The Mariners, Rays and Cardinals formally introduced a three-team deal that sends infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan to Seattle. The total breakdown is as follows:
The Mariners ship infielder Ben Williamson to the Rays, in addition to prospects Jurrangelo Cijntje and Tai Peete and a aggressive steadiness spherical B choose (#68 general) to the Cardinals, receiving infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals.
The Cardinals ship infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan to the Mariners, getting prospects Jurrangelo Cijntje and Tai Peete plus a aggressive steadiness spherical B choose (#68 general) from the Mariners, in addition to receiving outfield prospect Colton Ledbetter and a aggressive steadiness spherical B choose (#72 general) from the Rays.
The Rays ship outfield prospect Colton Ledbetter and a aggressive steadiness spherical B choose (#72 general) to the Cardinals, receiving infielder Ben Williamson from the Mariners.
A Donovan commerce has felt inevitable for fairly some time. The Cardinals have been leaning more durable right into a rebuild this winter. They tried to kick off a reset final offseason however struggled to maneuver their veteran gamers with no-trade clauses and ended up principally standing pat. With president of baseball operations John Mozeliak ceding the reins to new president Chaim Bloom after the 2025 marketing campaign, it turned clear that the membership would push more durable to concentrate on the longer term.
Nolan Arenado, Sonny Grey and Willson Contreras all had no-trade clauses of their contracts and appeared reluctant to approve offers within the 2024-25 offseason. As final yr was winding down, all of them publicly expressed a better openness to enjoying for brand spanking new groups in 2026. That has now come to fruition for all three. Grey and Contreras had been each traded to the Purple Sox, whereas Arenado landed with the Diamondbacks.
Donovan’s scenario was barely completely different. These different three guys had been all veterans making eight-figure salaries. Shifting them out of St. Louis was partially about slashing the payroll and in addition about opening up alternatives for youthful gamers as a part of the rebuild. Donovan, however, remains to be in his arbitration seasons. He’ll make a comparatively modest $5.8MM in 2026 and can be due a increase in 2027.
It wouldn’t be essential to commerce Donovan for monetary causes at that worth. However with the Playing cards anticipating their rebuild to final just a few years, it made sense to make Donovan out there since he’s simply two years away from free company. An extension was one other chance however Donovan is now 29, so he’ll be going into his age-31 season in his first free agent yr, and it’s unclear if the Playing cards can be aggressive by then.
Donovan was a case the place the St. Louis entrance workplace wouldn’t have to fret in regards to the contract and will concentrate on merely bringing again as a lot expertise as potential. Along with his modest wage and incapacity to dam trades, the Playing cards may scour the league to see what groups had been prepared to pay when it comes to prospect capital. Since Donovan can play all around the diamond, with expertise in any respect 4 infield positions and the outfield corners, nearly any contender may match him onto the roster.
It’s not simply defensive versatility that Donovan brings to the desk. In his 4 massive league seasons, he has been remarkably in keeping with a contact-based strategy on the plate. His strikeout fee has been within the 12 to fifteen% vary in every season of his profession, throughout a time when the league common is often round 22% or so. He has additionally drawn walks at a fee proper round league par. He doesn’t have large energy however has hit a minimum of 10 house runs in every of the previous three seasons.
Put all of it collectively and Donovan has a profession .282/.361/.411 slash line. That interprets to a 119 wRC+, indicating he has been 19% higher than league common on the plate general. Every of his 4 seasons has ended with a wRC+ between 115 and 127. A persistently above common hitter with an inexpensive wage who can capably play many various positions made Donovan a superb match for a lot of groups and he reportedly acquired curiosity from about half the golf equipment within the league. He underwent sports activities hernia surgical procedure in October however that doesn’t appear to have put a damper on his market and there was no reporting to recommend he gained’t be wholesome for spring coaching.
The Mariners actually stood out as top-of-the-line matches, if not the perfect. They went into the winter with some query marks in varied positions but in addition potential inside options. They completed 2025 with Jorge Polanco as their common second baseman and Eugenio Suárez at third. Each turned free brokers and have since agreed to offers with completely different golf equipment, Polanco with the Mets and Suárez the Reds.
Seattle had curiosity in bringing each again however it additionally would have been a bit awkward to signal both. Placing Polanco again at second would have blocked Cole Younger. He debuted in 2025 and didn’t have rapid success, with a .211/.302/.305 line on the yr. Nevertheless, he could have been held again by a .247 batting common on balls in play, as his 10.9% stroll fee and 18.3% strikeout fee had been each fairly good. The M’s presumably don’t need to surrender on him simply primarily based on that preliminary publicity to the large leagues. Center infield prospect Michael Arroyo can be not far off, having reached Double-A in 2025. Ryan Bliss confirmed some promise earlier than he spent most of 2025 on the injured record.
