Expectation growing that Mariners will trade Emerson Hancock

There’s a growing expectation that the Seattle Mariners will trade Emerson Hancock by the MLB trade deadline, which is just days away on Monday, Aug. 3.

Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic first reported last week that the Mariners have told teams they are willing to deal their breakout right-handed starter.

Mariners can now look to Marlins for potential trade fits

At least two more MLB insiders this week have said they expect Hancock will be on the move.

“The Mariners would like to use a starting pitcher to go out and get a bat – preferably a right-handed hitting bat. (There is) not a whole lot of outfield help, maybe they go for an infielder there,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan said during the most recent episode of his “Sources Tell Jeff Passan” podcast.

“This also could be Luis Castillo, but he’s owned $22.75 million for next season. With more control for Emerson Hancock, who’s under control through the 2030 season, and the cheap price of his salary until then, it makes a lot more sense that the Mariners would deal Hancock. I do expect him to go.”

Passan also noted having highly regarded pitching prospects Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan nearing the big leagues as a reason Seattle can feel comfortable trading from its starting rotation.

The M’s have been reluctant to trade for their rotation in recent years, but Yahoo Sports’ Jordan Shusterman on Wednesday told Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy he thinks it’s time.

“I think we’ve finally gotten there, right? I mean, they’ve held off for this long and now is kind of exactly the time when you would want cash in that chip,” Shusterman said. “I mean, Castillo’s trade value is complicated for a lot of reasons, both because of his performance and because of his contract. But let’s also recognize that really the only reason they are in this position – the surplus we’re talking about – is because Emerson Hancock has turned into a really good starting pitcher.”

Shusterman thinks the M’s have the prospect capital to swing a trade without dipping into the rotation, but he believes trading from the rotation is more likely.

“At this point, I do think if they could find any sort of meaningful offensive help, especially one that also maybe has some long-term control, I have to imagine they’re going to consider (trading a starting pitcher),” Shusterman said. “And I do think that Hancock is probably more likely than Castillo just because he probably has a lot more teams calling interested in acquiring him.”

While there has been plenty of noise surrounding Hancock over the past week, he said he’s trying to do his best to tune it out.

“I’m not on social media a lot, but obviously my wife tells me about a ton of this stuff,” Hancock told reporters after his start Wednesday in Los Angeles, which could be his final as a Mariner. “Again, it’s all out of my control. It really is. We’ll just kind of cross that bridge when we get there. I love it here, I love our guys.”

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