Brendan Donovan Is Raking For Seattle, But the Prospect Haul That Got Him Here Is Already Struggling

Here's the thing about trades: they look good until the guy you gave up starts pitching in Double-A and suddenly you're wondering if you got fleeced. The Mariners sent Jurrangelo Cijntje to St. Louis for third baseman Brendan Donovan, and so far it's looking like a straight win for Seattle. But Cijntje's recent performances are giving us all a reason to sweat.

Donovan's Crushing It (When He's Healthy)

Let's start with the good news. Donovan has been the Mariners' most productive hitter in his first 18 games, posting a .304/.437/.518 slash line for a ridiculous .954 OPS and a 175 OPS+. That's nearly two times better than league average, and that's the kind of production that makes you forget about the prospects you moved out. Problem is, he's been dealing with a groin strain that landed him on the 10-day injured list last week, and he didn't travel to St. Louis for this weekend's series. So yeah, when he plays, he rakes. When he doesn't play, well, there's the catch.

The Pieces That Went Out Aren't Panning Out (Yet)

Cijntje looked sharp in his debut for the Cardinals' Double-A Springfield team on April 3, allowing just one hit over 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Since then? He's been absolutely roughed up. In his last three starts, he's given up 11 earned runs in 12 1/3 innings, coughed up five home runs, and walked 10 guys. That's the kind of regression that keeps you up at night if you're the Mariners' front office.

The other key piece heading to St. Louis was 20-year-old outfielder Tai Peete, who at least is showing some offensive potential. Peete has posted a .246/.347/.523 slash line (.870 OPS) with three homers and five doubles in 65 at-bats for the High-A Peoria Chiefs to start his Cardinals tenure. It's early, but he's doing something down there.

The Tampa Connection

To complete the deal, the Mariners pulled in the Rays, who sent minor-league outfielder Colton Ledbetter to St. Louis. In return, Seattle shipped Ben Williamson to Tampa Bay. Williamson's hitting .231 with a .607 OPS in his first 22 games for the Rays, playing mostly second base. Not great, but it's early.

So here's where we stand: Donovan is elite when he's on the field. But until he stays healthy for a full stretch, we won't know if this deal really moved the needle for the M's playoff hopes.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.