Brendan Donovan’s Impact in Seattle
With Eugenio Suarez recently returning to Cincinnati, a spot opened up on the infield for the defending American League West champions.
In comes Donovan, who has been linked to the Mariners for some time. He won’t be a free agent until the end of 2027, so he’ll have two opportunities at a postseason run with Seattle.
A 2025 National League All-Star, Donovan is baseball’s best utility man. He logged 100 games at second base this past year, but he has played every position except for center field and catcher as a big leaguer.
Brendan Donovan (acquired by SEA) is a versatile defender who has been the epitome of consistency throughout his career
His strong bat-to-ball skills and barrel control have helped him post above average offensive results. Seattle finally gets their 2B! https://t.co/LgzEyzKuO7 pic.twitter.com/z3jk6uW94P
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) February 2, 2026
Donovan is a career 119-wRC+ hitter, displaying a blend of great contact accuracy, swing decisions, and power for a middle infielder.
A table setter for much of his time in St. Louis, Donovan should fit in very nicely near the top of Seattle’s lineup in 2026. Expect plenty of RBI opportunities for Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez, and it’s a boost of offense this lineup needed following the departures of Jorge Polanco and Suarez.
Another Prospect Haul for St. Louis
President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom made it clear in his introductory press conference that the franchise would be operating with the future in mind.
Those under guaranteed contracts and those who were arbitration eligible were immediately thrown onto the chopping block.
Previously this offseason, the team dealt stars Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, and Willson Contreras to contenders, retaining nearly $60 million to improve their returns.