St. Louis Cardinals infielder has been a frequent subject of trade speculation this offseason. With the organization appearing to lean into a rebuilding phase, moving on from All Star would align with that direction.
The All star’s strong 2024 campaign, which earned him a National League All-Star selection, has only increased his appeal. His ability to play multiple positions defensively makes him an attractive option for nearly any club.
Curt Bishop of St. Louis Cardinals OnSI proposed a hypothetical deal that would send Donovan to the Seattle Mariners in return for highly regarded prospects Jurrangelo Cijntje, Michael Arroyo, and Lazaro Montes.
Bishop pointed out that Seattle is reportedly open to trading Cijntje, their No. 7 prospect and a rare switch-pitcher, which could appeal to a Cardinals organization in need of pitching depth. He also noted that Arroyo would help address St. Louis’ lack of right-handed hitting prospects, while Montes would add to an outfield pipeline that already includes players like Joshua Baez, who could be MLB-ready by 2026.
That said, such a proposal would represent a massive overpayment by Seattle. Giving up three premium prospects for Donovan would be difficult to justify under any circumstances.
Even so, from a roster-fit standpoint, the idea of Donovan landing with the Mariners does make sense.
