the table. He’s a quick runner who stole 27 bases in 2025 and legged out six triples, a rare combination for a player with projectable power and above-average speed.
Defensively, Jordan projects as a corner outfielder. His arm grades as average, and his reads and routes can be inconsistent, but his natural athleticism provides optimism that he can develop into a serviceable defender as he continues to refine his game.
RHP Keyner Martinez
Any team that engages the Cardinals in trade discussions should expect to part with legitimate arm talent. The Giants have several pitchers who stand out, but their No. 10 overall prospect — and third-ranked pitching prospect — Keyner Martinez is the most intriguing of the group.
Martinez is a 21-year-old right-hander from Venezuela who signed with San Francisco in July 2023 and brings considerable arm talent. He made his professional debut in 2024 as a reliever, but in 2025 the Giants began stretching him out, using him as a part-time starter. Martinez started 11 of the 21 games he appeared in that season, a transition fueled by a noticeable jump in fastball velocity. He now sits comfortably in the mid-90s and can reach the upper 90s when needed.
His slider is a legitimate plus offering, graded as a 60 by MLB Pipeline. Thrown in the low 80s, it features sharp vertical break and serves as his swing-and-miss pitch. The changeup remains a work in progress and will be essential for neutralizing left-handed hitters. Because Martinez currently relies heavily on his fastball-slider combination, there is some inherent reliever risk if the changeup does not develop.
That said, Martinez’s raw stuff allows him to miss plenty of bats. In 2025, he logged 69.1 innings with a 2.21 ERA, striking out 97 hitters (34.2%) while issuing just 21 walks (7.4%). He shows strong control and command, consistently working effectively both inside and outside the strike zone.
Without a fully developed changeup, Martinez profiles as a potential back-end starter with a high-leverage bullpen fallback. If he can refine the changeup and add more vertical separation, however, he has the upside to become a reliable middle-of-the-rotation starter.
Cleveland Guardians
RHP Braylon Doughty
Braylon Doughty is a name that genuinely excites me and one that should be circled repeatedly within the Cardinals organization. Of all the pitchers I’ve evaluated, Doughty stands out as my favorite. Selected 36th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, he’s a player who should firmly place himself among the Top 100 prospects by 2026.
Doughty is a 20-year-old right-hander standing 6’1” and weighing 196 pounds, with room left on his frame to add strength — and potentially another inch or two in height. His physical projection only adds to the intrigue.
What separates Doughty is his true frontline starter upside, which begins with his arsenal. He features a legitimate four-pitch mix consisting of a fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup. His fastball typically sits in the 91–95 mph range with good arm-side run and can reach the upper 90s when he reaches back for more. His primary weapons, however, are his curveball and slider. Both are thrown in the low 80s with elite vertical movement profiles, and he’s capable of spinning each pitch at over 3,000 rpm. These breaking balls give him genuine bat-missing ability against hitters on both sides of the plate.
Doughty also mixes in a mid-80s changeup that still needs refinement but shows enough promise to be effective at present. Combined with his advanced feel for spin and movement, he possesses true swing-and-miss stuff and the foundation of a future top-of-the-rotation starter.
OF Alfonsin Rosario
Rosario is a long-term project and the most difficult prospect to develop among the five discussed so far. The 21-year-old outfielder has an intriguing profile that could be worth betting on, particularly as a secondary piece in a trade.
Offensively, Rosario’s bat is defined by a poor hit tool but above-average power. He generates high exit velocities and has the raw strength to hit the ball a long way, as evidenced by his 21 home runs in 2025. However, his approach is heavily pull-oriented, pulling 54.7% of his balls in play that season, which limits his overall offensive versatility.
The primary concern is swing-and-miss. Rosario struggles to identify breaking balls outside the zone and frequently chases, trading contact for power. He struck out 27.5% of the time in 2025 while maintaining a respectable 10.4% walk rate. That issue was amplified after his promotion to Double-A, where he struck out 33.1% of the time over 33 games - his highest strikeout rate at any level to date.
What makes Rosario intriguing are his defensive tools and speed. He possesses plus speed, and video shows him turning routine singles into doubles, a trait that keeps the door open for a future in center field.
The issue is inconsistency. Despite his speed, Rosario does not generate as many putouts as expected, suggesting below-average instincts and routes. His defense remains a work in progress, but he compensates with a plus-plus throwing arm. Rosario has been clocked at 100+ mph on throws from the outfield, and in 2024 he recorded six outfield assists.
Which team would I make a deal with?
Personally, Cleveland feels like the most logical trade partner, and while it’s purely speculative, I wouldn’t be surprised if they acquire Donovan at some point this offseason. Doughty’s upside is undeniable and aligns with multiple needs within the Cardinals’ organization and Rosario represents another intriguing piece — one who, if everything clicks, could become a steal as a secondary return in the deal. The value isn’t sufficient with just those two players, so the Cardinals may look to include a third piece to balance the deal.
