The St. Louis Cardinals announced this evening that they have completed a three-team trade with the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays, acquiring RHP Jurrangelo Cijntje, OF Tai Peete, OF Colton Ledbetter and two Compensation Round B Draft Selections, one from each team, in exchange for All-Star infielder Brendan Donovan.
“We are pleased that, because of this deal, we will add five more promising young players to the talent pipeline that has always fueled this organization’s sustained success,” stated Cardinals President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom. “We believe we’ve added exciting athleticism and upside on both sides of the ball, with more to come in this summer’s draft. All of us here are so grateful for Brendan’s contributions to the Cardinals and to our community, which will last well beyond his time here. He is first class as both a player and a person, and that combination is rare. We wish him and his wonderful family well.”
- Seattle Mariners receive: Utility infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan (super utilityman known for his positional flexibility and contact-oriented bat).
- St. Louis Cardinals receive:
- Switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje (Mariners’ No. 7 prospect, MLB Pipeline’s No. 91 overall prospect; 2024 first-round pick, 15th overall).
- Infielder/outfielder Tai Peete (Mariners’ No. 11 prospect; 2023 first-round pick).
- Outfielder Colton Ledbetter (Rays’ No. 22 prospect; 2023 second-round pick out of Mississippi State, a left-handed-hitting corner outfielder with solid contact skills, emerging power, speed on the bases, and a strong minor-league track record including high OPS marks and stolen-base ability in the Rays system).
- Rays’ Competitive Balance Round B draft pick (#72)
- Mariners Competitive Balance Round draft pick (#68)
- Tampa Bay Rays receive: Utility infielder Ben Williamson (from the Mariners; a former second-round pick who saw MLB action in 2025).
Donovan, 29, brings elite versatility and reliability to a Mariners team that reached the ALCS in 2025 (winning the AL West with a 90-72 record before falling to the Toronto Blue Jays). He plays second base, third base, left field, first base, shortstop, and corner outfield spots, offering manager Dan Wilson lineup flexibility amid questions at second and third base after offseason departures like Jorge Polanco and Eugenio Suárez.
A 2025 All-Star and former Gold Glove winner (utility in 2022), Donovan excels at making contact (just 13% strikeout rate in recent seasons) and getting on base (.361 career OBP). In 2025, he hit .287 with 10 home runs, strong doubles power, and a 119 OPS+ (19% above league average). His left-handed bat slots nicely into a potent Seattle order featuring stars like Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez, Josh Naylor, and Randy Arozarena. Donovan is under team control through 2027 (agreed to $5.8 million for 2026), providing cost-controlled production for a contender eyeing another deep playoff run.
Headliner Jurrangelo Cijntje is one of baseball’s most intriguing prospects: a rare ambidextrous switch-pitcher (though Seattle recently shifted him toward right-handed pitching as a starter). Drafted 15th overall in 2024 out of Mississippi State, the 22-year-old adds unique upside to a Cardinals system needing velocity and swing-and-miss arms. Cijntje was ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the Mariners organization by Baseball America entering the 2026 season.
Tai Peete, a 2023 first-rounder (30th overall), brings athleticism as an infield/outfield prospect with speed and defensive tools. He entered the 2026 season as the No. 10 prospect in the Mariners organization by Baseball America.
The two Compensation Round B draft selections the Cardinals will receive from both the Mariners and the Rays are currently projected as picks No. 68 and 72 in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Colton Ledbetter, acquired from the Rays, was the Tampa Bay Rays 2nd round (55th overall) selection in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Mississippi State University. He is a polished lefty-hitting outfielder with good feel for hitting, gap power, and base-stealing ability—adding depth and potential everyday upside to the outfield pipeline.
Cijntje and Ledbetter were teammates on the Mississippi State baseball team during the 2023 season.
Tampa Bay’s involvement nets Ben Williamson, a 25-year-old infielder (former 2023 second-round pick) who debuted in the majors in 2025, hitting .253 across 85 games. The Rays, known for creative roster maneuvers, gain a depth piece with upside at minimal cost—likely providing a prospect or pick to facilitate the swap.
