Thursday 5th February 2026

St. Louis Cardinals logo^ MLB Team^ Major League Baseball^ national League central division^ with black/spotlight background

The St Louis Cardinals’ rebuild under new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom continues, as the Redbirds have sent All-Star Brendan Donovan to the Seattle Mariners in a trade that also involves the Tampa Bay Rays.

The deal announced Monday ships the 29-year-old Donovan to the Mariners, in exchange for two prospects, pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje and center fielder Tai Peete. To complete the deal, the Mariners traded third baseman Ben Williamson to Tampa Bay, with the Cardinals getting another outfield prospect from the Rays, Colton Ledbetter. The Cardinals will also receive two competitive balance picks—selections 68 and 72—in this summer’s draft. In four seasons with the Cardinals, Donovan recorded 498 hits and 202 runs batted in, including 40 home runs. He had two years remaining on his contract.

As for the Cardinals’ new arrivals, the Curaçao native Cijntje now ranks fourth among Cardinals prospects. Last season he went 5-7 between High-A and Double-A with an ERA of 3.99. He struck out 120 batters while walking 51 in 108.1 pitched. He’ll rejoin fellow Mississippi State alum Ledbetter, who recorded seven homers, 24 doubles, 49 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases across 123 games last season, reaching Double-A Montgomery. Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Peete recorded 19 home runs, 24 doubles, and 25 stolen bases last season across 125 games in High-A.

Donovan’s departure means that the Cardinals’ current lineup has no one with a previous All-Star nod, and just three players who are at least 30 years old. The youth movement will take shape beginning Feb. 11, when pitchers and catchers report to Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., for spring training.