{"id":551672,"date":"2026-02-03T04:58:23","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T04:58:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/551672\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T04:58:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T04:58:23","slug":"seattle-mariners-did-what-contending-teams-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/551672\/","title":{"rendered":"Seattle Mariners did ‘what contending teams do’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Seattle Mariners have acquired All-Star second baseman and utilityman Brendan Donovan<\/a> from the St. Louis Cardinals via a three-team trade that also includes the Tampa Bay Rays.<\/p>\n

Drayer: M\u2019s land All-Star Brendan Donovan after long pursuit<\/a><\/p>\n

As part of the deal, the Mariners are sending switch-pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje, outfield prospect Tai Peete and a Competitive Balance B draft pick to the Cardinals, as well as third baseman Ben Williamson to the Rays.<\/p>\n

For a franchise that fell eight outs short of its first-ever World Series berth last fall, this is the type of move that could put the Mariners over the top, Seattle Sports\u2019 Mike Salk<\/a> said in a reaction video.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is what contending teams do,\u201d Salk said. \u201cYou go out and you acquire a veteran player \u2013 in this case, 29 years old, only two years of control \u2013 to come in and help you get over the top.\u201d<\/p>\n

An ideal roster fit<\/p>\n

Donovan has primarily played second base and outfield over his four-year MLB career, but he\u2019s also spent time at third base, shortstop and first base.<\/p>\n

That versatility allows the Mariners to provide a runway for some of their talented young infielders \u2013 including top prospect Colt Emerson and second baseman Cole Young \u2013 without putting immediate pressure on them to produce.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve got these young infielders that they like, that they want to work into the regular lineup, but you can\u2019t do that and let them get themselves overexposed,\u201d Salk said. \u201cSo what do you do? Bring in a player with a lot of positional flexibility, like Donovan.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe can play third. He can play second. If the young guys are going really well, you can bump him to the outfield if need be. You can move him around.\u201d<\/p>\n

Regardless of where he plays in the field, Donovan gives the Mariners a bona fide leadoff hitter. Last year, he ranked ninth in batting average and 17th in on-base percentage (.353) among qualified National League batters. He also had the seventh-lowest strikeout rate (13.0%) in the NL.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, he\u2019s a leadoff hitter \u2013 something that (the Mariners) have been missing since, well, it almost feels like forever,\u201d Salk said. \u201cHe will hit leadoff all the time, whether he\u2019s playing third or second or right or left or whatever.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis guy is going to hit at the top of the order, because he gets on base 35% of the time. Those are elite on-base skills. That\u2019s what he brings to the table more than anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n

And to top it off, Salk thinks Donovan will mesh well with the Mariners\u2019 tight-knit clubhouse.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy all accounts, he\u2019s an A-plus makeup guy,\u201d Salk said. \u201cEverybody loves him. Great teammate. Should be a perfect fit inside this clubhouse, which we know is important to this group.\u201d<\/p>\n

What about the cost?<\/p>\n

According to Baseball America<\/a>, Cijntje was the Mariners\u2019 No. 7 prospect and Peete was their No. 10 prospect. Williamson also was a top-15 prospect in Seattle\u2019s system before reaching the majors last season.<\/p>\n

Yet, while it\u2019s always difficult to part ways with young talent, the Mariners\u2019 farm system is among the deepest in baseball. And one of the biggest benefits of a well-stocked system is that it provides an opportunity to swing impact trades like the one Seattle just made.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes it hurt to give up Jurrangelo Cijntje?\u201d Salk said. \u201cYeah, sure. And it\u2019s going to hurt some of your pitching depth for this year, and certainly for years beyond this. But that\u2019s why you went out and got (No. 3 overall pick) Kade Anderson<\/a> last year in the draft.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners offseason coverage<\/p>\n

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Follow @CameronVanTil<\/a><\/p>\n

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