Mariners Reluctant To Trade Ketel Marte, Brendan Donovan From Roster

The Seattle Mariners are heading into the final stretch before Opening Day, still searching for a real roster upgrade. They’ve set clear boundaries for how they want to build the 2025 team.

The front office is still active in trade talks. But the organization isn’t willing to weaken its major-league pitching core, even if that means passing on tempting offensive options.

Mariners Still Exploring Significant Moves Before Opening Day

This offseason, Seattle’s approach has leaned more toward patience than passivity. President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander are still working the trade market, hoping for at least one meaningful addition before the season kicks off.

They’ve drawn a firm line—they don’t want to give up established big-league starters. That philosophy shapes nearly every conversation they’re having right now.

The Mariners have a deep farm system, especially with pitching prospects. Still, they don’t want to mess with a rotation that carried them through long stretches of the 2025 season.

Why Seattle Is Protecting Its Rotation

Multiple reports say Seattle has been “adamant” about avoiding trades that would subtract from its current rotation. This isn’t just stubbornness—it’s because the safety net behind their starters is thin.

In 2025, Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, and George Kirby each made at least 23 starts. Only Castillo avoided the injured list, which really shows how fragile even a strong rotation can be over a full season.

Brendan Donovan Talks and the Prospect Cost

One name popping up a lot in trade rumors: Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals. He’d help with several of Seattle’s offensive issues, bringing contact skills, defensive versatility, and a knack for getting on base.

To make a deal happen, Seattle is reportedly open to including top pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje in a package. That signals real interest, but also hints at where the Mariners draw the line.

Cijntje Represents the Ceiling, Not the Floor

Cijntje’s got a ton of talent, but he’s still raw. He made only seven starts at Double-A, and while his upside is obvious, the Mariners seem more willing to gamble on future potential than give up present-day reliability.

Last offseason, Seattle chased big-name trade targets. Rival clubs wanted MLB-ready players instead of prospects, even though the Mariners had eight players on Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect list entering 2025.

Thin Depth Lurks Beneath the Rotation

It’s easier to see why the Mariners are so reluctant to deal from the rotation when you look at the alternatives.

Behind the main four, the options get less inspiring:

Younger arms have promise, but not much certainty. Alongside Cijntje, pitching prospects Ryan Sloan and Kade Anderson look like future pieces, not immediate solutions.

Sloan hasn’t pitched above A-ball yet. Anderson, the Mariners’ No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 draft, didn’t appear in an affiliate game after being selected.

The Risk of Trading From a Position of Strength

Bryce Miller missed more than half of 2025 due to elbow inflammation. If Seattle trades away even one rotation piece, they’d be exposed.

Injuries happen. Without steady reinforcements, even a small downgrade could turn into a season-altering problem. That’s a risk the Mariners just don’t seem willing to take right now.

A More Likely Path: Depth, Not Disruption

Instead of chasing a blockbuster trade, the Mariners might just look to add optionable pitching depth. Maybe they’ll go after a capable swingman or someone who can fill in as a sixth starter.

Moves like that let Seattle bolster the roster without shaking up their core rotation. Honestly, it makes sense—they’d rather not mess with a good thing.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Mariners Reluctant To Deal From Major League Roster