Cardinals Trade Brendan Donovan in Three-Team Deal

St. Louis acquires prospects, draft picks in exchange for All-Star infielder

Feb. 3, 2026 at 3:15pm

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The St. Louis Cardinals completed a three-team trade with the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, sending All-Star infielder Brendan Donovan out of St. Louis in exchange for three prospects and two Compensation Round B selections in the 2026 MLB Draft.

Why it matters

The trade adds athleticism and long-term upside to the Cardinals' talent pipeline, while parting ways with a key player who had become an All-Star and Gold Glove winner during his four seasons with the team.

The details

In the deal, the Cardinals acquired right-handed pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje, outfielders Tai Peete and Colton Ledbetter, along with draft picks currently projected at No. 68 and No. 72 overall. Cijntje was Seattle's first-round pick in 2024, Peete was a 2023 first-rounder, and Ledbetter was a second-round selection by Tampa Bay in 2023.

  • The trade was completed on Monday, February 3, 2026.

The players

Brendan Donovan

A 29-year-old infielder who spent four seasons with the Cardinals, making the All-Star team in 2025, winning a Gold Glove in 2022, and being a Silver Slugger finalist last season.

Jurrangelo Cijntje

A 22-year-old right-handed pitcher who was the Mariners' first-round pick in 2024 and ranked as Seattle's No. 7 prospect by Baseball America.

Tai Peete

A 20-year-old outfielder who was selected 30th overall by Seattle in 2023 and posted 19 home runs and 63 RBIs in 125 games at High-A Everett in 2025.

Colton Ledbetter

A 24-year-old outfielder who was a second-round pick by Tampa Bay in 2023 and has posted back-to-back 30-steal seasons in the minors.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

This trade highlights the Cardinals' commitment to building for the future, as they parted with a proven All-Star in Donovan in exchange for a package of high-upside prospects and draft capital to replenish their farm system.