MLB Player News

Herrera was called up on Sunday to replace Willson Contreras (finger) but it was thought that he might be a backup behind Pedro Pages due to Pages’ defensive value. That doesn’t appear to be the case, and Herrera could be worth a short-term add in two-catcher formats.

The pick is lined up to 68th or 69th overall. Donovan was connected to Seattle all winter, and the Mariners get him arguably without including any of their top five prospects. As things stand now, he’d seem to project as their third baseman and leadoff man. However, if top prospect Cole Emerson makes a run at the third base job in spring training, Donovan could play second or left. That versatility makes him an especially nice fit in a lineup with a few question marks. Donovan hit .287/.353/.422 and made the NL All-Star team last season. He’s never been a big fantasy infielder because of his lack of homers (career high of 14 in 2024) and steals (career high of five in 2023 and ’24), and moving to Seattle doesn’t figure to help him any. Randy Arozarena could also lose some fantasy value here; he ended last year in the leadoff spot but could drop as low as fifth in the lineup now. Cole Young’s status as the favorite to start at second base is also probably a little shakier, but he’s not a mixed-league guy anyway.

Three prospects and two picks, which are set to be 68th or 69th and 72nd or 73rd overall, seems like a fair return for Donovan, who departs two years before becoming eligible for free agency. The move comes just one day after the Mariners revealed that Cijntje, the switch-pitching 2024 first-round pick, would focus on being a right-handed starter this spring and would likely be limited to throwing bullpen sessions left-handed. We’ll have to wait and see if the Cardinals feel the same way. Cijntje throws considerably harder right-handed and projects as a mid-rotation starter used traditionally. He had a 4.58 ERA in 74 2/3 innings in High-A and a 2.67 ERA in 33 2/3 innings in Double-A last year, and he’s probably still a full season away from contributing in the majors. With Donovan joining Nolan Arenado in exiting, the Cardinals now have two starting infield spots available for Nolan Gorman, José Fermín, Thomas Saggese and top prospect JJ Wetherholt. It seems likely that Gorman will get one of them against righties, no matter how little he’s done lately to deserve it.

Peete is just 20, but his second full year in the Mariners system was pretty disappointing, as he hit .217/.288/.404 with 162 strikeouts in 529 plate appearances at High-A Everett. A converted infielder, he shows plenty of speed in center, and he definitely still offers ample power potential. However, his swing-and-miss tendencies have dropped his stock.

The draft pick will be 72nd or 73rd overall in the 2026 draft. Known for his excellent glove at third base, Williamson hit .253/.294/.310 with one homer in 295 plate appearances as a rookie for the Mariners last season. Odds are that he’ll be better than that going forward — he did hit .314/.392/.462 in his 52 games in Triple-A — but he still seems like a stretch as a potential regular. The Rays might want to take a look at him as a utilityman; he hasn’t played much shortstop since college, but versatility would definitely help his outlook. He has two option years remaining, so he could begin 2026 in Triple-A.

Ledbetter, who turned 24 in November, hit .265/.337/.378 with seven homers and 37 steals in his first season in Double-A last year. He showed more power in 2024, finishing with 16 homers and a .484 slugging percentage in High-, and he’ll need that to come back in order to have a realistic chance of landing a gig as a platoon guy against righties in the majors. The Cardinals figure to put him in Triple-A this year.

Waldichuk was acquired from the Braves last month after previously being waived by the A’s and claimed by Atlanta. He struggled mightily in his return from Tommy John last summer, with his velocity down about two mph, but he still might have some rotation potential if his stuff comes back.

Catcher is usually the weak link for the Dominican Republic on the position side, but Yainer Diaz and Wells will make for a solid duo this time around and things are even brighter going forward. Wells, whose mother is of Dominican descent, apparently got the nod over Agustín Ramírez. The D.R. used Francisco Mejia and Gary Sánchez behind the plate last time around in 2023. Come 2029, there’s a good chance Samuel Basallo will be the team’s primary catcher, with Cardinals prospect Rainiel Rodríguez also potentially in the mix.

Nittoli, a 35-year-old reliever, has been on the cusp of the majors for a long time without ever getting a real opportunity; he has a career 2.41 ERA in 18 2/3 innings in brief stints with the Mariners, Phillies, Mets, A’s and Orioles. Last year, he missed some time due to the injury and had a 4.58 ERA in 39 1/3 innings as a Triple-A reliever with the Orioles and Brewers.

García required back surgery a year ago that took him out of the mix for 2025, and now he’s choosing to call it a career at age 34. García made an All-Star team in 2017 while hitting .330/.380/.506 for the 2017 White Sox. It was easily his best year, but he was also a quality regular for the Rays in 2019 and the Brewers in 2021. After the latter season, the Marlins signed him to a four-year, $52 million deal that turned quickly went bad, and he was released 2 1/3 seasons into it after hitting just .217/.260/.322 in 153 games. He finishes his career at .263/.316/.417 with 140 homers in 1,104 games.

It’s a three-team deal that will send Mariners prospects Jurrangelo Cijinte and Tai Peete to the Cardinals, says Adam Jude of the Seattle Times, and third baseman Ben Williamson from the Mariners to the Rays, according to USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale. The Rays will be parting with outfielder Colton Ledbetter and a Comp B draft pick (slated to be the 72nd or 73rd pick overall), with both going to the Cardinals. Donovan, who has been part of trade rumors all winter, seems likely to play third for Seattle with Williamson gone, though he’s also very much an option at second base and in left field. The Mariners would have the 2025 NL All-Star under control for the next two years.