With pitchers and catchers set to report in less than two weeks and full-squad workouts beginning February 16, the St. Louis Cardinals are entering the final stretch of their offseason prep-and so is Chaim Bloom.
In his first winter as the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations, Bloom has already made significant moves to reshape the roster. But one potential domino still looms large: Brendan Donovan.
Bloom’s offseason checklist is mostly complete. He moved on from big contracts-Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and Nolan Arenado are all off the books-and in return, he brought in a haul of seven prospects.
He also addressed the rotation by adding right-hander Dustin May, who brings frontline potential when healthy. What’s left?
Not much, but there are still a few pieces in motion. One is the search for a right-handed bat who can play the corners.
Another is the possibility of dealing Donovan, a versatile utility man with value on both sides of the ball.
And if there’s a team that’s been circling Donovan for a while, it’s the Seattle Mariners.
Over the weekend at Mariners FanFest, Seattle’s president of baseball operations, Jerry Dipoto, hinted that the front office might not be done just yet. “There’s one more move that we feel like is in and we want to make,” Dipoto told reporters. “We’ve been grinding hard for the last handful of days to see if we can bring it through, and hopefully we do.”
It’s not hard to connect the dots. The Mariners have been linked to Donovan for two straight offseasons, and for good reason.
The 2025 All-Star is a Gold Glove-caliber defender who can play second base, third base, and left field, and he brings a solid bat to the table. He’s the kind of plug-and-play piece who could stabilize the Mariners’ lineup and give them flexibility across the diamond.
According to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, Donovan remains Seattle’s top target. The Mariners have reportedly had trade talks with the Cardinals about him in each of the last two offseasons, and the belief around the league is that St. Louis is open to moving him-if the price is right.
That price, however, won’t be cheap.
Bloom is reportedly asking for multiple top prospects in any deal involving Donovan. Names like Jurrangelo Cijntje and Lazaro Montes have been floated as potential pieces in a return package, and while nothing is imminent, the Cardinals are unlikely to move Donovan unless they’re blown away by the offer.
Bloom may not have drawn a hard line in the sand, but word is he wants his roster set by the start of spring training. That puts a soft deadline on any potential deal.
Seattle does have intriguing infield talent on the way-guys like Colt Emerson and Ben Williamson are waiting in the wings-but Donovan offers a more immediate, proven upgrade. If the Mariners feel pressure to solidify their roster before camp opens, they may be forced to meet Bloom’s high asking price.
For now, it’s a waiting game. But with Dipoto suggesting something’s close and Bloom eyeing spring training as a cutoff point, the clock is ticking. If a Brendan Donovan trade is going to happen, it could be coming soon.