Ben Williamson, Tai Peete fall heroics keep twisting Mariners' Brendan Donovan trade

If the Seattle Mariners had gotten their way, their trade for Brendan Donovan would have resulted in them being the ones winning hearts and minds this late in October. Instead, it's Ben Williamson and Tai Peete. The baseball gods must be crazy for irony.

Did anyone have "Ben Williamson, World Series hero" on a bingo card for this October? And with his bat, no less? If so, congratulations to you. You nailed it, sort of like how Williamson nailed that Shane Drohan pitch straight into the ground to walk-off the Tampa Bay Rays over the Milwaukee Brewers in the 12th inning of Game 4.

That was one of the drunkest World Series games in recent memory, so perhaps it's only right that it would be ended by the least likely person imaginable. Williamson was literally the last guy on Kevin Cash's bench. He went into that at-bat with one hit in 15 playoff at-bats, a performance perfectly in line with his established track record as a well-below-average major league hitter.

That he got it done anyway is chef's kiss stuff. Smile ear-to-ear stuff. And not just for Rays fans. This was for everyone who ever rooted for Williamson on his way to the big leagues with the Mariners in 2025, from Modesto to Everett to Arkansas to Tacoma and finally to Seattle. Mariners fans don't always cheer for former Mariners, but there was no other choice in this case. Nothing complicated about it. That guy used to be one of ours. Now look at him go.

Tai Peete is torching the Arizona Fall League in ongoing post-Mariners breakout

It's not exactly the World Series, but Peete is having a heck of an October in his own right. He's through 13 games with the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, and he's slashing .365/.459/.731 with 11 extra-base hits and 10 stolen bases.

Thus does Peete continue to rewrite the script on what we thought the St. Louis Cardinals were getting in their end of the Donovan trade. Jurrangelo Cijntje was meant to be the headliner, whereas Peete was more of a fixer-upper after his stock fell precipitously following his selection at No. 30 in the 2023 draft. Well, dude had a .908 OPS in 66 minor league games before heading to the AFL and continuing to rake.

Even if MLB Pipeline only has Peete rated as the Cardinals' No. 17 prospect, he's put himself on the radar for the big club's near-future plans for its outfield. Conceivably, the 21-year-old could break in as soon as next season.

As for what the Mariners are hoping for with Donovan in 2027, well, pretty much anything would be better than what happened in 2026. The 125 OPS+ was a nice touch. The injuries that limited him to 39 total games were not. And lest anyone forget, he didn't look like much of a third baseman when he was healthy.

It's too soon to label the Donovan trade as a bust. He may yet be a good player for the Mariners, whereas Peete is still a project and Williamson is what he is even at 25 years old: a light-hitting utility player. Yet there are no sour grapes here either, as it's very possible that both needed the fresh start to get to where they are now.

So, go Williamson. And go Peete. As you've clearly already figured out, this October is yours.

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