Three-Team Trade Breakdown: Mariners Land Donovan, Cardinals Reload, Rays Facilitate
After a quiet offseason, Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto is back doing what he does best - making moves that reshape the roster without compromising the long-term vision. In a three-team deal involving the Cardinals and Rays, Seattle added a key piece in infielder Brendan Donovan, while St.
Louis picked up a trio of prospects and two draft picks. The Rays, true to form, played the middleman and walked away with third baseman Ben Williamson.
Let’s break down what it all means.
Mariners Get Their Guy: Brendan Donovan
Seattle lands Brendan Donovan, and it’s a move that checks a lot of boxes. Donovan isn’t just a plug-and-play infielder - he’s a Swiss Army knife who brings versatility, on-base skills, and a steady glove to the mix. Whether he ends up at second base, third, or floats around the diamond as a utility weapon, Donovan gives manager Scott Servais options.
With Eugenio Suárez gone and top prospect Cole Young still developing, Donovan could take over the hot corner or slide into a regular role at second if Young isn’t quite ready. He also offers a fallback plan if Seattle wants to rotate DH days between their core hitters - think Randy Arozarena or Josh Naylor - while keeping the lineup flexible.
Donovan may not have the raw power of Jorge Polanco, who left for the Mets on a two-year, $40 million deal, but the numbers tell a more nuanced story. Over the past three seasons, Donovan has posted a 116 OPS+, slightly edging out Polanco’s 114 mark. He controls the strike zone, makes hard contact, and brings a disciplined approach that should translate well to the pitcher-friendly confines of T-Mobile Park.
This isn’t just a short-term fix, either. Donovan still has two years of club control, making him a valuable piece for a Mariners team that’s clearly eyeing a playoff run - and maybe more.
Dipoto already made a splash earlier in the offseason, locking up Naylor to a five-year, $92.5 million deal. Now, with Donovan in the fold, Seattle adds depth and stability without dealing from the top of what remains one of baseball’s strongest farm systems. It’s a savvy move that strengthens a lineup already built around cornerstone stars like Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh - and a rotation that ranks among the best in the league.
Grade: A
Cardinals Go Long-Term: A Tough, Necessary Reset
For the Cardinals, this trade signals something fans in St. Louis aren’t used to: a full reset.
After years of sustained success - 22 winning seasons in 23 years - the franchise is finally acknowledging that it’s time to pivot. With longtime stars retiring and recent seasons falling short of expectations, the front office decided to move on from Donovan, one of their most productive and versatile players, in exchange for a package of young talent and draft capital.
The headline return is Jurrangelo Cijntje, a switch-pitching phenom with real upside. Yes, you read that right - he throws with both arms.
While he hasn’t cracked any Top 100 prospect lists just yet, the tools are there. Joining him are outfielders Tai Peete and Colton Ledbetter, both former high draft picks with intriguing ceilings.
Add in two Competitive Balance Round B picks, and the Cardinals have given themselves a shot at reloading the pipeline.
None of the prospects are sure things - that’s the gamble. But for a team that’s clearly more than a couple of pieces away from contending again, this is about building a foundation for 2027 and beyond.
Keeping Donovan would’ve been the easy call. He’s coming off an All-Star year and still had two years of control.
But the Cardinals chose the harder path - trading a fan favorite to restock the farm and embrace the rebuild. It’s not flashy, and it won’t be fun to watch in the short term, but it’s a move that shows this front office has a plan.
Grade: B+
Rays Do What Rays Do: Facilitate and Finesse
Leave it to the Rays to find value in the margins. Tampa Bay jumps into this three-team deal and walks away with Ben Williamson, a promising third baseman, while helping grease the wheels for the Mariners and Cardinals to get what they want.
This marks the sixth time since the end of the 2023 season that the Rays have been involved in a three-team trade - a testament to how well-connected and opportunistic they are. GM Erik Neander has built a reputation for being active, creative, and willing to do business with just about anyone. That includes Jerry Dipoto, with whom he’s executed several deals over the years.
Williamson might not be a headliner, but in Tampa’s hands, he’s the kind of player who could quietly develop into a contributor. He’s a solid defender with a good approach at the plate, and the Rays have a track record of maximizing that kind of profile.
They didn’t give up much to get him, and in the process, they helped facilitate a trade that worked for everyone involved. That’s classic Rays.
Grade: A (for effort - and execution)
Final Thoughts
This deal reflects three teams in very different phases of their competitive cycles - and each one made a move that fits their current trajectory.
- The Mariners are pushing to win now, and Donovan gives them a high-floor, high-IQ player who can help them do just that.
- The Cardinals are taking the long view, flipping a valuable asset for multiple shots at building the next core.
- And the Rays? They’re doing what they always do - staying nimble, opportunistic, and just a little bit smarter than everyone else.
No losers here. Just three front offices making calculated moves with an eye on the bigger picture.