Mariners Hesitant Including Cole Young in Ketel Marte Trade Talks

Here’s a breakdown of the latest offseason talk around Ketel Marte, why the Arizona Diamondbacks decided to keep him, and how Seattle’s chase for a top infielder ended up sparking a three-team swap that really shook up the Mariners’ infield depth chart. There’s a bit on why Arizona held onto Marte, what Seattle saw in Brendan Donovan, and where Cole Young fits into the Mariners’ future plans—even after a rough rookie year.

Mariners’ pursuit of Ketel Marte and the Diamondbacks’ stance

Arizona didn’t deal Marte this offseason, even though plenty of teams called. The Seattle Mariners made some inquiries while searching for a high-impact infielder, but talks fizzled pretty quickly.

The Seattle Times reported that Seattle didn’t want to include Cole Young in any deal, so they offered up veteran pieces instead of prospects. That move made it tough to close a Marte trade, since Arizona wanted real value back.

Seattle’s hesitation matched what’s been reported before—they didn’t want to lose key big-league players, and they liked their current depth. That decision eventually led to the three-team deal for Brendan Donovan, which cost them a bigger name than Young but kept their top prospect in-house.

Why Seattle didn’t press the deal and the Donovan pivot

The Mariners didn’t push hard for Marte, at least not in public. They seem to value roster depth and flexibility over swapping out a high-upside prospect for a rental or a long-term risk.

Holding onto Young felt like a bet that he could be a future cornerstone, especially if they could fill second base without giving up their best young infielder.

Brendan Donovan’s acquisition and what it means for Seattle’s infield

Seattle ended up with Brendan Donovan in a three-team trade with the Cardinals and Rays. They sent out Ben Williamson, a big-league contributor, and Jurrangelo Cijntje, a Double-A pitcher with a lot of buzz.

Donovan brings defensive flexibility, leadership, and probably a move to third base. That could open up second base for Young down the road.

Donovan’s not a pure hitter, but he can play all over the infield and gives Seattle a lineup they can mix and match. They’re likely to use Donovan at third, which lets them keep things fluid at second and the corners.

Teams crave versatility, and Donovan checks a lot of those boxes for what Seattle wants long-term.

• Key takeaway 1: The Mariners chose roster flexibility and defense over chasing a short-term upgrade with Marte.
• Key takeaway 2: Getting Donovan means Young can still develop and maybe become a star at second base when he’s ready.
• Key takeaway 3: Seattle’s willing to trade some major-league depth, but they’re protecting their top prospects and keeping six years of club control on Young.
• Key takeaway 4: Arizona’s approach with Marte shows that teams want long-term value, not just quick rentals, when they’re dealing a star.

Impact on Ketel Marte and the Mariners’ roadmap

For Ketel Marte, all that offseason chatter didn’t turn into a deal. He’s still in Arizona, with the Diamondbacks weighing his multi-position value against the idea of a splashy trade.

Seattle gets Donovan, who steps in as a defensive backbone. He might help unlock Young’s ceiling if Young can handle a regular second-base gig and get enough at-bats.

The Mariners’ front office seems pretty set on using their depth and prospect pipeline to patch up middle-infield gaps. They don’t look eager to give up top prospects for a quick fix.

With Young still developing and Donovan bringing versatility to a young group, Seattle’s building a foundation for their next competitive phase. It’s not flashy, but it’s steady—focused on flexibility, control, and moves that actually make sense for the long haul.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Mariners Were Reluctant To Discuss Cole Young In Ketel Marte Talks