Latest Cubs buzz could be Mariners' ticket to a blockbuster infield trade

The Seattle Mariners were pressed into a need for a big move when they lost Jorge Polanco to the New York Mets in December. Almost a month later, the wait for said move is still ongoing, and the club's list of possibilities doesn't seem to be growing.

Yet now more than ever, it's tempting to think about a trade that brings Nico Hoerner to the Pacific Northwest.

This is not to say one couldn't fantasize about it before — heck, we sure did. But it's an outcome that might become more real depending on what the Chicago Cubs do next. They're interested in Bo Bichette and Alex Bregman, according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic. Signing either one would create an infield surplus that could be resolved through a trade of Hoerner.

Latest Cubs buzz could be Mariners' ticket to a blockbuster trade for Nico Hoerner

There's nothing solid connecting the Mariners to Hoerner. What connection you can make is more of an association: He's a second baseman in the NL Central, which makes him not unlike Brendan Donovan.

The Mariners have been in the mix to acquire Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals, but talks have obviously yet to bear fruit. That could come down to a difference of opinion over his value. As Rosenthal and Sammon noted, the Cardinals see Donovan as a star and that view isn't necessarily shared by other clubs.

It's unclear what the Mariners' view of Donovan is, but seeing him as a star is pushing it. He has averaged 2.4 rWAR since a 4.0-rWAR breakthrough in 2022, showcasing a good glove and decent on-base skills, but not much else.

Maybe this is a Josh Naylor thing where you don't really perceive the player's true value until you see him up close. Or, it could be that the Cardinals see Donovan as a star because he's spent the last three years surrounded by mostly bad players.

Either way, Hoerner's value is more self-evident. He's averaged 4.9 rWAR over the last four seasons, owing to a solid .339 OBP, tremendous baserunning value and one of the best defensive skillsets at any infield position. The dude is a two-time Gold Glover for a reason.

As a Mariner, Hoerner would be an ideal candidate to stop the revolving door at the leadoff spot that did the club no favors in 2025. He'd also upgrade their speed and would dramatically upgrade an infield defense that was just plain bad last year — only two infield defenses finished below theirs in Outs Above Average.

Granted, all of the above is basically the same pitch for why Donovan fits the Mariners. But Hoerner is just… better. And if the Mariners are going to pay a star-caliber price either way, they'd be better off paying for Hoerner than indulging the Cardinals' over-valuation of Donovan.

There is a club control difference between the two, as Hoerner is slated for free agency after 2026 while Donovan won't hit the market until after 2027. Yet as much as any time in their half-century history, it's right now that matters to Seattle. For the goal of winning the 2026 World Series, Hoerner is a better play.

Of course, all of this is academic until the Cubs make a move for Bichette or Bregman. But if they do make such a splash, Jerry Dipoto shouldn't hesitate to place a call to the North Side.