Seattle Mariners Named as 'Best Fit' For Five Players in Potential Trades This Winter

Brady Farkas

Dec 2, 2025, 20:00

Brady Farkas

Dec 2, 2025, 20:00

Updated at: Dec 2, 2025, 20:00

With the winter meetings coming next week, the trade talk will only intensify.

The Seattle Mariners were identified as part of the "best fits" for five players in a winter meetings primer by ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel on Tuesday morning.

Now, they weren't the only teams listed as "best fits" for the following players, but with the winter meetings coming next week, the trade talk is certain to intensify.

Let's examine:

Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

Now 32 years old, Marte will play the entire 2026 season at 32. An 11-year veteran of the Mariners and Diamondbacks, he's a career .281 hitter with 171 home runs and 587 RBIs. Seattle traded him before the 2017 season in the deal that brought back Jean Segura and Mitch Haniger.

Marte has seven seasons of double-digit home run totals and two seasons of 30 or more. He's got two seasons of 90+ RBIs, is a three-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger and an NLCS MVP.

He's signed through the 2030 campaign with just over $90 million remaining. There is also an $11.5 million player option for 2031. Given the price tags on premier players, he's relatively affordable.

For that reason, the Diamondbacks don't have to trade him, either. ESPN gives him only a 40 percent chance to be traded.

The Mariners do have an opening at second base, though prospect Cole Young is penciled in that spot for now. If the Mariners make this deal, expect Young to be in it.

Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals

About to turn 29 years old, Donovan is a career .282 hitter. He's coming off a season in which he hit .287 with a .353 on-base percentage, posting a 119 OPS+.

He has two years of team control left and the Cardinals are not looking to compete in either of them, so he seems destined to be traded. He can play second base and can fill in in the outfield.

The Cardinals have said they want to acquire young pitching, so if the M's were to make this deal, expect Jurrangelo Cijntje, Kade Anderson or Ryan Sloan to be popular asks.

Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays

Now 31, Lowe will turn 32 in July. A career .247 hitter, he has immense power from the keystone, hitting 31 homers in 2025 (though it should be noted the friendly dimensions of Steinbrenner Field). He's a two-time All-Star, but comes with average concerns and strikeout flaws.

He's a free agent after the 2026 season, so the Mariners may not need to jettison Young in this deal and could opt to have him start in 2027.

He's owed $11.5 million and was only given a 25 percent chance to be dealt.

Jake Cronenworth, San Diego Padres

Signed through 2030, Cronenworth is already 31 years old and pushing 32. He only posted a 108 OPS+ with a .246 average in 2025, but he clearly has experience playing in tough-to-hit-in ballparks. With his age and his price tag ($60 million over five years), is he really a fit for Seattle?

It would be one thing to pay big for Marte, but Cronenworth doesn't move the needle like he does.

Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies

Also harboring a need at third base because of Eugenio Suarez's free agency, Bohm is on an expiring deal and will be a free agent after the year. Headed into his last year of arbitration-eligibility, he's 29 years old and is coming of a season in which he hit .287 with 11 homers. He still only had an OPS+ of 102 though.

He's given a 50 percent chance of being moved.

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