Report: Cardinals prefer Donaldson to Machado in trade talks

The St. Louis Cardinals have been fairly open in their desire to improve their offense this offseason. Even after acquiring outfielder Marcell Ozuna from the Miami Marlins, the Cardinals have been linked to the Toronto Blue Jays' Josh Donaldson and the Baltimore Orioles' Manny Machado.

If the Cardinals have their pick, it'll reportedly be Donaldson, as the Red Birds are pursuing the former AL MVP with much more vigor than they are Machado, according to USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale.

Donaldson's pedigree speaks for itself. Since playing in his first full season in 2013, he has hit .282/.377/.524 with 164 home runs, 162 doubles, 491 runs scored, and 491 RBIs. Only five other batters have hit more long balls in that time.

Both Donaldson and Machado will be free agents after 2018, and the Cardinals, should they acquire either, are expected to try to sign them to an extension. The team has also been tied to Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria.

The Cardinals weren't offensive bottom-feeders in 2017, but they didn't set the world on fire, either, finishing roughly in the middle of the pack in most offensive categories as a team.