The Mariners finally went out and did what fans have been clamoring for - they added a real, everyday bat. Not a platoon piece.
Not a bounce-back flyer. A legitimate, high-contact, high-OBP, plays-everywhere type of hitter.
Brendan Donovan is exactly that: a versatile, steady presence who tightens up the roster and makes the lineup feel a whole lot more complete.
This wasn’t a half-measure, either. Seattle paid a premium to bring Donovan in, and that tells you just how serious they are about maximizing their current window. But with that kind of price tag, the move comes with baggage - and not the kind you can just stash in the overhead compartment.
To land Donovan, the Mariners sent a significant package out the door. Jurrangelo Cijntje - their 2024 first-round pick, taken 15th overall - is the headliner.
Along with him went Tai Peete, and Ben Williamson was rerouted to the Rays. The Cardinals, who sent Donovan to Seattle, also picked up Colton Ledbetter and a pair of competitive balance picks.
That’s not just a trade - that’s a statement. It’s an all-in move, the kind you make when you believe your team is ready to contend right now.
And Donovan does make them better in the short term. He’s a winning player - the kind of guy who helps you grind through a 162-game season and shows up when it counts.
But the issue isn’t with the player they got. It’s with the chip they cashed in.
Let’s rewind to the 2024 MLB Draft. Seattle had a shot at Trey Yesavage, a polished college arm who was viewed by many as one of the safest picks in the class.
Instead, they went with Cijntje - the ultra-intriguing switch-pitcher with sky-high upside. It was bold, no question.
The baseball version of choosing the rare, limited-edition sneaker over the dependable pair you actually need.
But the shine wore off quickly. Not long after the draft, Mariners GM Justin Hollander confirmed that Cijntje would be focusing on pitching right-handed “for the foreseeable future.”
Just like that, the switch-pitcher allure - the very thing that made him such a unique pick - was off the table. The upside play became a developmental project.
And before the organization even had a chance to fully explore what he could become, they moved on.
That’s the part that stings. The Mariners didn’t just trade a prospect - they traded the idea of what Cijntje could’ve been.
The high-risk, high-reward bet they made in the first round never got a chance to pay off. And now, if Cijntje turns into even a mid-rotation starter in St.
Louis, Seattle’s going to feel that one for a long time.
Then there’s Yesavage. Toronto grabbed him five picks later, and by October 2025, he was starting World Series games.
That’s not just hindsight - that’s a gut punch. Because if Cijntje becomes something in St.
Louis while Yesavage is already something in Toronto, Seattle’s 2024 draft starts to look like a double-miss.
Even if Cijntje doesn’t become a star, the optics aren’t great. You spent a first-round pick on a unique talent, changed his development path almost immediately, and then flipped him before he threw a single pitch in your system. That’s a tough look for a franchise that’s had its fair share of “trust the process” seasons.
Here’s the twist: the Donovan deal can still be a win. He’s a plug-and-play contributor who fits this roster like a glove.
He makes them better today - and in a tight AL West race, that matters. But it’s also possible to win the trade and still feel the cost.
Because when you trade away potential before it’s fully developed, you’re not just giving up a player. You’re giving up the chance to be right.
Seattle got their bat. Finally. But they might’ve left a crater behind to get it - and if you’ve followed this franchise long enough, you know those craters don’t just fill themselves.