This is the second in an occasional series about starting pitchers the Cubs might want to target in a trade.
I didn’t expect to write this one, but from the same Ken Rosenthal/Will Sammon article in The Athletic that mentioned Reid Detmers, who I profiled yesterday, they also mention Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock:
In their search for a right-handed hitter, the Mariners are telling teams they also are open to moving righty Emerson Hancock, according to people briefed on their discussions.
Well.
Emerson Hancock is the same age as Detmers (turned 27 in May), and he has something that would likely be very attractive to the Cubs front office: four years of team control after this year! Yes, that’s right, the Cubs could possibly get Hancock for four and a half seasons, if they could put together the right deal. In addition, Hancock isn’t even arb-eligible (based on the current CBA) until 2028.
Hancock was the Mariners’ No. 1 pick (sixth overall) in the 2020 Draft out of Georgia. He was in the major leagues three years later and was an occasional starter over the last two seasons.
He’s had a breakout year in 2026 — 19 starts with a 3.16 ERA, 1.006 WHIP and good walk, strikeout and home run rates. All that is good for 2.4 bWAR (1.7 fWAR).
Here’s Hancock’s pitch selection chart:
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The article mentions the Mariners looking for a right-handed hitter.
Matt Shaw would be the obvious choice here, but Shaw’s on the IL and as of Friday, here’s his status (Bluesky link):
So it doesn’t seem likely he could be traded, unless the Mariners would like to take a chance he’ll be ready sometime shortly after the deadline, which is nine days from now.
Many of the Mariners are having down years, and it’s entirely possible they miss the postseason altogether, after being in the ALCS last year and one game from their first World Series. Could they be re-tooling for 2027 and beyond?
Or would you be willing to send Moisés Ballesteros to Seattle for Hancock? Yes, I know. They’re looking for a right-handed hitter. What about Ballesteros and Kevin Alcántara?
Remember, you’re getting a starter who is good now, is 27, and is under team control through 2030.
What would you do?
