Mariners Explore Trade Market to Replace Jorge Polanco

The Seattle Mariners are at a pivotal crossroads this offseason. They’re scrambling to replace Jorge Polanco after he left for the New York Mets.

With their 2024 hopes riding on last year’s playoff momentum, Seattle is hunting hard on the trade market. They’re focused on two very different targets: Arizona’s Ketel Marte and St. Louis’ Brendan Donovan.

Mariners Pivot After Losing Jorge Polanco

Polanco’s two-year, $40 million deal with the Mets left more than just a hole at second base. It took away a key bat and a steady postseason performer from a lineup that finally reached the ALCS last October.

The front office wanted to keep Polanco. Once he left, everything shifted—find an impact replacement, but don’t gut the future or break up the rotation.

Why Polanco’s Exit Hurts Seattle

Polanco was more than a rental; he really stabilized things. His switch-hitting, postseason poise, and solid defense at second made him a perfect fit for a club on the rise.

Now, the Mariners have to replace:

Ketel Marte: The High-Ceiling, High-Cost Option

Seattle’s most ambitious trade target is Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He’s probably the best impact bat available via trade right now.

He checks nearly every offensive box the Mariners want, but the price is steep enough to make the front office hesitate. Marte, now 32, is still an above-average hitter with positional flexibility.

His market is complicated by financial and clubhouse concerns.

The Trade Price and Contract Commitment

Arizona isn’t shy about what they want: a proven major-league starting pitcher. That’s a tough ask for the Mariners, since their rotation is the backbone of their window to contend.

Seattle is trying to avoid gutting their big-league staff, so they’re dangling pitching prospects instead:

Cijntje looks like the likeliest trade chip internally, an arm with upside who could headline a package. Marte’s contract is big—$102.5 million over six years. If the Mariners land him, he’d instantly become a franchise cornerstone.

Clubhouse Concerns Around Marte

There’s another wrinkle: recent clubhouse issues involving Marte. The details haven’t leaked, but just knowing there’s concern makes any contender think twice about bringing in a highly paid veteran who might not mesh with a strong culture.

The Mariners care a lot about their chemistry, so that’s not a small thing—it’s part of the equation.

Brendan Donovan: The More Realistic Fit

If Marte is the flashy option, Brendan Donovan is the practical, roster-fitting one. Trade talks with the St. Louis Cardinals are much more realistic, and both sides have already swapped specific prospect names.

The Cardinals want two top prospects. The names in play: pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje and outfield slugger Lazaro Montes.

Versatility and Cost Control Make Donovan Attractive

At 28, Donovan brings a Swiss-army-knife skillset that modern contenders love. He plays mainly second base and left field, but he’s also spent time at shortstop, third, and even DH.

Financially, he’s a clean fit. Donovan has two years of team control left and should earn about $5.4 million in arbitration next season. That’s premium versatility at a mid-tier price—exactly what lets a front office keep the roster balanced.

How Donovan Would Replace Polanco’s Role

The Mariners don’t see Donovan as a stopgap—they see him as a strategic move. He can mirror Polanco’s responsibilities and give the coaching staff more ways to mix and match lineups.

Just as important, Donovan’s arrival would give young second baseman Cole Young time to develop without the pressure of being rushed into an everyday job. That’s huge for a team that doesn’t want to burn out its prospects.

What’s Next for the Mariners?

Right now, the Mariners are at a crossroads. The choice in front of Seattle is honestly pretty philosophical:

How they respond to Polanco’s departure will show just how aggressively they want to push their window of contention. It’ll also reveal how much they’re willing to give up from a prospect pool that, quietly, has become one of their best strengths.

 
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