Brendan Donovan’s trade to Seattle should have been a straightforward story, yet somehow it evolved into an uncomfortable moment for the New York Mets.
Sep 13, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan (33) hits a solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the third inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Jeff Passan’s post-trade tweet compared Donovan to Bo Bichette, a framing that immediately raised eyebrows across multiple fan bases.
The comparison focused strictly on the last three seasons, reducing two very different players into near-identical statistical snapshots.
On paper, the numbers looked close, but the context behind them told a far less balanced story.
Donovan is a versatile defender with a Gold Glove, while Bichette remains one of baseball’s weakest fielders despite superior offensive impact.
Limiting the comparison to three seasons conveniently erased Bichette’s elite 2022 and spotlighted his disastrous 2024.
That selective window quietly reshaped perception, making a steady utility player resemble a former franchise centerpiece.
Bichette’s power profile, home run output, and lineup impact still separate him decisively from Donovan’s lighter offensive role.
Donovan fits best near the top of a lineup, while Bichette profiles as a middle-order threat when performing normally.
Passan’s intent was likely praise for Seattle’s acquisition, not criticism of New York’s offseason decisions.
Still, Mets fans noticed Donovan had been a realistic target, one they could have acquired with money instead of prospects.
The implication felt unavoidable, Seattle paid creatively while New York paid expensively.
That feeling tapped into a familiar Mets insecurity, the belief that even indirect comparisons somehow reflect poorly on them.
Ironically, Donovan is hardly underappreciated, consistently productive but rarely transcendent.
Bichette, even in down years, carries a ceiling Donovan has never approached statistically.
The tweet wasn’t an attack, but timing and framing made it feel like one.
In Mets circles, perception often matters as much as intent.
Once again, a national voice spoke, and New York heard something personal.
Whether fair or not, the reaction was predictable.
The Mets weren’t mentioned, but they felt seen anyway.
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