As the Seattle Mariners map out their next moves in the wake of a chaotic offseason, one name has become a focal point in trade discussions: Brendan Donovan, the versatile, contact-driven All-Star from the St. Louis Cardinals. Analysts across the league have highlighted Donovan as one of the most attainable high-impact players on the market, and in response, a series of realistic trade proposals have been laid out—each one designed to strike a balance between Seattle’s needs and St. Louis’ long-term goals.
Seattle’s interest is no mystery. The franchise is looking to add hitters with strong plate discipline, reduce strikeout rates, and create more lineup versatility heading into the 2026 season. Donovan fits that mold perfectly. He is a career .280 hitter with excellent on-base skills, elite contact ability, and the defensive flexibility to move between second base, third base, and both corner outfield spots. The value of that kind of multi-position reliability cannot be overstated—especially for a Mariners organization that often finds itself shuffling lineups due to depth concerns.
Financially, Donovan is also appealing. He remains under team control for multiple seasons, making him a budget-friendly solution for a club working to sustain contention without ballooning payroll. For Seattle, he checks immediate needs while still aligning with multi-year roster planning.
This has led analysts to outline three trade scenarios that could realistically get St. Louis management to engage.
The first proposal centers around a prospect-focused trade. In this structure, the Mariners send one of their top-10 prospects—such as an upper-level infielder or a high-upside pitcher—along with a second mid-tier minor leaguer in exchange for Donovan. St. Louis would receive future assets to bolster their long-term pipeline, while Seattle lands an established major-league player ready to contribute immediately. Analysts consider this the simplest and most balanced deal on the table.
The second scenario emphasizes pitching, an area where the Cardinals have struggled with both depth and durability. Seattle could offer a young controllable starter or a power reliever, paired with a promising prospect. This package gives St. Louis something they desperately need—arms—and gives Seattle the offensive spark they’re after. The downside for the Mariners is the potential loss of valuable pitching depth, but the addition of Donovan’s bat could outweigh that concern.
The third proposal is the most creative: a three-team trade. These deals are complicated, but they often allow each participant to address different needs without overpaying. In this case, the Mariners would send prospects to a third team, which in turn ships a major-league pitcher to St. Louis. The Cardinals then move Donovan to Seattle. This approach spreads costs across multiple clubs and can make a high-profile deal more manageable. Analysts see this path as viable, especially if Seattle hesitates to surrender top pitching talent directly to St. Louis.
Across all three scenarios, one thing is clear: Donovan is well within reach, but Seattle must decide how aggressively they are willing to act. Given his blend of contact, versatility, on-field consistency, and financial control, he represents one of the most efficient upgrades available. The Mariners have the assets to make a deal—and the motivation to get one done.
As the offseason progresses and trade conversations intensify, Seattle’s pursuit of Donovan could become one of the defining storylines. If they strike early and decisively, the Mariners may secure a hitter who transforms their lineup and strengthens their postseason hopes. If not, another team could sweep in, leaving Seattle searching for alternative answers.
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