The pursuit of Cardinals super-utility standout Brendan Donovan is beginning to crystallize, with the Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants separating themselves as the most serious contenders. According to reporting from The Athletic’s Katie Woo, both clubs have positioned themselves at the forefront of negotiations with St. Louis, while also simultaneously holding discussions with the Diamondbacks regarding Ketel Marte. The dual-track approach underscores how aggressively each front office is exploring ways to upgrade its infield mix this offseason.
Interest in Donovan is hardly new for either Seattle or San Francisco. Both teams have been linked to the versatile left-handed hitter in previous reports, though earlier in the winter they were viewed as part of a much larger group rather than clear leaders. Donovan’s market has been described as expansive, with more than half the league at least checking in. Teams such as the Pirates, Royals, Guardians, and Astros have all been connected at various points, though the Cardinals’ asking price — believed to include multiple top-tier prospects — has narrowed the field to clubs with both competitive aspirations and deep farm systems.
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For the Giants, those prospect discussions have reportedly included infielder Gavin Kilen and left-hander Carson Whisenhunt. Kilen, San Francisco’s first-round selection in the 2025 draft, currently ranks as the organization’s No. 2 prospect. His professional resume is extremely limited, consisting of just ten games, during which he posted modest offensive numbers. However, that small sample does little to diminish the reputation he built at the University of Tennessee, where he was one of the most productive hitters in college baseball during his final season. Scouts have long praised his bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline, even as questions remain about his long-term defensive home and power ceiling.
Whisenhunt, ranked seventh in the Giants’ system, is a more established commodity. The 25-year-old reached the majors earlier this year, logging five starts with mixed results. While his surface numbers were underwhelming, his performance in Triple-A paints a more encouraging picture, particularly given the hitter-friendly nature of the Pacific Coast League. Armed with a changeup that grades as his calling card, Whisenhunt is generally viewed as a potential mid-rotation starter capable of contributing in the near term.
San Francisco’s motivation is clear. The Giants are actively seeking an upgrade at second base after inconsistent production from Casey Schmitt and Tyler Fitzgerald, and Donovan’s versatility makes him an especially attractive fit. At the same time, the club is keeping its options open. Marte remains a target, while Brandon Lowe and Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner have also drawn league-wide interest. Though the Giants haven’t been definitively tied to all of those alternatives, their availability highlights the breadth of paths San Francisco could take.