Cardinals Trade Brendan Donovan to Mariners in Three-Team Deal Focused on Future
Brendan Donovan is heading to the Pacific Northwest. The versatile infielder and 2022 Gold Glove winner has been traded to the Seattle Mariners in a three-team deal that signals a clear direction for the St. Louis Cardinals: build for the future through volume, upside, and draft capital.
It’s never easy to part ways with a player like Donovan. Over the past three seasons, he’s been a steady presence in the Cardinals' lineup, posting a 119 wRC+ while playing just about everywhere on the diamond.
His defensive flexibility wasn’t just useful-it was elite. He made history in 2022 by winning the first-ever Gold Glove awarded to a utility player.
Add in his growing leadership role in the clubhouse, and it’s clear this is more than just a numbers-based loss. Donovan represented what it meant to wear the Cardinals jersey.
But with just two years of team control left and his value at a high point, the timing made sense. And the return? It’s substantial.
The Headliner: Jurrangelo Cijntje
At the center of the deal is switch-pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje-yes, a legitimate two-way arm, capable of throwing with both hands. While that novelty grabs headlines, there’s real substance here. Cijntje was a first-round pick by the Mariners in 2024 and just wrapped up a solid 2025 campaign, posting a 3.99 ERA with 120 strikeouts over 108.1 innings split between High-A and Double-A.
He’s far more effective from the right side, and that’s where the Cardinals are expected to focus his development-at least for now. Reports suggest he’ll pitch exclusively right-handed in spring training while continuing to throw lefty in bullpen sessions.
His fastball touches the upper-90s and pairs well with a slider that generates plenty of swing-and-miss. This isn’t just a gimmick arm-Cijntje has the tools to be a legitimate rotation piece down the line.
The Outfield Depth: Tai Peete and Colton Ledbetter
St. Louis also picked up two young outfielders: Tai Peete and Colton Ledbetter, each bringing different skill sets to the table.
Peete is the high-upside swing here. Just 20 years old, he’s a power-speed combo player who hit 19 homers and 24 doubles last season in High-A.
The raw tools are loud, but so are the strikeout numbers-he whiffed over 30% of the time last year. Still, with 25 stolen bases in 2025 (and 45 the year before), plus speed, and the ability to stick in center field, Peete is the kind of lottery ticket that could pay off big if the Cardinals can help him refine his approach.
Ledbetter, 24, brings a more polished profile. He slashed .265 with a .716 OPS last season, adding seven home runs and 37 stolen bases. He’s not a flashy name, but he adds depth to the outfield pipeline and brings athleticism and versatility to the organization’s upper minors.
The Draft Capital: Two Comp B Picks
What really rounds out this deal is the draft haul. The Cardinals acquired two Competitive Balance Round B picks-one from the Mariners (No. 68 overall) and one from the Rays (No. 72 overall).
That gives St. Louis five picks in the first 72 selections of the 2026 MLB Draft.
That’s a big deal. For an organization that’s leaning into a “draft and develop” approach under Chaim Bloom, this kind of draft capital is gold.
Bloom has now added 10 prospects and two top-72 draft picks this offseason through trades alone. That’s a clear signal: the Cardinals are retooling their farm system with an eye on long-term sustainability.
A Bittersweet Goodbye
There’s no sugarcoating the emotional side of this move. Brendan Donovan was beloved in St.
Louis-for his consistency, his versatility, and the way he carried himself. But in today’s game, timing is everything.
With two years of control left and a roster that needed a spark of youth and upside, the Cardinals made a calculated decision to sell high.
And they didn’t just get quantity-they got quality. Cijntje is a legitimate top-100 prospect with a unique profile.
Peete and Ledbetter add outfield depth and upside. And those Comp B picks?
They could become the next wave of Cardinals contributors if the scouting and development processes do their jobs.
This is a move about tomorrow, not today. And while saying goodbye to a player like Donovan is never easy, the return package makes it a little easier to look ahead with optimism.