The St. Louis Cardinals have taken an aggressive approach this offseason, completing a pair of trades with the Boston Red Sox that sent out Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray.
Even so, the Cardinals still possess their biggest trade asset in Brendan Donovan. With his value high and free agency approaching in the coming years, Donovan is widely expected to be moved.
ClutchPoints’ Garrett Kerman reveal a deal that will ship infielder to the Seattle Mariners in return for prospects Jurrangelo Cijntje and Lazaro Montes.
“The Mariners would be the ones to have Brendan Donovan in exchange,” Kerman wrote last week. “This design satisfies both sides’ requirements while at the same time handling the existing organizational assets that have substantial potential but an uncertain timeline of contribution to the major league level.”
The Mariners are the perfect landing spot for Donovan. Donovan’s best attribute is his versatility, which is something the Mariners need.
Seattle could play him at second base to replace Jorge Polanco, but it could also play him at third base in place of Eugenio Suárez. Suárez is still a free agent, as of Wednesday, and it seems like he’s going to bolt for a new team this winter.
As a result, adding Donovan would be a huge move.
But this trade package is a severe overpay for Donovan. The Mariners shouldn’t look to cut ties with either top prospect to acquire the veteran infielder. Instead, they could send a slew of slightly lower-ranked prospects to St. Louis for the All-Star.
