Brendan Donovan (finally) traded: the Mariners are going after him

For much of the winter, there was talk of the St. Louis Cardinals trading Brendan Donovan. After Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray, and Nolan Arenado, it was his turn.

And now it's finally done.

The Seattle Mariners, in a three-way trade also involving the Tampa Bay Rays, agreed to give the Cardinals what they wanted for their versatile player.

Donovan is a utility player who can play just about anywhere on the field. He bats left-handed, is two years away from free agency, and is an above-average hitter.

He was in demand because he will really raise the level of play in Seattle.

With him on board, it's clear that the Mariners have, more than ever, one of the best teams in the American League. They will be a force to be reckoned with in 2026, let's just say that.

Possible Mariners lineup:
3B Donovan
CF Rodriguez
C Raleigh
1B Naylor
LF Arozarena
DH Refsnyder/Raley
RF Robles/Canzone
SS Crawford
2B Young/Rivas

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) February 2, 2026

But what's the return, then?

Jurrangelo Cijintje, the Mariners' first pick in 2024, who is a switch pitcher, and Tai Peete, a first pick in 2023, are heading to St. Louis. Ben Williamson is going to Tampa Bay. A prospect (Colton Ledbetter) and a pick will leave Tampa Bay.

The Mariners are sending Ben Williamson to Tampa Bay and two prospects to St. Louis in the Brendan Donovan trade: switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje, the Mariners' 2024 first-round pick, and Tai Peete, a 2023 first-round pick, sources tell @RyanDivish and me. https://t.co/QKMnG81p08

— Adam Jude (@A_Jude) February 2, 2026

I don't know if the Cardinals got enough in return for the hitter's services. The return doesn't necessarily seem huge, and the deal dragged on longer than we thought it would.

But we'll see how it plays out, depending on how the young players develop.

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