Mariners Acquire Infielder/Outfielder Brendan Donovan From St. Louis Cardinals as Part of Three-Team Trade
SEATTLE – Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Justin Hollander announced today the Mariners have acquired INF/OF Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals as part of a three-team trade. The Mariners sent INF Ben Williamson to the Tampa Bay Rays, RHP/LHP Jurrangelo Cijntje, OF Tai Peete and a 2026 Competitive Balance Round B draft pick (68th overall) to the Cardinals. The Rays sent OF Colton Ledbetter and a 2026 Competitive Balance Round B draft pick to Cardinals (72th overall).
“It’s tough to imagine a better fit for our current team than Brendan,” said Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto. “His combination of offensive skill, defensive versatility, consistency in performance, baseball instincts, and quality of character line up with what we value most.”
“Brendan brings a unique blend of elite top-of-the-lineup traits and versatility that makes him a perfect fit for our roster” added Hollander. “We are excited to welcome him to Seattle.”
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Today’s three-team trade is the fifth in Mariners history, the last occurring on December 13, 2018 with the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays. In the deal, the Mariners acquired cash considerations, a 2019 Competitive Balance draft pick and INF Edwin Encarnación in exchange for INF Carlos Santana and cash considerations.
The Mariners 40-man roster remains full at 40 players.
Donovan, 29, batted .287 (132x460) with 64 runs, 32 doubles, 10 home runs, 50 RBI and 42 walks compared to just 67 strikeouts over 118 games with the Cardinals in 2025. He earned his first career All-Star Selection after hitting .297 (102x344) in the first half of the season and finished T-9th in batting average among qualified National League batters in 2025.
The 5-11, 210-pound left-handed hitting infielder and outfielder has appeared in parts of 4 seasons with the Cardinals (2022-2025), during which he batted .282 (498x1765) with 241 runs, 97 doubles, 5 triples, 40 home runs, 202 RBI, 15 stolen bases and 182 walks, reaching base at a .361 clip and slugging .411 for a .772 OPS in 492 games.
Donovan had a breakout rookie season in 2022, batting .281 (110x391) with 64 runs, 21 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, 45 RBI and 60 walks with a .394 on-base percentage in 126 games. He was also the starting second baseman in the National League Wild Card series against the Phillies. Donovan was named a 2022 Rawlings® National League Gold Glove Award Winner as a utility player and finished 3rd in BBWAA National League Rookie of the Year voting for 2022.
Donovan is one of 5 players to have at least a .275 batting average (min. 350 PA) in each of the last 4 seasons (2022-c), along with Luis Arráez-MIN/MIA/SD, Yandy Díaz-TB, Freddie Freeman-LAD and José Ramírez-CLE.
Born in Würzburg, Germany, Donovan was raised in Enterprise, Alabama. He was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of the University of South Alabama (Mobile, AL) and made his Major League debut with the Cardinals on April 25, 2022.
Williamson, 25, made his Major League debut in 2025, appearing in 85 Major League games. He hit .253 (70x277) with 13 doubles, 1 home run, 21 RBI and 5 stolen bases. Williamson also appeared in 52 games with Triple-A Tacoma, batting .314 (66x210) with 12 doubles, 5 home runs, 46 RBI and an .854 OPS.
Williamson was selected by the Mariners in the 2nd round of the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of the College of William and Mary (VA). He appeared in parts of 3 minor league seasons in the Mariners organization (2023-25).
Cijntje (SAIN-juh) , 22, reached Double-A Arkansas in his first professional season after being selected by the Mariners in the 1st round (15th overall) of the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He appeared in 26 games (23 starts) between High-A Everett and Double-A Arkansas, going 5-7 with a 3.99 ERA (48 ER, 108.1 IP), 51 walks and 120 strikeouts while pitching both right and left-handed.
Cijntje was ranked as the Mariners No. 7 prospect by Baseball America. Cijntje was born in Gravenhage, Netherlands and attended Champagnat Catholic High School (Hialeah, FL) and Mississippi State University.
Peete, 20, appeared in 125 games with High-A Everett, batting .217 (103x475) with 24 doubles, 4 triples, 19 home runs, 63 RBI and 25 stolen bases with a .692 OPS. He is currently ranked as the Mariners No. 10 prospect according to Baseball America.
Peete was selected in the 1st round (30th overall) in the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Trinity Christian School (Sharpsburg, GA). He has appeared in parts of 3 minor league seasons in the Mariners organization, batting .247 (257x1042) with 54 doubles, 14 triples, 28 home runs and 76 stolen bases. The left-handed hitting, right-handed thrower began his career as an infielder before transitioning to the outfield in 2025.