Brendan

Donovan

The pick is lined up to 68th or 69th overall. Donovan was connected to Seattle all winter, and the Mariners get him arguably without including any of their top five prospects. As things stand now, he’d seem to project as their third baseman and leadoff man. However, if top prospect Cole Emerson makes a run at the third base job in spring training, Donovan could play second or left. That versatility makes him an especially nice fit in a lineup with a few question marks. Donovan hit .287/.353/.422 and made the NL All-Star team last season. He’s never been a big fantasy infielder because of his lack of homers (career high of 14 in 2024) and steals (career high of five in 2023 and ’24), and moving to Seattle doesn’t figure to help him any. Randy Arozarena could also lose some fantasy value here; he ended last year in the leadoff spot but could drop as low as fifth in the lineup now. Cole Young’s status as the favorite to start at second base is also probably a little shakier, but he’s not a mixed-league guy anyway.

It’s a three-team deal that will send Mariners prospects Jurrangelo Cijinte and Tai Peete to the Cardinals, says Adam Jude of the Seattle Times, and third baseman Ben Williamson from the Mariners to the Rays, according to USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale. The Rays will be parting with outfielder Colton Ledbetter and a Comp B draft pick (slated to be the 72nd or 73rd pick overall), with both going to the Cardinals. Donovan, who has been part of trade rumors all winter, seems likely to play third for Seattle with Williamson gone, though he’s also very much an option at second base and in left field. The Mariners would have the 2025 NL All-Star under control for the next two years.

While this report doesn’t completely rule out the Royals making a splash on the trade market, it doesn’t sound promising that anything is actually going to happen. Both Duran and Donovan have been generating plenty of buzz on the trade front and it sounds like the Royals just won’t have the right pieces in place to get a deal done.

There are multiple pathways to a starting role for Wetherholt next season in the wake of Nolan Arenado being dealt to the Diamondbacks and with Brendan Donovan continuing to surface in trade rumors. The 23-year-old top prospect batted .306/.421/.510 with 17 homers and 23 steals in 109 games in the upper minors last season and could fit at either third base or second if St. Louis is willing to start his service-time clock and let him compete for NL Rookie of the Year honors. Wetherholt projects as an immediate five-category fantasy contributor with a chance to break camp as the Cardinals’ top-of-the-order table-setter. Nolan Gorman is the leading internal candidate to take over at third base, if Wetherholt opens the year back at Triple-A Memphis, though his persistent struggles against left-handed pitching remain an obstacle to everyday at-bats.

The Yankees have also reached out to the Cubs about Hoerner, but all indications, for now, are that the Cubs would rather hold onto Hoerner and trade Matt Shaw. Both Hoerner and Donovan are high-contact rate hitters who would provide nice balance to a Giants infield that features power bats in Willy Adames, Matt Chapman, and Rafael Devers. Nothing appears imminent, but the Giants don’t appear comfortable beginning the 2026 season with Casey Schmitt or Christian Koss as their starting second baseman.

Donovan made $2.85 million last season in his first year of arbitration. With two years to go before free agency, he’s been a hot topic in trade rumors, though the Cardinals still could keep him around as their primary second baseman.

The two teams — Chaim Bloom’s former club and his current club — have already swung a decade’s worth of deals in the last five months, with the Red Sox acquiring Steven Matz at the deadline and Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras in separate trades in the offseason. The Athletic recently placed the Giants and Mariners as the frontrunners for Donovan. The Red Sox and Rays are among the teams that have also sought Ketel Marte for second base, but while Marte is the better player, Donovan has a more varied market because of his ability to play several spots. The Red Sox would probably put Donovan at second, but having him at third and Marcelo Mayer at second might make more sense for them.

The Cardinals, who are in full rebuild mode, are seeking multiple prospects in return for the versatile 28-year-old. Where there’s this much smoke, there’s usually fire, so expect Donovan to be donning a new uniform by the time Opening Day rolls around.

The big surprise here is Seager since his name hasn’t come up at all in trade discussions this offseason. It’s abundantly clear that the Red Sox, who have a surplus of young big-league caliber pitching prospects to deal, are planning to upgrade at either second or third base this offseason since they’ve been active in trade discussions for multiple targets while also pursuing free agents Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette and Eugenio Suárez. Get your popcorn ready.

Passan noted that the Cardinals “are not eager” to trade Donovan, but it might make too much sense given the rebuilding nature of the team. Donovan has two years of control left at very affordable arbitration rates before free agency and can play all over the field while producing solid on-base rates and good gap power. Passan puts the likelihood of Donovan being traded at 75 percent.