The Seattle Mariners are on the verge of making a splash, nearing a deal to land All-Star utility man Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-team trade that also involves the Tampa Bay Rays. While the trade has yet to be officially announced by any of the clubs, multiple reports indicate the moving pieces are already in place-and they paint a clear picture of three organizations with very different objectives.
Let’s start with the headliner: Brendan Donovan. The 29-year-old is coming off his first All-Star nod and brings exactly the kind of versatility and contact-oriented approach the Mariners have been looking for.
Primarily a second baseman, Donovan also has experience at first, third, and left field, and can even fill in at shortstop when needed. He’s not just a glove-first guy either-his bat has played at the big-league level since day one.
In 2025, Donovan posted a 119 OPS+, right in line with his career average of 117. But what really had scouts and front offices intrigued was the way he started last season.
Through the end of May, Donovan was raking-his .373 wOBA was supported by an expected wOBA of .370, suggesting what he was doing at the plate was no fluke. Then came the toe injury.
An MRI revealed a sprained capsule in his left big toe, and while he played through it, the injury clearly impacted his lower-half mechanics and, ultimately, his production. The Mariners are betting that with a clean bill of health, Donovan can return to that early-season form and potentially even build on it.
This move slots Donovan into a Seattle lineup that already features All-Star catcher Cal Raleigh, superstar center fielder Julio Rodríguez, and newly acquired bats Josh Naylor and Randy Arozarena. That’s a group with power, speed, and now, more versatility. Coming off a 90-win season that earned them the AL West crown in 2025-three games ahead of the Astros-the Mariners are clearly pushing to take the next step after falling short in the ALCS against Toronto.
But this trade isn’t just about Seattle. For the Cardinals, it’s another clear signal that the Chaim Bloom era is fully underway-and that it’s all about the rebuild.
Trading Donovan follows a winter that’s already seen St. Louis part ways with Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and Nolan Arenado.
In each case, Bloom has prioritized adding young arms to a system that was previously lacking high-octane velocity and swing-and-miss stuff. The front office has also shown a willingness to include cash to sweeten the return, particularly in the Arenado deal.
In this latest move, the Cardinals pick up two promising young pieces from Seattle: switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje and 2023 first-round pick Tai Peete. Cijntje, Seattle’s first-rounder in 2024, is the centerpiece of the return.
He’s known for his rare ability to pitch with both arms, though scouts believe his future is brightest as a right-hander. He features a sneaky good fastball and a breaking ball that misses bats-traits that project him as a potential mid-rotation starter down the line.
Peete, meanwhile, spent all of 2025 in High-A, where he showed flashes of power but struggled with consistency, slashing .217/.288/.404 over 125 games. Still, he’s just 20 and brings athletic upside to a Cardinals system that’s trending younger and more dynamic.
This deal also clears the path for top prospect JJ Wetherholt to take over at second base in St. Louis. The 2026 season now looks like his opportunity to claim an everyday role, and the organization seems ready to hand him the keys.
As for Tampa Bay, they’re quietly adding depth in the form of third baseman Ben Williamson, who made his big-league debut last season with Seattle. In 85 games, he hit .253 with a .294 OBP and limited power. The Rays are known for maximizing value from players like Williamson, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they see something in his profile they believe they can unlock.
In all, this is a classic three-team deal where everyone gets a little of what they need. The Mariners add a versatile, high-contact bat to a win-now roster.
The Cardinals continue their youth movement with two more intriguing pieces. And the Rays, as always, find a way to quietly bolster their depth chart.
If Donovan bounces back to his early-2025 form, Seattle may have just landed one of the most underrated difference-makers of the offseason.