St. Louis Cardinals infielder Brendan Donovan has become one of the most talked-about names in offseason trade discussions. With the Cardinals appearing ready to pivot toward a rebuild, moving a player like Donovan could align with their long-term plans.
Donovan’s value around the league is undeniable. After earning a National League All-Star selection last season, he established himself as one of baseball’s most reliable and versatile infielders. His ability to play multiple positions at a high level makes him an attractive target for a wide range of teams.
One proposed scenario, put together by Curt Bishop of St. Louis Cardinals OnSi, links Donovan to the Seattle Mariners in a hypothetical deal. In the mock trade, Seattle would send three of its top prospects — Jurrangelo Cijntje, Michael Arroyo, and Lazaro Montes — to St. Louis in exchange for Donovan.
Bishop noted that Seattle has reportedly shown openness to moving Cijntje, a switch-pitcher and the organization’s No. 7 prospect. Given St. Louis’ need to bolster its pitching pipeline, targeting Cijntje would make sense. Arroyo, a right-handed hitter, would address another organizational weakness for the Cardinals, while Montes would further strengthen their outfield depth. Although St. Louis already has promising outfielders such as Joshua Baez nearing the majors, adding more high-upside talent could pay dividends in the coming years.
That said, the proposed return would be an extreme price for the Mariners to pay. Giving up three highly regarded prospects for Donovan alone would represent a major overcommitment, and it’s difficult to justify such a move under any circumstances.
Still, from a roster-construction standpoint, the fit between Donovan and Seattle is easy to understand. The Mariners are thin in the infield after Jorge Polanco’s departure in free agency, and they could also be at risk of losing Eugenio Suárez. Donovan’s flexibility would allow him to step in seamlessly at multiple infield positions and immediately stabilize the lineup.
While Seattle should certainly explore the possibility of acquiring Donovan, doing so should not come at the cost of sacrificing such a significant portion of their farm system. A deal makes sense in theory — just not at that price.
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