At third base, the Mariners already gave some massive league time to Williamson final yr. He didn’t hit a lot however obtained actually robust critiques for his glovework, getting credited with eight Defensive Runs Saved in 703 innings. That gave them a glove-first flooring on the place.
In the meantime, they’ve Colt Emerson lurking. A consensus high 20 prospect coming into 2026, he crushed Excessive-A and Double-A in 2025, getting a late promotion to Triple-A for six video games. He might be the long-term shortstop however his glovework is taken into account a bit behind his bat. With J.P. Crawford signed by way of 2026, Emerson may theoretically cowl third in 2026 after which transfer over to brief for 2027. Nevertheless, he’s solely 20 years previous and has barely reached Triple-A, so there’s no assure of that state of affairs enjoying out as scripted.
There’s additionally a little bit of uncertainty in proper area, the place the Mariners have a cluster of men together with Víctor Robles, Dominic Canzone, Luke Raley and Rob Refsnyder. Robles was injured for many of 2025 and struggled when on the sector. The opposite three guys have principally discovered success in platoon roles, Canzone and Raley from the left facet and Refsnyder the precise.
Take all these conditions into consideration and Donovan’s attraction turns into clear. His multi-positional talents will enable the membership to bounce him round relying on who else is wholesome and producing. Maybe he’ll begin out projected at second base, since that’s the place he has performed most in his profession. But when Younger breaks out or Bliss bounces again, Donovan will be moved to 3rd. With Williamson now leaving for Tampa, Donovan may cowl the new nook till Emerson prices forth and takes that spot. If second and third are each taken over by youthful guys, then Donovan may see extra time within the outfield. As accidents pop up all year long, the image will change and Donovan can shift.
Donovan’s contact strategy was seemingly additionally part of the attraction. The Mariners had one of many highest strikeout charges within the majors in each 2023 and 2024, with a 25.9% fee within the former and a 26.8% clip within the latter. They made a concerted effort to get that down in 2025, dropping it to 23.3%, however that was nonetheless one of many seven highest charges out of the 30 golf equipment within the majors.
To get Donovan, the Mariners are dipping into their robust farm system however aren’t giving up any of their high guys. Cijntje, 23 in Might, was Seattle’s first-round choose in 2024. The M’s took him fifteenth general and signed him with a $4.8809MM bonus.
Some of the distinctive prospects, Cijntje primarily throws along with his proper arm but in addition throws along with his left. He can get his fastball to the higher 90s with each arms however his lefty velocity is a tad decrease. Mainly, he has been working as a conventional righty starter however then sometimes switching to the left facet when dealing with a lefty hitter. The potential outcomes with such a prospect are fairly broad, because it’s by no means actually been seen earlier than. Pat Venditte pitched with each arms and was in a position to carve out an enormous league profession from 2015 to 2020, however as a journeyman reliever.
Cijntje, however, appears able to being an enormous league starter along with his proper arm. He posted a 3.99 ERA in 108 1/3 minor league innings final yr. Baseball America just lately ranked him the #7 prospect in a robust Seattle system.
Whether or not he would nonetheless combine in some lefty work in the long term is undetermined. Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reported yesterday that Cijntje can be principally specializing in his work as a righty in spring coaching. He was going to nonetheless throw as a lefty in some bullpen work however not in video games.
The Cardinals will presumably shed some gentle on what they take note of for Cijntje, although the staff introduced him as a right-handed pitcher of their press launch. Whether or not it’s as a switch-pitcher or a conventional righty, he’ll give them some further pitching depth, which has been their primary goal this winter. Additionally they added Richard Fitts and Brandon Clarke within the Grey commerce, Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita within the Contreras deal after which Jack Martinez within the Arenado swap.
A few of these pitchers are rapid candidates for large league work however that shouldn’t be the case with Cijntje. He hasn’t but reached Triple-A and has solely seven begins on the Double-A degree. If the switch-pitching experiment had been to proceed, he ought to arguably require extra improvement time than a normal prospect, since it could be such an unprecedented path that there’s no map. He gained’t be Rule 5 eligible till December of 2027, so the Playing cards might be very affected person in the event that they wished, particularly with the key league membership not being aggressive within the brief time period.
Peete, 20, was chosen thirtieth general within the 2023 draft and signed through a $2.5MM bonus. He has large instruments but in addition massive query marks. In 2025, he obtained into 125 Excessive-A video games. He hit 19 house runs and stole 25 bases but in addition struck out in 30.6% of his plate appearances. Initially a shortstop who additionally dabbled at second and third, the Mariners moved him to the outfield final yr, principally in middle but in addition with an honest period of time in left.
It’s a long-term play with broad error bars however BA just lately gave Peete the #10 spot within the Seattle system. The truth that he’s already putting out at such a excessive fee is worrisome, as hitters usually strike out extra as they climb the minor league ladder and face harder pitching. However his outfield protection is taken into account robust regardless that he simply moved there, and there’s energy within the bat. The components are doubtlessly there however St. Louis must be affected person since he’s not near the majors and wishes some refinement.
