Mariners Weigh Hancock Trade to Kick-Start Offense
Per The Athletic, the Seattle Mariners are signaling they’re willing to trade Emerson Hancock to add offense, even while remaining in the thick of the AL West race. Seattle has rotation depth with Hancock, Gilbert, Kirby, Woo, Miller, and Castillo, plus top pitching prospects, and is choosing to deal from that surplus to boost the lineup. While Castillo could be moved, his age, cost, and contract risk make Hancock a more appealing centerpiece for potential trades. The club’s offense has lagged, especially against left-handed pitching (.216/.302/.334, 87 wRC+), so they could pursue right-handed bats such as Neto, Jeffers, Ward, France, Lane Thomas, Spencer Steer, Heliot Ramos, Matt Vierling, Austin Martin, José Fermín, Oswald Peraza, Luis Robert Jr., or Matt McLain to complement their roster, with Hancock’s four additional years of control increasing his value in any deal.
