Are the Mariners Still Eyeing a Big Offseason Move?

Baseball’s Hot Stove is finally heating up, and honestly, you can feel the ripple effects all the way to Seattle. Recent blockbuster infield moves have shaken up the trade landscape, maybe setting up the Mariners for a big move.

With elite third basemen off the board and teams scrambling to reassess their infield depth, Seattle looks like they’re in a pretty good spot to take advantage of all this shifting around.

Infield Dominoes Begin to Fall Across MLB

The offseason’s infield market got wild when Alex Bregman signed a huge five-year, $175 million deal with the Cubs. Then Nolan Arenado landed with the Diamondbacks.

Those two moves took the biggest third base names out of play, so now front offices have to rethink their plans. As always in baseball, one big signing or trade just opens doors elsewhere.

The Cubs, specifically, have an infield logjam now. That could really work out for teams like the Mariners, who are searching for stability and a little more pop up the middle.

Cubs’ Infield Surplus Could Mean Opportunity

With Bregman set at third, Chicago suddenly has more quality infielders than spots to put them. Nico Hoerner, one of the most reliable second basemen in the NL, might be the odd man out.

Hoerner just wrapped another excellent season in 2025, hitting .297 and leading NL second basemen in FanGraphs WAR. He’s got two recent Gold Gloves too, so he’s definitely respected as an elite defender.

He’s entering the final year of his contract and is owed $12 million. That’s a classic “trade now or lose value later” situation for the Cubs.

Why the Mariners Are Paying Close Attention

Seattle has already kicked the tires on Hoerner in past trade talks, and league sources say the interest is still there. The Mariners’ front office keeps targeting guys who bring both steady offense and reliable defense—two things Hoerner does well.

But Seattle isn’t alone. The Giants and other contenders are watching Chicago’s infield situation too, which could drive up the price if the Cubs actually put Hoerner on the block.

Brendan Donovan Emerges as the Top Target

Hoerner’s interesting, but Brendan Donovan of the Cardinals looks like Seattle’s real focus. With Chaim Bloom running baseball ops, the Cardinals are clearly retooling—they’ve already shipped out Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and Arenado.

Donovan, a 2025 All-Star, checks almost every box for the Mariners. He hit .287/.353/.422 with 10 homers, kept his strikeout rate down at 13%, and finished with a 119 wRC+.

Even better, he’s super versatile on defense. He can handle:

What a Deal Might Cost Seattle

The Mariners and Cardinals have reportedly talked about top prospects Jurrangelo Cijntje and Lazaro Montes as possible trade pieces. That shows Seattle’s serious, but nobody really knows St. Louis’s exact asking price yet.

Other teams, like the Red Sox and Giants, are also in the market for second-base upgrades, so there’s competition. Boston in particular has been linked to Donovan and Eugenio Suárez, which just makes things even more interesting.

Refsnyder Signing Buys Time, Not Certainty

The Mariners just signed Rob Refsnyder to a one-year, $6.5 million deal. That move gives them a bit of breathing room when it comes to finding a right-handed bat.

But let’s be honest—it’s not the final answer. Seattle’s front office is still eyeing possible additions.

This spring, they’re going to keep a close watch on some of their younger infielders. Ben Williamson, Colt Emerson, and Cole Young are all in the mix.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Do Mariners have a big move still coming this offseason?