Ketel Marte was one of the most discussed players not traded during the offseason, yet Arizona Diamondbacks General Manager Mike Hazen confirmed that no trade came close to being finalized. Despite Hazen’s repeated statements that a deal was unlikely, multiple teams reached out to the D-Backs to explore acquiring their star second baseman.
Among interested clubs, the Seattle Mariners expressed some pursuit of Marte, a player who originally started with Seattle before being moved to Arizona during the 2016-17 offseason. However, according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, efforts to bring Marte back to the Pacific Northwest stalled early, largely because the Mariners hesitated to include their young infielder Cole Young in any trade package.
Seattle’s Reluctance to Trade Key Prospects
The Mariners’ resistance to parting with Young reflects a cautious approach to trading away major league talent. Ryan Divish, also of The Seattle Times, noted in December that the team aimed to retain its MLB roster core. Instead of trading for Marte, Seattle secured Brendan Donovan through a three-team transaction involving the Cardinals and Rays. In that deal, the Mariners gave up third baseman Ben Williamson, a less high-profile major leaguer compared to Young, to acquire Donovan and highly regarded Double-A pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje.
Donovan’s Role and Opportunities for Cole Young
Brendan Donovan offers notable defensive versatility and is slated to start the season at third base. This shift gears the Mariners to give Cole Young a legitimate opportunity to claim the second base position. Young, who hit .211/.302/.305 with four home runs during his rookie season over 257 plate appearances, displayed advanced plate discipline but struggled to consistently generate hard contact at the major league level.
Toward the end of the season, Young’s playing time diminished, and he was omitted from the postseason rosters. Jorge Polanco filled the starting second base role in October, and Leo Rivas was preferred as a contact-oriented infield option off the bench.
Mariners’ Continued Confidence in Young’s Potential
Despite the rocky rookie year, reporting from Adam Jude suggests the Mariners remain optimistic about Cole Young’s development. A former first-round draft pick, Young has a history of strong hitting performances at every minor league level. In 54 games at Triple-A, he posted a .277/.392/.461 batting line, demonstrating more consistent gap power and harder contact compared to his major league debut.
Although Young has used up his prospect eligibility, he stands out as one of Seattle’s most promising hopefuls. Controlled by the club for six more seasons, he could also become a borderline Super Two arbitration candidate if he maintains a spot on the major league roster through the 2027-28 offseason.
Implications for Mariners’ Roster Strategy
The Mariners’ decision to hold firm in keeping Cole Young rather than offering him in a package for Ketel Marte reveals a tension between pursuing proven star talent and nurturing internal prospects. By choosing Donovan and retaining Young, Seattle signals an emphasis on versatile defense and long-term player development. How Young adapts and performs this coming season will likely influence the team’s infield decisions going forward and determine if he can fulfill his promising potential.
