Seattle Mariners finalizing trade for Brendan Donovan in three-team deal with Cardinals, Rays
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: St. Louis Cardinals second base Brendan Donovan (33) tags out San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames (2) at second base during the MLB professional baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco (Bob Kupbens / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images)
The Seattle Mariners are working to finalize a deal to acquire infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan in a three-team deal with the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays, a source confirmed to FOX 13 Seattle.
The deal was first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN.com.
Donovan, 29, has been rumored to be a Mariners target throughout the offseason with a deal not coming together until the eve of spring training. A four-year starter with the Cardinals, Donovan is coming off an All-Star appearance last season, batting .287 with 10 home runs, 32 doubles, and 50 RBI, with 42 walks and 67 strikeouts in 118 games played. His career on-base percentage of .361 will make his a potential lead-off candidate for Seattle ahead of Julio Rodríguez, Cal Raleigh and Josh Naylor.
Primarily a second baseman, Donovan can play multiple positions in the field. He's also seen time at shortstop, third base, left field, right field, and first base during his time with the Cardinals. But second base and left field are his most common deployments.
Donovan will help the Mariners cover the loss of Jorge Polanco to the New York Mets early in free agency. Donovan is set to earn $5.8 million this year in his second year of salary arbitration. He's under club control through 2027 before becoming a free agent.
Donovan's flexibility should still allow the Mariners to continue their plans to get prospects Colt Emerson and Cole Young opportunities in the majors this season. Young made his MLB debut with Seattle last season while Emerson was a part of the team's taxi squad for the playoffs. Young plays second base primarily, while Emerson is a shortstop and third baseman.
The Mariners are sending switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje and outfielder Tai Peete to the Cardinals, and third baseman Ben Williamson to the Rays as part of the deal, a source confirmed. Adam Jude and Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times were the first to report the full return for Donovan.
Cijntje (2024) and Peete (2003) are former first-round draft picks, while Williamson (2023) was a second-round pick. Cijntje is listed as MLB's No. 91 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline and Seattle's seventh-ranked prospect behind shortstop/third baseman Colt Emerson, left-handed pitcher Kade Anderson, right-handed pitcher Ryan Sloan, outfielder Lazaro Montes, second baseman Michael Arroyo, and outfielder Jonny Farmelo.
The Cardinals are also reportedly getting outfielder Colton Ledbetter and two competitive-balance Round B picks from the Rays.
The Source: Information in this story came from ESPN.com, USA Today, The Seattle Times and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.
MORE MARINERS NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
Mariners debut Seattle Steelheads jerseys as fans pack T-Mobile Park
Thousands of fans fill T-Mobile Park for Seattle Mariners Fanfest
Logan Evans to miss 2026 season after Tommy John surgery for Seattle Mariners
How to watch Seattle Mariners games on TV in 2026
Rick Rizzs, longtime Mariners radio voice, to retire after 2026 season
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.