If you’re the Seattle Mariners, it’s time to stop watching the Cardinals clear house and start making your move.
St. Louis has already sent Sonny Gray to Boston.
Then came Willson Contreras, also headed to the Red Sox in a deal that looked more like a salary dump than a roster upgrade. That’s two big names out the door, two big contracts off the books - and a clear signal that the Cardinals are in the middle of a reset.
Or a re-tool. Or whatever label they want to slap on it.
But here’s what really matters: the Cardinals aren’t just making random moves. There’s a pattern here.
The front office is reshaping the roster, creating financial flexibility, and clearing the runway for their next phase. And if you’re the Mariners, the next phase should have your full attention - because Brendan Donovan might be up next.
Donovan fits Seattle like a glove. He’s the kind of player the Mariners have spent years trying to develop in-house: high on-base skills, excellent contact rates, defensive versatility, and a grinder mentality at the plate.
He’s not just a tough out - he’s the kind of hitter who forces pitchers to work, pitch after pitch, at-bat after at-bat. That’s the DNA Seattle wants more of.
And the timing couldn’t be better. According to recent reports, the Mariners and Giants are the two teams seriously in on Donovan.
That’s not rumor mill noise - that’s real traction. MLB.com even noted that Seattle’s talks with St.
Louis have picked up momentum in recent days. And let’s not forget: the Giants don’t usually enter trade conversations just to kick the tires.
Since Buster Posey stepped into the front office, San Francisco has shown they’re not afraid to be bold.
That’s why the Mariners can’t afford to play this one safe.
This doesn’t mean emptying the farm system. It doesn’t mean mortgaging the future.
But it does mean acting with conviction. Jerry Dipoto and the front office have done well to build a strong foundation, but this is the kind of move that can elevate a good roster into something more.
Donovan isn’t a superstar, but he’s the kind of all-around contributor who helps win games in October. And if the Cardinals are truly open for business, this is the kind of deal that could get done - if Seattle is willing to lean in.
Because if they don’t? San Francisco just might. And the last thing the Mariners need is to watch another impact piece head down the coast while they’re still waiting for the perfect deal to fall in their lap.
The Cardinals are clearing the decks. The opportunity is there. Now it’s on Seattle to decide whether they want to keep watching… or start dealing.