The Seattle Mariners officially announced a three-team trade Monday night for St. Louis Cardinals All-Star second baseman Brendan Donovan that also involves the Tampa Bay Rays.
Drayer: M’s land All-Star Brendan Donovan after long pursuit
In the deal, switch-pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje and outfield prospect Tai Peete go from the Mariners to St. Louis. The Mariners additionally are sending third baseman Ben Williamson to the Tampa Bay Rays, while the Rays are sending outfield prospect Colton Ledbetter to St. Louis. The Cardinals are also getting a Competitive Balance B draft pick from each of the Mariners and the Rays in the deal.
Brendan Donovan. Mariner.
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— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) February 3, 2026
“It’s tough to imagine a better fit for our current team than Brendan,” Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said in a press release announcing the trade. “His combination of offensive skill, defensive versatility, consistency in performance, baseball instincts, and quality of character line up with what we value most.”
Mariners general manager Justin Hollander also weighed in with a statement.
“Brendan brings a unique blend of elite top-of-the-lineup traits and versatility that makes him a perfect fit for our roster,” Hollander said. “We are excited to welcome him to Seattle.”
Donovan appeared to be the next player on the offseason market likely to move following the weekend signings of infielder Luis Arráez by the San Francisco Giants and former Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suárez by the Cincinnati Reds. The Mariners have been linked to Donovan in trade rumors throughout the winter.
Donovan adds a high-contact bat from the left side of the plate as well as positional flexibility to the Mariners’ lineup. The 28 year old won the National League Gold Glove at the utility position as a rookie in 2022 and was a first-time All-Star in 2025. Donovan hit a career-high .287 in 118 games last season along with 10 home runs, 32 doubles, a .353 on-base percentage and .775 OPS.
Seattle, meet Brendan. Brendan, meet Seattle. #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/z2vtbhyA39
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) February 3, 2026
Donovan agreed to a $5.8 million contract for 2026, avoiding arbitration in early January, and has two years of team control left.
Dipoto hinted at a move coming soon when he joined The Hot Stove on Seattle Sports from the team’s FanFest on Saturday.
“I do think there is one more player that is coming along for the ride that is not in a Mariners uniform just yet,” Dipoto said.
With Donovan, the Mariners get a veteran hitter who can move around the field, allowing Seattle to keep some younger players in the mix around the infield without fully relying upon them as the M’s look to build upon reaching Game 7 of the American League Championship Series for the first time in 24 years.
Salk: By adding Donovan, M’s did ‘what contending teams do’
Donovan played 100 games at second base in 2025 while also appearing in left field in 18 games and at shortstop in six games. He has also played first base, third base and right field sparingly in his four-year MLB career.
This is the second notable trade of the Mariners offseason. They also sent rookie catcher Harry Ford, the No. 42 overall prospect per MLB, and minor league pitcher Isaac Lyon to the Washington Nationals for left-handed relief pitcher Jose Ferrer on Dec. 6.
In free agency, the Mariners have re-signed first baseman Josh Naylor and added outfielder Rob Refsnyder and backup catcher Andrew Knizner this offseason.
The 22-year-old Cijntje was Seattle’s first-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Mississippi State. He is the No. 91 overall prospect and the last of seven Mariners prospects ranked in the top 100 by MLB Pipeline. He made his pro debut in 2025, pitching to a 4.58 ERA in 19 games (16 starts) with High-A Everett and a 2.67 ERA in seven games (all starts) after a late-season promotion to Double-A Arkansas.
While the 5-11 Cijntje continues to pitch with both arms, he is regarded as a better pitcher from the right side. The Mariners said this weekend that they would concentrate on developing him as a right-hander in 2026.
The 25-year-old Williamson was Seattle’s second-round pick in 2023 out of the College of William and Mary. He made his MLB debut last April and hit .253 with one home run and a .604 OPS in 85 games, while providing elite defense at the hot corner.
Peete, 20, was selected No. 30 overall by Seattle in the 2023 draft. He hit .217 with 19 home runs and 25 steals with a .692 OPS in 125 games with Everett in 2025.
“We are pleased that, because of this deal, we will add five more promising young players to the talent pipeline that has always fueled this organization’s sustained success,” Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said in a statement. “We believe we’ve added exciting athleticism and upside on both sides of the ball, with more to come in this summer’s draft.”
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