Linked in rumors for years, the Cardinals and Josh Donaldson seemed as good a match as ever this offseason, with Donaldson a free agent and St. Louis looking to add a corner infielder with an impact bat. Then came Monday's news that the Braves inked Donaldson to a one-year, $23 million deal, sparking baseball's Hot Stove season and putting the dance between St. Louis and the All-Star third baseman on hold again.
So where do the Cardinals go from here? What follows is a breakdown of how the club can look to pivot, with Donaldson reportedly off the market.