One of the top names on the hot stove this winter is officially on the move.

Yesterday evening, it was announced that Brendan Donovan was heading to the Seattle Mariners as part of a three-team trade that includes the Tampa Bay Rays.

Mariners acquire: INF/OF Brendan Donovan (STL)
Cardinals acquire: RHP/LHP Jurrangelo Cijntje (SEA), OF Tai Peete (SEA), OF Colton Ledbetter (TBR), Competitive Balance Round B Picks 68 (SEA) and 72 (Rays)
Rays acquire: Ben Williamson (SEA)

The main player in the deal is Donovan, who has been on the trade block all offseason as the Cardinals continue to clean house of high-value contracts. Donovan will earn $5.8 million in 2026 and is arbitration eligible one more time next season before becoming free agent eligible following the 2027 season.

Donovan is as versatile as they come, with the left-handed bat able to play numerous positions, including second base, third base, and left field. The 29-year-old also possesses a sneaky power bat, having smacked 97 doubles and 40 home runs over the past four seasons. In his rookie season, he compiled a 4.0 bWAR and a Gold Glove Award for the inaugural utility player position, finishing third in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Last season, Donovan was an All-Star for the first time in his career, putting up a .287/.353/.422 slash line with a .775 OPS across 460 at-bats.

Chaim Bloom continues the overhaul. He walks away from this deal with two former first-round picks, a former second-rounder, and two picks within the top 100 heading into 2026. Not too shabby.

Cijntje is one of the top names coming back in the deal, ranking fourth on the Cardinals’ top prospect charts and 90th in the Top 100 rankings heading into 2026. Born in the Netherlands, Cijntje was drafted as a switch pitcher, being able to toss from both sides. With the Mariners, Cijntje was going to be strictly a right-handed hurler, so it will be interesting to see if the Cardinals think in the same manner this spring. In his first pro season last year, Cijntje crafted a 3.99 ERA across 108 1/3 innings split between High-A and Double-A, striking out 120 batters to the tune of a 10.0 K/9 and a 1.218 WHIP.

Also heading to the Cardinals are Peete and Ledbetter, with the former Mariners prospect ranking at #15 on the Cardinals’ top prospect charts.

Since making his big league debut in 2023, Peete has advanced to High-A ball, where he spent all of the 2025 season. Last year with Everett, he produced a .217/.288/.404 slash line with 24 doubles, 19 home runs, and a .692 OPS across 125 games.

Ledbetter has also been in the pros for three seasons, making his debut following the 2023 MLB Draft. The Alabama product made it to Double-A last season, where he suited up in 123 games and amassed a .265/.337/.378 slash line with 24 doubles, seven home runs, and 49 RBIs with a .716 OPS. Defensively, Ledbetter spent most of last season in right field, where he collected six outfield assists.

Rounding out the deal is Ben Williamson, who will be heading to Tampa Bay.

The former second-round pick of the 2023 MLB Draft made his big league debut last season for the Mariners, appearing in 85 games while playing third base. Through 277 at-bats, the Virginia product amassed a .253/.294/.310 slash line with 13 doubles, 21 RBIs, and five stolen bases. In his first big league season, the 24-year-old finished with a .604 OPS and a 76 OPS+ at the plate. Williamson is more known for his defence, compiling +8 DRS at third base last season and is known for being a versatile defender.

With the Rays, Williamson is expected to compete for a spot on the big league roster and will likely work across the infield with Junior Caminero being the club’s primary third baseman.

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