Mariners insider has bad news about team's pursuit of Cardinals utilityman via trade

With many speculating how the Seattle Mariners will address their dire need for infield help this offseason, fans don't really care where that help comes from, or what position is specifically addressed. They just want offense.

It's hard to blame them, considering the Mariners had the second-lowest batting average, the second highest strikeout rate, and ranked among the bottom 10 teams in runs scored. This offense really needs some work, and though the Winter Meetings were disappointing for Mariners fans, GM Justin Hollander vowed that moves were coming.

One of those moves, and potentially one of the best players the Mariners could realistically acquire this offseason to fix their offense, is St. Louis Cardinals utilityman Brendan Donovan. He would add some stability to this lineup that's been lacking during this era of Mariners baseball.

MLB insider voices Mariners' interest in Brendan Donovan, but Cardinals are reluctant to move him

During a solid 2023 season that came to an early end after just 95 games, Donovan slashed .284/.365/.422 with 11 home runs. Fully healthy for the 2024 season, the 27-year-old slashed .278/.342/.417 with 14 home runs in 153 games. He has maintained an elite ability to avoid strikeouts (13.7% career strikeout rate), and that would be a welcome addition to this team.

Though the fit seems undeniable, it looks like the Cardinals are reluctant to part with one of their better players. However, it appears as though they have signaled a sort of rebuild. With the Cardinals moving on from Paul Goldschmidt and looking to trade Nolan Arenado (along with Chaim Bloom expected to take over in 2026), this could be the perfect time to capitalize on a weak market and build up their farm system.

According to Daniel Kramer, the Cardinals have turned down the Mariners repeatedly in trade talks but are one of the few teams likely to target prospects over MLB-ready talent. This is bad news for Dipoto and Mariners fans, as the free agent market is pretty thin and the team is working with an already tight budget. There are few teams that can match the Mariners stockpile of elite-level prospects, giving them the ability to make a massive trade if they choose to do so.

Donovan seems like the perfect addition and won't prohibit this team from acquiring any of the other infield positions, as he has experience at pretty much every spot on the diamond. Estimated only to make $4 million in his first year of arbitration in 2025, it seems like a no-brainer for Dipoto — it's just a matter of if the two sides can find common ground. That's something Dipoto should really be trying to do after one of his primary options is seemingly off the market.