kyace wrote: ↑30 Jan 2026 23:19 pm
They just lost their planned #6 starter. Evans had TJ surgery and is out all 2026. They are really thin beyond their starting five. They brought in some pitchers off waivers and minor league free agents to have some depth. Anderson was just drafted and hasn’t played any pro ball yet. Sloan is several years out and so is Cijntje. They had planned on Hancock for the bullpen this year.
This may be a time for the Cards to add a starter to a Donovan deal to get what they want from Seattle. Maybe one of the pitchers they got from Boston could be included or use a third team looking for a catcher or reliever to get a pitcher to include in a deal.
Would the Cards add Mathews to a Seattle deal to get Sloan back? He would give the Mariners a near ready left handed starter that they could throw into the rotation if needed. Sloan fits the Cardinals timeline and would give them a right handed power pitcher with Ace potential. Mathews is closer to the majors but doesn’t have as a high of a ceiling. Mariners could live with that as they have others at the top and Anderson a year or two away. They could use a left handed starter especially one as close as Mathews is to be a middle of the rotation starter.
Sloan is ready and better than any SP the Cardinals could send them
Say What?
Sloan has all of 11 innings at High A. He's ready for North Little Rock at best in the Texas League.
Who are you sending them? Unless it’s Libertore or McGreevy they have better option and tons of FA available
Emerson Hancock: Transitioned to a relief role but remains a top starting option.
Dane Dunning: Signed a minor league deal in January 2026, offering significant MLB experience (102 starts).
Cooper Criswell: Acquired from the Mets in January 2026 to provide experienced "swingman" depth, capable of starting or relieving
The Mariners had viewed Evans as their No. 6 or 7 starter for this season. He proved valuable in that role last season with three of the Mariners regular starters — Logan Gilbert, George Kirby and Bryce Miller — all missing time with injury. In 15 starts and one relief appearance at the MLB level last season, Evans posted a 6-5 record with a 4.32 ERA.
With Evans unavailable, the Mariners will look to right-handers Emerson Hancock (31 MLB starts), Dane Dunning (102 MLB starts) and Cooper Criswell (21 MLB starts) as their starting depth. All three have MLB starting experience with varying levels of success.
“They will need to be capable if one of the first five guys is down,” Hollander said. “They’ve all done it before.”
kyace wrote: ↑30 Jan 2026 23:19 pm
They just lost their planned #6 starter. Evans had TJ surgery and is out all 2026. They are really thin beyond their starting five. They brought in some pitchers off waivers and minor league free agents to have some depth. Anderson was just drafted and hasn’t played any pro ball yet. Sloan is several years out and so is Cijntje. They had planned on Hancock for the bullpen this year.
This may be a time for the Cards to add a starter to a Donovan deal to get what they want from Seattle. Maybe one of the pitchers they got from Boston could be included or use a third team looking for a catcher or reliever to get a pitcher to include in a deal.
Would the Cards add Mathews to a Seattle deal to get Sloan back? He would give the Mariners a near ready left handed starter that they could throw into the rotation if needed. Sloan fits the Cardinals timeline and would give them a right handed power pitcher with Ace potential. Mathews is closer to the majors but doesn’t have as a high of a ceiling. Mariners could live with that as they have others at the top and Anderson a year or two away. They could use a left handed starter especially one as close as Mathews is to be a middle of the rotation starter.
Sloan is ready and better than any SP the Cardinals could send them
Say What?
Sloan has all of 11 innings at High A. He's ready for North Little Rock at best in the Texas League.
Who are you sending them? Unless it’s Libertore or McGreevy they have better option and tons of FA available
Emerson Hancock: Transitioned to a relief role but remains a top starting option.
Dane Dunning: Signed a minor league deal in January 2026, offering significant MLB experience (102 starts).
Cooper Criswell: Acquired from the Mets in January 2026 to provide experienced "swingman" depth, capable of starting or relieving
I never entertained a thought on that trade. The only time I thought of Sloan was Donovan for Sloan back in November/December...and that was when I saw the Montes and/or Cijntje for Donovan trade...and those two names seriously underwhelmed me...projection wise at least.
We're not getting Anderson....unless we can give them Doyle by some sort of trickery. I'd take Anderson for Doyle everyday of the week....and we'd have to throw in a Nootbaar or Burleson to get it done.
It's moot anyways....Seattle isn't giving up Sloan nor Anderson.
Donovan 30.7
Liberatore 14.9
Romero 6.3
? (Pages or Crooks are both about 8-9)
the numbers align on paper, but the stingiest team in the MLB won't part with their best arms...arguably both are Top 10 best arms in the majors.
Yep, Seattle seems to horde prospects and who can blame them.
In the scenario below, they would not have to surrender their top arm Anderson or top bat Montes. Numbers align. We get the high potential arm and a mlb ready RH bat, albeit not the top flight slugger. Just don’t think we were ever going to get that for a package headlined by Donny:
kyace wrote: ↑30 Jan 2026 23:19 pm
They just lost their planned #6 starter. Evans had TJ surgery and is out all 2026. They are really thin beyond their starting five. They brought in some pitchers off waivers and minor league free agents to have some depth. Anderson was just drafted and hasn’t played any pro ball yet. Sloan is several years out and so is Cijntje. They had planned on Hancock for the bullpen this year.
This may be a time for the Cards to add a starter to a Donovan deal to get what they want from Seattle. Maybe one of the pitchers they got from Boston could be included or use a third team looking for a catcher or reliever to get a pitcher to include in a deal.
Would the Cards add Mathews to a Seattle deal to get Sloan back? He would give the Mariners a near ready left handed starter that they could throw into the rotation if needed. Sloan fits the Cardinals timeline and would give them a right handed power pitcher with Ace potential. Mathews is closer to the majors but doesn’t have as a high of a ceiling. Mariners could live with that as they have others at the top and Anderson a year or two away. They could use a left handed starter especially one as close as Mathews is to be a middle of the rotation starter.
Sloan is ready and better than any SP the Cardinals could send them
Say What?
Sloan has all of 11 innings at High A. He's ready for North Little Rock at best in the Texas League.
Who are you sending them? Unless it’s Libertore or McGreevy they have better option and tons of FA available
Emerson Hancock: Transitioned to a relief role but remains a top starting option.
Dane Dunning: Signed a minor league deal in January 2026, offering significant MLB experience (102 starts).
Cooper Criswell: Acquired from the Mets in January 2026 to provide experienced "swingman" depth, capable of starting or relieving
I never entertained a thought on that trade. The only time I thought of Sloan was Donovan for Sloan back in November/December...and that was when I saw the Montes and/or Cijntje for Donovan trade...and those two names seriously underwhelmed me...projection wise at least.
We're not getting Anderson....unless we can give them Doyle by some sort of trickery. I'd take Anderson for Doyle everyday of the week....and we'd have to throw in a Nootbaar or Burleson to get it done.
It's moot anyways....Seattle isn't giving up Sloan nor Anderson.
Montes should be the asking price imo. RH OF power bat
next in line...lots of depth 
), I was never in on the M's since they can't afford to give away good hitting prospects.