Ledbetter, 24, was a second-round choose of the Rays in 2023. He profiles as a man who can do loads of issues nicely however and not using a standout device. He performed 123 Double-A video games final yr, hitting seven house runs and stealing 37 bases whereas enjoying all three outfield spots. His 9.5% stroll fee and 23.9% strikeout fee had been each near regular.
For the Rays, they’re giving up Ledbetter and a draft choose however presumably really feel Williamson is a worthwhile near-term improve to the large league squad, whereas Ledbetter and the choose wouldn’t be serving to the staff for just a few years.
As talked about, Williamson profiles as a glove-first third baseman, however he additionally has minor league expertise on the center infield spots. The Rays have top-of-the-line younger third basemen in Junior Caminero, who simply wrapped up a 45-homer season in his age-21 marketing campaign. His protection wasn’t particularly nicely regarded, so Williamson may maybe sub in for him late in video games for higher glovework.
The Rays traded away Brandon Lowe however then changed him at second base by buying Gavin Lux. Hitting from the left facet, Lux wants a platoon accomplice, as he has a profession .269/.344/.406 line towards righties however .198/.277/.260 towards lefties. Williamson is a righty and hit higher towards southpaws in his debut final yr, so maybe he might help the Rays protect Lux. Williamson additionally has choices and might be despatched to the minors if complementing Lux and Caminero doesn’t get him sufficient enjoying time.
Finally, this deal is in regards to the Mariners making an enormous improve to their staff. They simply went to the ALCS in 2025 and nearly made it to the World Sequence, earlier than a heartbreaking loss in recreation seven. Donovan provides to the 2026 and 2027 groups whereas additionally giving the membership the flexibleness to seek out roles for a few of their youthful guys who might be long-term items. He doesn’t break the financial institution financially and didn’t require the membership to half with any of its finest prospects.
The Cardinals money in a man who wasn’t going to be a lot use to them throughout their rebuild. They’ve added some extra younger expertise to the system and in addition cleared extra enjoying time for gamers who might be a part of the subsequent aggressive cycle, together with JJ Wetherholt, Thomas Saggese, Nolan Gorman, Joshua Baez and others. Additionally they picked up two moderately excessive draft picks so as to add a pair extra prospects in July. That’ll seemingly add round $2.5MM to their bonus pool as nicely.
Additional trades are theoretically potential. Lefty reliever JoJo Romero is an impending free agent and a pure commerce candidate. He has stayed with the Cardinals to this point, so maybe they haven’t been shocked by the presents, which may result in him staying in St. Louis till the summer time deadline. Lars Nootbaar is 2 years from free company, like Donovan, however he could start the season on the injured record as a result of heel surgical procedure. He has been in some rumors however the Playing cards could maintain him till he reveals he’s wholesome, then make him out there in the summertime as nicely.
Although a Donovan commerce has been mentioned all winter, it took many of the offseason to return collectively. Presumably, that’s because of the different members within the recreation of musical chairs. The offseason started with free company providing different infielders, together with Suárez and Polanco but in addition Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman, Luis Arráez and extra.
The chairs began filling up in latest weeks. The Cubs reached an settlement with Bregman in mid-January. Not lengthy after, Bichette landed with the Mets. The Giants had been reportedly making a robust push for guys like Donovan but in addition Nico Hoerner of the Cubs and CJ Abrams of the Nationals. As an alternative, they pivoted to a one-year cope with Arráez this weekend. Suárez lingered unsigned till reaching an settlement with the Reds in latest days.
After the Mariners, the Purple Sox had been one of many golf equipment most regularly related to Donovan. They appear more likely to let Marcelo Mayer change Bregman at third however don’t have an awesome resolution at second base. Reportedly, Donovan wasn’t thought-about an ideal match as a result of the lineup is already heavy on lefties, however they now have one much less possibility out there. Rumors have been swirling about Isaac Paredes however it’s unclear if the Astros have any willingness to deal him.
Katie Woo and Chad Jennings of The Athletic first reported that the Mariners had been near getting Donovan in what was seemingly a three-team commerce. Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that the Rays had been the third staff. Bob Nightengale of USA At the moment reported that Tampa was anticipated to get Williamson. Joel Sherman of The New York Put up first reported on Cijntje going to the Playing cards. Adam Jude and Ryan Divish of The Seattle Occasions first reported Peete going to the Playing cards. Nightengale first had Tampa sending out a prospect and a comp B choose. Sherman first reported Ledbetter’s inclusion. Nightengale then specified the total breakdown. Passan reported that the settlement was in place and that Seattle was sending the #68 choose to St. Louis.
Pictures courtesy of Eakin Howard, Jeff Curry, Kevin Jairaj, Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Photos
