2/2/26

 

(Seattle, WA) Jerry Dipoto was not done quite yet in the offseason as he made one more move before Spring Training starts later this month. On Monday, the Seattle Mariners were a part of a three-team trade with the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays to acquire 2025 All-Star second baseman Brendan Donovan from St. Louis.

Donovan is entering his age 29 season and in his previous four seasons with the Cardinals hit slashed .282/.361/.411 in 492 games. Donovan was named to the All-Star team last season for the first time ever in a season where he hit a career high .287. While Donovan does not deal damage like his predecessor Jorge Polanco, Donovan is a reliable guy at the top of the lineup to get on base for the sluggers behind him like Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh.

Jorge Polanco signed a free agent deal with the New York Mets earlier this offseason which created a hole at second base that Seattle would either need to address or have second year big leaguer Cole Young fill in to at least start the season. Rumors had the Mariners attached to Donovan all offseason long but the asking price from St. Louis was deemed too high for the Mariners. After San Francisco exited the Donovan sweepstakes by signing Luis Arráez over the weekend, the Mariners picked up the aggression to land Donovan before the start of Spring Training.

The biggest news in what Seattle will give up is the expected starting third baseman Ben Williamson will head to Tampa Bay as part of the package. Williamson played in 85 games for the Mariners last season and was the starter at the hot corner until Seattle acquired Eugenio Suárez at the trade deadline. Williamson slashed .253/.294/.310 in 295 plate appearances in his rookie season. Williamson showcased elite defense consistently for the Mariners as the team will now have to pivot to figuring out which direction they go at third base for Opening Day.

Another part of the trade will see Seattle trade their #7 prospect to St. Louis in switch pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje. Cijntje was just named the #91 prospect in baseball but the #15 draft pick in the 2024 MLB draft was expected to just pitch right-handed in the 2026 season. It is now unknown if that will change as the 22-year-old will be moving to a new organization.

St. Louis will also get CF Tai Peete from the M’s to complete the deal. The 20-year-old was the Mariners first round pick in 2023 out of high school. Peete is known for his speed and has been improving at the plate with strong defense as well. Seattle currently has a lot of outfield talent with Julio, Victor Robles, and Randy Arozarena at the big league level with Jonny Farmelo and Lazaro Montes also coming and currently higher ranked prospects than Peete. The added depth of Dominic Canzone, Luke Raley, and new Mariners Rob Refsnyder made Peete a piece the M’s could move and keeping St. Louis off of their pitching was the major key for the front office.

This article will be updated with more information as it becomes available so check back.

 

 

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