The Seattle Mariners lost Jorge Polanco to the New York Mets in free agency earlier in the offseason, and they haven’t done much to replace him.
They’re going to need to make a big move to find his replacement, especially considering there aren’t many solid infield options available in free agency. Seattle is likely going to need to dive into the trade market to find an upgrade over Polanco.
CBS Sports’ RJ Anderson predicted the Mariners would swing a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals to acquire All-Star infielder Brendan Donovan.
“Donovan was considered one of the hottest names on the trade market in November,” Anderson wrote. “Two months later, he’s still with the Cardinals. That figures to change soon enough. Although Donovan is under team control through the 2027 season, there’s no inherent reason for the Cardinals to keep him around — not with them retooling their roster for the long haul.
“His combination of above-average offense (he’s tallied at least a 114 OPS+ in each of his four seasons to date) and defensive versatility makes him a fit for most rosters. We’re guessing that the Mariners will find a way to leverage their impressive farm system depth to get a deal done.”
Donovan is one of the better players available on the trade market this offseason. The Mariners will likely need to give up a solid prospect haul to land him, but it would be worth it.
Donovan is a versatile defender with an All-Star caliber bat. He would be a welcome addition to the Mariners, as he could play second base, third base, first base, or corner outfield, depending on what the Mariners need from him. The fit is practically perfect.
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