The Mariners didn’t trade for Brendan Donovan just to park him at third base and call it solved.
That would be the simplest answer, sure. It’s also the one that leaves Seattle right back where it started: still hunting for a real solution at the hot corner while trying to make the most of everything Donovan can do.
After sending Jurrangelo Cijntje, Tai Peete and a draft pick to St. Louis in the deal that also sent Ben Williamson to Tampa Bay, the Mariners got only a short look at Donovan.
He played 39 games, hit .277/.371/.409 and flashed the kind of all-around value they were after, but two groin-related IL stints and an August concussion kept the sample small.
That’s why the position question is still wide open heading into 2027. Donovan already showed he can handle third base, and Seattle spent much of his first year there asking him to do exactly that.
But his value is bigger than one spot. The smarter play is to keep his bat in the lineup and let his glove move around second base, third and the corner outfield depending on what the roster needs.
With Cole Young at second and Colt Emerson back in the infield mix next season, the Mariners need a real playing-time plan - not just a default answer.
The obvious next step is to shop for a third baseman, and the free-agent board does not exactly hand Seattle a perfect fix. Bo Bichette has an opt-out, but his down year and the money left on his Mets contract make it hard to see him walking away.
Eugenio Suárez still brings power and a familiar name, but Cincinnati has mostly used him at DH, so asking him to return as the everyday defensive answer at third would be a different kind of bet. Alec Bohm looks like the most straightforward regular option, though 15 homers and a .707 OPS this season hardly scream slam dunk.
After that, the list thins fast. Edmundo Sosa, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ramón Urías are all names worth considering, but not as full-time solutions.
Seattle should make the calls anyway. If the market is thin, that’s a reason to explore trades, not a reason to hand Donovan the job and stop looking.
There’s also a more intriguing possibility waiting in the system. Ace Reese, Seattle’s 2026 first-round pick, hit .440/.530/.667 in 21 Single-A games.
That kind of start should get him an invite to big league camp, assuming the lockout is over in time. Let him face better pitching, work at third and show the Mariners whether they need to speed up his timetable.
But it’s important not to get carried away. The Jac Caglianone path is fun to dream about, but Reese has only 21 professional games, all at Single-A.
Caglianone reached Kansas City less than a year after the 2024 Draft, but only after moving through Double-A and Triple-A before his June 2025 call-up. Reese is not there yet.
A big spring could lead to a more aggressive minor-league assignment and maybe a push later in 2027, but he is not a realistic Opening Day answer.
That leaves J.P. Crawford as part of the conversation, whether fans like it or not.
His current game has drawn plenty of frustration, and he’s been inconsistent this season. His contract runs through 2026, and he has already taken some reps at third.
Seattle should talk with him about a short deal that could bridge the position while Reese develops and the club keeps searching for a longer-term answer. His modest offensive season and the team’s earlier concern about his arm on longer throws both matter here.
Crawford’s willingness gives the Mariners an option, but it doesn’t settle what he should make or how often he should play.
So the path forward is messy, but it’s clear enough. Keep Donovan healthy and in the lineup.
Chase a real upgrade this winter. Give Reese a chance to move faster.
See whether Crawford can serve as a bridge. Then come back to Donovan’s long-term home with more than 39 games to work with.
Seattle has one controlled season left to get real value from the trade. The assignment now is simple: use Donovan’s versatility, and keep pushing third base until it becomes something better than a placeholder.
In Other News...
Mariners Uniform Debate Just Got A Lot Harder To Ignore
The Rays decision to revive their road gray look in 2027 only sharpens a uniform quirk that has already put Seattle in an unusual spot. Under MLBs current 4+1 setup, the Mariners are now the only team without a road gray option, a distinction that stands out even more when the rest of their closet is already full.
Seattle is still working with five different looks, from its home whites and navy alternates to the teal, Steelheads and City Connect uniforms, and that variety came after the Sunday cream set was removed last offseason. So while plenty of clubs shuffle through familiar gray road threads, the Mariners are left with a more modern mix and a question that may not go away anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Are Starting To Feel Better About That Brendan Donovan Trade
A trade that looked like a clean win-now move for Seattle has started to look a little different on the other side, as the Cardinals continue to see early returns from the deal that sent Brendan Donovan to the Mariners in a three-team swap. St. Louis came away with Jurrangelo Cijntje, Tai Peete, Colton Ledbetter and two draft picks, a haul that has given the organization more to track than just the big-league name it moved out.
Peete, in particular, has given the Cardinals something tangible to point to after a strong run at Double-A Springfield, capped by a five-hit game in the Texas League Championship Series. Donovan, meanwhile, has been limited to 39 games for Seattle this season because of injuries, which only adds to the sense that this one may not be judged solely by the name value attached to it when it was made. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners May Have Moved On From Luis Castillo At Exactly The Right Time
When Seattle dealt Luis Castillo to the White Sox, the move looked like a clean basketball-style reset for a rotation in need of stability on Chicagos end and roster flexibility on Seattles side. The Mariners also got back multiple players along with salary relief, which made the trade feel like the kind of calculated midseason decision front offices make when they think they can improve the big picture without waiting around for a veteran arm to rediscover form.
The White Sox no longer have Castillo in the role they envisioned, moving him to the bullpen after seven rough outings and a sky-high ERA. Rookie David Sandlin has taken his spot in the rotation, and the change only sharpens the sense that Seattle may have sold at the right moment, before the wear and uncertainty around Castillo became harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]