The Seattle Mariners came into the offseason needing to make a few big moves if they wanted to make another run at the World Series next season. The Mariners fell short in the American League Championship Series last year.
They were able to re-sign Josh Naylor earlier this winter, but Jorge Polanco bolted for a deal with the New York Mets. As a result, the Mariners need to find a replacement at second base.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter put together a big trade idea that would send Logan Evans and Felnin Celesten to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for All-Star infielder Brendan Donovan.
“Top prospect Colt Emerson is also a candidate to break camp with a strong spring, but Brendan Donovan would give the Mariners an experienced, versatile infielder coming off his first All-Star selection,” Reuter wrote. “The 28-year-old has a .282/.361/.411 line and 117 OPS+ in four big league seasons, and he is controllable through 2027.
“The Cardinals are clearly in rebuilding mode after flipping Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras for prospects, making a Donovan trade extremely likely at some point before the start of spring training.”
Donovan would be the perfect addition for the Mariners. He would slot in at second base as Polanco’s replacement, and the team would arguably be better than when Polanco was in the lineup.
Donovan’s defensive versatility would allow him to slide over to first base, third base, or the corner outfield spots if the team needed him to. With Colt Emerson quickly working his way to the big leagues, he could take over at second base, which would turn Donovan into a super utility player.
Either way, the fit makes perfect sense.
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