Seattle Mariners Acquire Brendan Donovan in Three-Team Deal
The Seattle Mariners have acquired infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan in a three-team trade involving the St. Louis Cardinals and the Tampa Bay Rays. This deal facilitates the Cardinals' ongoing rebuild by sending prospects to St. Louis, while the Rays will receive a prospect from the Mariners.
Trade Specifics
- Seattle Mariners receive: Infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals.
- St. Louis Cardinals receive: Switch-pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje and infielder/outfielder prospect Tai Peete from the Seattle Mariners.
- Tampa Bay Rays receive: Infielder Ben Williamson from the Seattle Mariners.
St. Louis Cardinals: A Rebuild Focus
The Cardinals have been actively pursuing a rebuild, and the trade of Brendan Donovan directly aligns with this strategic objective. Although Donovan is still in his arbitration years and was not moved for immediate financial reasons, his two-year proximity to free agency positioned him as a valuable asset for acquiring prospects.
Donovan's versatile defensive skills and consistent contact hitting made him an appealing player for contending teams.
This move follows prior deals where the Cardinals successfully traded veterans with no-trade clauses, including Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, and Willson Contreras.
Seattle Mariners: Addressing Positional Needs and Contact Hitting
The Seattle Mariners' acquisition of Donovan addresses key positional uncertainties and aims to significantly improve the team's overall contact rate. The Mariners had faced lingering questions at second and third base following the departures of Jorge Polanco and Eugenio Suárez.
Donovan's ability to play all four infield positions and outfield corners provides significant defensive flexibility.
This versatility will allow the team to adapt its lineup effectively, depending on the development and performance of promising prospects like Cole Young, Michael Arroyo, and Colt Emerson. Additionally, Donovan's contact-oriented batting approach is expected to play a crucial role in reducing the Mariners' high strikeout rates, which have ranked among the highest in MLB in recent seasons.
Prospects On The Move
- Jurrangelo Cijntje (to Cardinals): A unique switch-pitching prospect, Cijntje was the Mariners' first-round pick in 2024. He primarily pitches right-handed, capable of reaching the upper 90s with his fastball, but can also effectively throw left-handed. Last year, he recorded a 3.99 ERA in 108 1/3 minor league innings. The Cardinals will now determine his optimal developmental path, considering whether to continue him as a switch-pitcher or focus solely on his right-handed pitching.
- Tai Peete (to Cardinals): An infielder/outfielder prospect hailing from the Mariners' system.
- Ben Williamson (to Rays): An infielder who received big league time with the Mariners last year, particularly noted for his strong defensive skills.