ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Matrix Midwest) – The Cardinals are sending Brendan Donovan to the Seattle Mariners in a three-way trade, the team announced Monday evening.
Both Jeff Passan of ESPN and Katie Woo of the Athletic reported Monday afternoon that the Cardinals were closing in on a 3-way trade that would send the utility to Seattle. Passan also reported that the third team involved is the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Seattle Mariners are nearing a deal to acquire IF/OF Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals as part of a three-way trade that also includes Tampa Bay, sources tell ESPN. A deal that had been considered for weeks would finally land Seattle a versatile impact bat.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 2, 2026
It was later reported that the Cardinals will receive a 2026 Competitive Balance Round B draft pick, as well as two prospects from the Mariners organization: pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje and outfielder Tai Peete.
Cijntje was selected 15th by the Mariners in the 2024 amateur draft. Last year, the 22-year-old went 5-7 with a 3.99 ERA and 120 strikeouts in the minors.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, left, and Jurrangelo Cijntje, pose after Cijntje was selected 15th overall by the Seattle Mariners in the first round of the MLB baseball draft in Fort Worth, Texas, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)(LM Otero | AP)
Although listed as a right-handed pitcher, Seattle has reported that Cijntje is ambidextrous.
Peete, 20, was drafted 30th by Seattle in 2023. Over the course of three years within the Mariners’ farm system, he batted .247 with 28 home runs, 154 RBIs, and 76 stolen bases in 1,166 plate appearances.
Seattle Mariners’ first-round draft pick Tai Peete throws while participating in batting practice before a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)(Lindsey Wasson | AP)
St. Louis will also receive 24-year-old minor league outfielder Colton Ledbetter and a Competitive Balance Round B draft pick this year from Tampa Bay.
Mississippi State outfielder Colton Ledbetter (10) during an NCAA baseball game on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)(Vasha Hunt | AP)
Ledbetter was chosen 55th by the Rays in the second round of the 2023 draft. In 253 minor league games with Tampa Bay, he hit .269 with 25 home runs and 126 RBIs.
The Seattle Mariners have acquired All-Star Brendan Donovan. Deal is done. Full trade, per sources:
Mariners receive: Donovan
Cardinals receive: RHP Jurrangelo Cijntje, CF Tai Peete, OF Colton Ledbetter and two competitive-balance Round B picks
Rays receive: 3B Ben Williamson
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 3, 2026
The Cardinals officially announced the trade around 8:30 Monday night.
Donovan has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason, as the Cardinals have gone full steam ahead with rebuilding, trading away Nolen Arenado, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras.
Donovan spent most of 2025 at second base, but sometimes played at third base and in the outfield.
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