The St. Louis Cardinals have traded former Gold Glove and All-Star Brendan Donovan to the Seattle Mariners. Donovan had been linked to several teams over the last few months. As rumors and speculation began to grow, Seattle seemed to be the best landing spot for the 29-year-old veteran. After losing out on a potential reunion with their former third baseman, Eugenio Suárez, to the Cincinnati Reds, Donovan became a clear pivot move. Seattle and St. Louis had been in trade talks for Donovan exclusively in the past. The two teams finally came together to get a deal done on Monday. The Tampa Bay Rays also had a role in the trade. After moving Donovan, what does this mean for the Cardinals moving forward?
Brendan Donovan Traded to the Seattle Mariners
Trade Details
The deal between the three teams had plenty of moving parts. The biggest piece is Donovan to the Mariners, but the Cardinals received a prospect haul in return. The Cardinals received prospects Jurrangelo Cijntje (P), Tai Peete (OF), and the 68th pick from Seattle. They also received outfield prospect Colton Ledbetter and the 72nd pick from Tampa Bay. The Rays received third baseman Ben Williamson on their end of the deal.
We have acquired All-Star INF/OF Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals. In exchange, we have traded INF Ben Williamson to Tampa Bay and minor league RHP/LHP Jurrangelo Cijntje, OF Tai Peete and a 2026 Comp Round B draft pick to St. Louis.
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) February 3, 2026
The Cardinals were looking to get a decent return for Donovan. In the end, they cannot complain about what they got. After Donovan, Cijntje is the other centerpiece of the deal; he was the 15th-overall pick by Seattle in 2024. The 5’11”, 200 lbs, 22-year-old highly touted prospect is listed as a “switch pitcher,” which brings excitement to the Cardinals’ farm system. Peete is an outfielder/infielder who was taken with the 30th overall pick by the Mariners in 2023. Peete is also ranked as Baseball America’s #10 prospect coming into 2026.
By sending Donovan to the Mariners, the Rays sent outfielder Colton Ledbetter to the Cardinals. Ledbetter was the 55th overall pick by the Rays in 2023. He had a slash line of .265/.337/.715 at Double-A Montgomery last season. His stats don’t exactly jump off the page, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Ledbetter at the major league level in 2026. So in return for Donovan, the Cardinals received two former first-round picks, a former second-round pick, and two compensatory picks as well. Although nobody knows how these prospects and future picks will turn out, things are shaping up well for the future in St. Louis.
The Cards’ Future Without Donovan
Cardinals fans aren’t surprised that Donovan was moved. In fact, most are surprised that it took as long as it did. So, fans have had time to picture how this lineup could look with him absent. After this trade of Donovan to the Mariners and Nolan Arenado to the Arizona Diamondbacks, it sets the Cardinals up well for having top prospect JJ Wetherholt on the Opening Day roster.
Many believed that Wetherholt was well on his way to being on the roster, even with Donovan still on the team. In that scenario, Donovan would have more than likely played left field for the Cardinals, especially with the unknown status of Lars Nootbaar. Now, it is a little more unclear who will get that spot. Guys like Miguel Andujar and Randal Grichuk could be on their way to the Gateway City, due to the team wanting another right-handed bat in the lineup. If the Birds want to stay within the organization, it is possible (but highly unlikely) that highly ranked prospect Joshua Baez could make the team out of camp.
No matter what follow-up move the Cardinals make to replace Donovan, his trade was inevitable. The Cardinals wanted to get a move done that they felt would help the team in the future. With the prospect haul they got, and the potential labeled with them, it is hard to say the Cardinals didn’t win this trade. Only time will tell, but to the naked eye, the St. Louis Cardinals are building a very young, hungry, and talented organization under the new President of Baseball Operations, Chaim Bloom.
Farewell, “Donnie Hustle”
Donovan will be missed in St. Louis. He provides the leadership and the spark any big-league team wants in the clubhouse. He had the potential to be a cornerstone player for the Cardinals, but business is business. The organization didn’t have to move him, but the front office realized the direction of the team. They want to get younger, and they want to see what they have “on the farm”. However, Donovan’s move to the Mariners now opens up many pathways for the “Baby Birds” in Memphis and Springfield.
Main Photo Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images