In early February, the Seattle Mariners struck a big deal with the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays, acquiring All-Star Brendan Donovan from St. Louis.

Donovan was supposed to be the missing piece for Seattle in its run to the World Series, but it just hasn't been that way thus far. He's played in only 25 games and is currently on the injured list for the second time.

In that deal, the M's gave up top prospects Jurrangelo Cijntje and Tai Peete, as well as third baseman Ben Williamson, who went to Tampa Bay. 

The Mariners will see Williamson in his new home on Friday afternoon as they take on the Rays at 3:40 p.m. PT. Seattle is 47-47 while the Rays own the best record in the American League.

We spoke to Williamson on a recent 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast, and after the conversation was over, I came to the conclusion that Williamson is exactly the kind of player that the M's have needed this season.

"And it's ironic. I think Ben Williamson is kind of exactly what this team needs right now, and I think it's something that they are missing: a right-handed hitting infielder who has the ability to make contact and play good defense.

Now, I'm not saying I wouldn't have made the trade for Brendan Donovan, right? I'm not saying that. But I do think giving up Ben Williamson hurts more than a lot of people thought that it was going to.

I was a fan of Ben Williamson last year. I was a fan of the team moving on from Dylan Moore earlier than it did and giving Ben Williamson an opportunity to play in the utility role last season at the end of the year.

Now, Ben Williamson has learned how to be the utility guy this year in 2026. I would have loved if he could have done that with the Mariners, again, as early as last season, but I would have loved to see him in that role this year.

Look, the Mariners have been in the position where they don't hit left-handed pitching. They're last in baseball against left-handed pitching. So they've needed righties that can hit lefties.

They've tried Leo Rivas in that spot, Ryan Bliss in that spot, Patrick Wisdom in that spot. They've tried right-handed hitting infielders, none of which have done particularly well.

I would have loved to have seen Ben Williamson get a chance to be a depth infielder for this team, someone who can replace JP Crawford late in games if necessary, if we get to that point. Somebody who can move around and be a movable piece in the lineup, who can play second, short, or third, and a guy who can help hit left-handers.

I think Ben Williamson really is exactly what this team needs. He's never going to be Babe Ruth at the plate, right? He's still got an OPS+ of under 80. He is still a below-average offensive player, but the skill set is something I think this team really lacks right now: a right-handed infielder who can play all over."

Williamson is hitting .237 for the Rays this year. He has an OPS+ of 76.

The latest edition of the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast is out, talking more about the Mariners at this point in the season, and we talk trade possibilities with ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney.

You can listen to the episode here, or you can watch in the YouTube player below.

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