Mariners predicted to trade for Jorge Polanco replacement originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Seattle Mariners got a lot of big hits in 2025 out of Jorge Polanco.
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But Polanco plays for the New York Mets now after signing with the National League ballclub in free agency.
That leaves the Mariners potentially one veteran bat light (and two if Eugenio Suarez, still a free agent, signs elsewhere).
Seattle still has a ton of talent, including ascending toward the big leagues soon like top-10 prospect Colt Emerson.
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But in the short term, it could behoove the Mariners to find some kind of more experienced upgrade to add to the lineup, too.
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MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand thinks the best way the Mariners can accomplish this is with a trade, writing in a new article Thursday that the ideal target would be St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan.
“With young infielders Colt Emerson, Cole Young and Ben Williamson close to making an everyday impact, Seattle would like to fill Polanco’s spot with a short-term commitment; a trade for Brendan Donovan (who is under club control for two seasons and offers positional versatility) would accomplish that goal,” Feinsand wrote.
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Donovan is a career .282 hitter at the MLB level who has made one All Star team and won one Gold Glove.
He batted .287 with 10 home runs in 2025.
His left-handed swing would certainly be a welcome addition to Seattle’s lineup, and given that he’s been on the trade block for a while, it seems like his price will end up being not crazy to send back to the Cardinals.
It’s an inquiry worth making for the Mariners.
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