The Seattle Mariners are reportedly bolstering their infield ahead of the 2026 season.
Katie Woo of The Athletic reported Monday that the St. Louis Cardinals and Mariners are “finalizing a trade” that will send Brendan Donovan to Seattle. Jeff Passan of ESPN reported the Tampa Bay Rays are also involved in the deal:
Adam Jude of the Seattle Times and Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported on the return:
This is another move for a St. Louis team that is revamping its roster this offseason.
It already traded Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras, and this trade further suggests the National League Central team may have its eye on the future after finishing in fourth place last season and missing the playoffs for a third straight year.
St. Louis’ loss is Seattle’s gain, as the presumed contenders added another impact player as it looks to take the next step following last season’s American League Championship Series appearance.
Donovan made his first career All-Star Game last season while slashing .287/.353/.422 with 10 home runs and 50 RBI. His resume also includes a Gold Glove from his rookie campaign in 2022.
While the 29-year-old will add some pop to the lineup, he is most valuable as a talented and versatile defender.
Just last year, he played 809 innings at second base, 41 innings at shortstop and 152 innings in left field for the Cardinals.
Seattle will likely use him at second base plenty of times, but that type of versatility will let manager Dan Wilson mix and match the lineup based on matchups and who needs some time off. It also provides more positional depth should the team suffer any injuries.
Considering the Mariners have realistic plans of playing deep into the postseason, having quality depth over the course of a long year is a welcome development.