The Seattle Mariners had arguably the best start to the offseason that they possibly could.

The Mariners signed Josh Naylor to a five-year, $92.5 million contract ($18.5 million AAV) on Nov. 17. The deal shored up first base for the rest of the decade for Seattle and guaranteed one of the best hitters on the team in the second half of this past season, and the playoffs, would remain with the club.

The deal was also a relatively team-friendly one. According to comments made by team president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto about the club using 2025's end-of-season payroll "as a starting point" and several payroll and roster projections, the M's still have $11.5-16.5 million to spend this offseason. Seattle could have more money to spend if the "starting point" comment made by Dipoto holds weight.

After the deal with Naylor, the Mariners still have holes at second base, third base and in the bullpen that need to be addressed.

Since Naylor signed his extension, Seattle has been linked to several free agents and potential trade targets. Of the names thrown out that the Mariners could pursue, Brendan Donovan is the perfect fit for several reasons.

1. Donovan is coming off a great season and is (relatively) cheap

Donovan is coming off the first All-Star selection of his four-year major league career. He scored 64 runs in 118 games, and hit 32 doubles and 10 home runs with 50 RBIs. He slashed .287/.353/.422 with a .775 OPS.

Donovan is also under team control from 2026-27 and is estimated to earn $5.75 million in '26, according to Spotrac.

Donovan doesn't have the pure power of other potential second basemen such as Ketel Marte or Jorge Polanco but he is cheaper and younger than those two and is less of a commitment.

2. Donovan would allow Seattle to seamlessly change offensive approach

Even with the Naylor back in the fold, the Mariners likely won't be able to replicate the power numbers they had in 2025, which was the biggest offensive strength of the team.

Seattle ranked third in the majors with 238 home runs last season. Catcher Cal Raleigh isn't likely to hit 60 home runs two seasons in a row, Eugenio Suarez will likely sign elsewhere and the M's have a lot of competition in free agency for Polanco's (26 homers) services.

Naylor brings his own fair share of pop (51 home runs the last two seasons) but his strength is his hit-to-contact and on-base potential (.295 BA, .353 OBP). Donovan brings a similar skill set. Both Naylor and Donovan have strikeout rates in the 90-plus percentile of baseball. Naylor has a strikeout rate of 13.7%, which puts him in the 91st percentile of major league hitters, according to Baseball Savant.

Donovan had a strikeout rate of 13%.

The Mariners are unlikely to have the power numbers of this past season and will likely have a drop-off in home runs between the top and bottom half of the lineup. Having Donovan and Naylor in the middle/bottom half of the order would make Seattle a dangerous offense in terms of on-base potential and would present extra RBI opportunities when the lineup flips to hitters like Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez.

3. Bringing in Donovan would allow the Mariners a runway for prospects

Even without Donovan in the fold, Seattle has a potential log jam situation at second base.

Cole Young, Ryan Bliss and Miles Mastrobuoni are still on the roster. All three play second and Young and Bliss have very little versatility outside of the middle infield.

The Mariners also have a top 100 second baseman waiting in the minor leagues, Michael Arroyo, with similar concerns as Bliss and Young.

A trade for Donovan would likely mean St. Louis would want a second baseman in return, which would help Seattle slot in Donovan at second while clearing up the logjam a little.

Arroyo, Young and Bliss are also under team control longer than Donovan, which could make at least one of them appealing to St. Louis in a deal. Whoever is kept by the Mariners could become a utility player, or if its Arroyo, would give him more time to develop in the minors.

Focusing on second base instead of third would also let the Mariners keep the hot corner open for the top prospect in the organization.

Colt Emerson (No. 9 MLB Pipeline top 100) is projected as a shortstop, but he's capable of playing third and can take over shortstop in 2027 when J.P. Crawford hits free agency. This would allow him room to play third in 2026 when he's ready.

Emerson ended the year with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers and was on Seattle's postseason taxi squad, and he'll likely get a chance in spring training to break camp on the Opening Day roster.

If Emerson isn't ready to begin the season, the Mariners could also give Ben Williamson another chance to be the team's third baseman of the present/future.

Williamson made his major league debut in 2025. He scored 36 runs in 85 games and hit 13 doubles and a home run with 13 RBIs and slashed .251/.294/.310 with a .604 OPS.

Williamson was optioned to the Rainiers after Seattle acquired Suarez in a trade July 31.

In August, Williamson slashed .378/.458/.598. In September, he slashed .268/.369/.408. He hit five homers with 38 RBIs in the final two months of the year in Triple-A.

Conclusion

There are more flashy options for the Mariners to pursue at second base than Donovan. But there are few All-Star players who have the combination of affordability and team control who lend themselves to helping the team navigate its farm system.

For the present and future, Donovan is the perfect option.

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