Seattle, WA
Report: Seattle Mariners a front-runner for Cards’ Donovan
The Seattle Mariners have emerged as one of two front-runners in trade talks with the St. Louis Cardinals for utilityman Brendan Donovan, The Athletic’s Katie Woo reported on Saturday.
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Woo reported a league source said trade discussions between the Mariners and Cardinals have been heating up since the Winter Meetings, and that switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje and outfielder Lazaro Montes – two of Seattle’s top-seven prospects, per MLB pipeline – are two names St. Louis has inquired about, among others.
The Cardinals will not trade Donovan unless they are “blown away” by the return, and it’s believed they are looking for at least two prospects, per Woo’s reporting.
The San Francisco Giants were the other of the two front-runners Woo named. She also said that both the Mariners and Giants remain engaged in talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks about second baseman Ketel Marte.
Can the M’s give up what Arizona wants for a Ketel Marte trade?
Donovan, who will turn 29 next month, has two years of club control remaining. He’s played every position except catcher during his four-year career, with the majority of his time coming at second base and left field. He would figure to mainly factor in at second base and third base for the Mariners, who have young players like Cole Young, Ben Williamson and Colt Emerson vying for time at those positions.
Donovan was a first-time All-Star in 2025, batting .287 with a .353 on-base percentage, .422 slugging percentage, .775 OPS, 32 doubles, 10 home runs and 50 RBIs in 118 games. His 13% strikeout rate ranked in the 92nd percentile of big league hitters and his 13.4% whiff rate in the 95th percentile, per Baseball Savant.
Over four MLB seasons, Donovan has a career .282 average with a .361 on-base percentage, .411 slugging percentage, .772 OPS, 97 doubles, 40 homers and 202 RBIs in 492 games. He won the NL Gold Glove for utility players during his rookie season in 2022.
As for the prospects Woo reported the Cardinals inquiring about, the 22-year-old Cijntje is Seattle’s No. 7 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The unique pitcher had a 3.99 ERA and 1.22 WHIP while holding opponents to a .207 average, striking out 120 batters and walking 51 in 108 1/3 innings pitched over 26 appearances (23 starts) across High-A and Double-A in 2025.
The 21-year-old Montes is considered to be the best power-hitting prospect in the Mariners’ farm system and is their No. 3 overall farmhand, per MLB Pipeline. The slugging outfielder hit .241 with a .354 on-base percentage, .504 slugging percentage, .858 OPS, 19 doubles, seven triples, 32 home runs, 89 RBIs, 83 walks and 169 strikeouts over 131 games across High-A and Double-A this year. Montes finished tied for third in home runs among minor leaguers across all levels.
The report that the M’s are one of the top contenders for Donovan came on the same day as they lost out on re-signing their top remaining free-agent target, second baseman/designated hitter Jorge Polanco, who reportedly agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal with the New York Mets.
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Seattle, WA
Palestinian terrorist released in deal applauded at Seattle cultural festival | The Jerusalem Post
Seattle Palestinian cultural festival participants applauded an al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades terrorist, released as part of a ransom for hostages held in Gaza, as he was introduced as the keynote speaker at a Saturday event.
Speaking by video call from Egypt, according to Instagram stories published by Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return at the University of Washington (SUPER UW), Raed Abduljalil told participants of the Palestinian Cultural Resistance Festival that their actions were “an essential part of the battle we are waging against the occupation and its supporters.”
“Stay vigilant, for homelands are protected only by their conscious and aware. And I tell you today: I am more convinced than ever that I chose the right path,” the Fatah-affiliated terrorist said, according to SUPER UW. “Until we meet, God willing, under the sky of a liberated homeland.”
Abduljalil was released last February after serving 23 years of a life sentence in prison, according to Quds News and Wattan, responsible for terrorist attacks that resulted in deaths and injuries.
In promotional materials for the event organized by SUPER UW, Nidal Seattle, and Seattle University Students for Justice in Palestine, Abduljalil was described as a “freed Palestinian political prisoner and author” who had met and “struggled alongside” arch terrorist Marwan Barghouti and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) cell commander Walid Daqqa.
“Please don’t miss this important opportunity to learn not only the horrific conditions of the zionist prisons, but of the incredible work and teachings of the compass of the Palestinian resistance: its beloved prisoners,” Seattle University SJP in an April 12 Instagram post.
The program was held at the Cherry Street Village interfaith community center, which, four days prior, hosted a SUPER UW fundraiser for Lebanon and a screening of a documentary about “armed resistance” against Israel.
SUPER UW on April 15 told supporters it was a “crucial time to raise funds to materially support as well as deepen our understandings of the Lebanese resistance.” These remarks led the Department of Justice to announce on Tuesday that it was investigating UW’s handling of antisemitism.
SUPER UW and Nidal Seattle are affiliated with a network of organizations tied to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States.
9:52 PM: After 911 got a call from a driver who reported another driver shooting at her in a “road-rage incident,” police have found “casings all over” the 35th SW and SW Morgan vicinity. No report of injuries; the victim said the shooter was in a ‘white BMW SUV.” Police closed Morgan between 34th and 35th while investigating and collecting evidence.
(WSB photos)
10:09 PM: Our crew at the 35th/Morgan scene estimates at least 15-20 markers on the ground and notes that the highest number they’ve seen on a marker is 24. Adding photos.
Meantime, over radio, police say the shooting started further south on 35th, between Trenton and Elmgrove.
10:36 PM: Officers told dispatch they’re reopening Morgan.
Perhaps all Rob Refsnyder needed was some extra dad strength to break out of his early-season slump.
Refsnyder continued his strong recent play in a major way for the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, blasting a go-ahead, pinch-hit solo homer in the ninth inning to lift the M’s to a 3-2 win and series sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Box Score
Refsnyder battled back after falling behind 0-2 against Cardinals left-hander Jo Jo Romero and used some help from MLB’s new Automated Ball-Strike System to do so. The veteran kept his plate appearance alive by winning a challenge on a called third strike on the third pitch of the at-bat. He then fouled off a pitch and watched two balls before clubbing a sweeper 412 feet with a 106.6 mph exit velocity into the Mariners’ bullpen for a 3-2 lead.
It was the 12th pinch-hit, go-ahead home run in the ninth inning or later in team history, per the Mariners.
The home run was Refsnyder’s second of the season and second since being reinstated off the paternity list on April 17 following the birth of his third child.
Prior to going on the paternity list on April 14, Refsnyder was 0 for 16 at the plate in his first eight games in a Mariners uniform. In eight games since he returned, he’s 4 for 17 with the two homers.
Eduard Bazardo pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn his first win of the season. Jose A. Ferrer pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first save as a Mariner.
The Mariners improved 14-15 overall and 3-0 on their six-game road trip.
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