Bold statement: The quiet truth is this—the Mariners valued their young core too highly to part with Cole Young, even as Ketel Marte lingered in trade chatter. And this is where the story gets intricate, because a potential return would have reshaped Seattle’s long-term upside more than any short-term move could justify.
Among the players who changed little or stayed put this offseason, Ketel Marte remained the center of persistent rumors. Arizona general manager Mike Hazen consistently told everyone a deal wasn’t likely and acknowledged late in the winter that talks never even came close to advancing. Still, the Diamondbacks did field inquiries from several interested teams about their standout second baseman.
Seattle was among those clubs actively checking in, aiming to upgrade at a premium infield spot. Reports from Adam Jude of The Seattle Times indicate that discussions about bringing Marte back to the Pacific Northwest didn’t make significant progress. A key reason, Jude notes, was Seattle’s reluctance to include Cole Young, a promising second-year infielder, in any package for Marte.
This stance aligns with a December report from fellow Seattle Times writer Ryan Divish, who cited the Mariners’ hesitancy to trade away parts of their MLB roster. In the end, Seattle did land a preferred target—Brendan Donovan—in a three-team deal with the Cardinals and Rays. The trade required shipping out third baseman Ben Williamson, a secondary piece in the package headlined by Double-A right-hander Jurrangelo Cijntje. A Young-inclusive trade would have removed a higher-upside asset from the MLB roster.
Donovan brings greater defensive flexibility and is slated to move to third base to start the season. That shift could clear the way for Young to win the second-base job. Young, 22, had a rough rookie year, posting a line of .211/.302/.305 with four homers over 257 plate appearances. While his plate discipline looked advanced, the elite impact off the bat didn’t consistently materialize.
His playing time dwindled late in the season, and he didn’t appear on the playoff roster. Jorge Polanco started at second in October, and Leo Rivas provided a more contact-oriented option off the bench for the Mariners.
Jude’s reporting suggests Seattle still believes in Young’s ceiling. A former first-round pick, Young excelled as a hitter across every level of the minors. He carried a strong triple-A slash line of .277/.392/.461 across 54 games, posting more walks than strikeouts. While he didn’t mash home runs at that level, he did hit the ball with noticeably more authority and showed solid gap power against higher-tier pitching. Although he has exhausted prospect eligibility, Young remains one of Seattle’s brightest internal prospects. He’s under team control for six full seasons and could become a Super Two-eligible player in the 2027–28 offseason if he sticks on the MLB roster.
What this all means: Seattle’s decision to protect Young reflects a broader philosophy—maximize the upside of your own internal talent before sacrificing future potential for a win-now move. The Marte talks illustrate the delicate balance between short-term competitiveness and long-term growth.
Would you side with the Mariners’ cautious approach and prioritize Young’s ceiling, or argue that Marte’s immediate impact could have accelerated Seattle’s playoff ambitions? Share your take in the comments.
