The Seattle Mariners might not have made headlines with a splashy free-agent signing this weekend, but make no mistake - they came out ahead. While the San Francisco Giants scooped up Luis Arraez on a one-year, $12 million deal, the Mariners stayed patient and ended up landing the player they truly needed: Brendan Donovan.
Let’s rewind for a second. Arraez is a three-time batting champ, sure, but his recent production tells a different story.
Back-to-back seasons hovering around 1.0 WAR? That’s not exactly the kind of impact Seattle was looking for, especially when you consider his defensive limitations.
The Giants are planning to play him at second base - a position he’s been eager to return to - but that’s more of a wish than a guaranteed solution.
Seattle, meanwhile, had a clear need at second base after trading away Jorge Polanco. And while Arraez might’ve seemed like a logical fit on paper, the Mariners never appeared seriously interested. That might’ve raised eyebrows at first, but in hindsight, it looks like a calculated move - and a smart one.
Here’s where it gets interesting: before signing Arraez, the Giants were reportedly in hot pursuit of two trade targets - Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals and Nico Hoerner from the Cubs. Donovan, in particular, was a name closely tied to both San Francisco and Seattle in the rumor mill.
The Giants were said to be aggressive in their pursuit, which suggested they were willing to pay a premium. That urgency could’ve made things tricky for the Mariners, who were also eyeing Donovan as a top target.
But once San Francisco pivoted to Arraez, the Mariners saw their window - and moved quickly. Just two days later, Seattle pulled off a three-team deal to bring Donovan to the Pacific Northwest.
Timing is everything, and in this case, it worked in Seattle’s favor. Without the Giants in the mix, the Cardinals lost a key bargaining chip in their trade talks.
Suddenly, the leverage shifted.
The Cardinals had been holding firm on a high asking price for Donovan, waiting for a bidding war that never materialized. Once the Giants were out, Seattle became the last team standing - and they didn’t blink.
The Mariners had reportedly been circling Donovan for a while, and it’s not hard to imagine they had a deal framework ready to go. Rather than sweeten the pot, they held their ground.
And the final trade package? It’s one Seattle can live with.
The Mariners sent over Jurrangelo Cijntje - a talented prospect, but one ranked 48 spots below Lazaro Montes on MLB Pipeline’s top 100, a player the Cardinals were rumored to prefer earlier in the offseason. Along with Cijntje, the Mariners parted with Ben Williamson, Tai Peete, and a draft pick.
Williamson is a glove-first infielder, and Peete, a former first-rounder, hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. This wasn’t a light return, but it wasn’t a gut punch, either.
From Seattle’s perspective, this feels like a win on multiple fronts. They filled a major need with a versatile, high-OBP, left-handed bat who brings energy and defensive versatility. Donovan isn’t just a plug-and-play second baseman - he’s a Swiss Army knife who can move around the diamond and give the Mariners lineup a different look.
Meanwhile, San Francisco gets Arraez, a contact hitter who’s great at putting the ball in play but doesn’t offer much pop or defensive upside. It’s not a bad signing, but it’s hard to argue it’s better than what Seattle just pulled off.
In the end, both teams addressed their needs. But the Mariners did it with patience, precision, and a deal that fits their roster and long-term vision.
They didn’t chase the wrong player - they waited for the right one. And now, Brendan Donovan is headed to Seattle.
That’s a move worth getting excited about.