Mariners Reportedly Willing to Trade Emerson Hancock

[butsir01]

So, Herbie Hancock may be better?

[Melville]

Hancock was on the outs with Mariners this offseason and was going to be moved to the bullpen before Miller got hurt giving him a rotation spot. Cards could have easily got him in the Donovan trade. His ERA is a bit deceiving however so the Mariners are looking to sell high on him.
They would like O’Brian but want a right handed bat for the outfield which Cards don’t have. Expect to see Spencer Steer heading their way.

Hancock (or Miller) is in fact the very pitcher I advised the Cardinals should demand - and instead they settled for a long shot novelty act.

[Melville]

A month ago O’Brian and Herrera could have almost got you Kirby but I’m not sure now it could get you Hancock. I had proposed a trade a while back where Cards sent those two to the Mariners with Kirby and Velequez going to Phillies for Painter and Miller.
Mariners looking for players with controllable years and Phillies looking to win now. This trade would have met both of those needs and gave the Cards two high upside prospects for pitcher and third base.

Excellent post.
The M's want a RH bat - and Herrera is probably the only one they could have interest in.
If Herrera and O' Brien could be moved for Hancock, you do that before the M's come to their senses.

[Melville]

Herrera and Jojo of OBrien for Hancock? Works for both teams. Btv lines up.

What would it also take to get Arroyo from Seattle? 3B prospect with bat to ball skills and growing power. Blocked in Seattle.

Maybe up the hitter to Burleson?

They want/need right handed hitting. All teams are looking for RH hitting except Houston.

Do a 3 way trade then. Give them someone else’s RH hitter.

Interesting idea. Nootbaar to Houston and Paredes to Seattle…something like that. With a RP from the Cards heading to Seattle too. Probably one or two other prospect pieces needed to balance it all out.

Worth considering.

[tyoung12290]

Id take him because hes cost controlled but he really doesnt seem to be that good. Herrera is an over pay. Maybe Herrera and Obrien for Hancock and prospect. Herrera is slumping but come on people.

I only really want Herrera gone because he shouldn't be catching. I think its about time to commit to Crooks for the rest of the year, bc Bernal looks ready to start the year here next year we need to start deciding which catchers are worth keeping.

[Basil Shabazz]

Id take him because hes cost controlled but he really doesnt seem to be that good. Herrera is an over pay. Maybe Herrera and Obrien for Hancock and prospect. Herrera is slumping but come on people.

I only really want Herrera gone because he shouldn't be catching. I think its about time to commit to Crooks for the rest of the year, bc Bernal looks ready to start the year here next year we need to start deciding which catchers are worth keeping.

I guess I'd ask, what is your definition of "not good?"

Are we comparing him to Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, or Yoshinobu Yamamoto? If so, then sure, Hancock isn't in that tier.

But if we're talking about a 27-year-old, cost-controlled starter who takes the ball every fifth day and consistently gives his team a chance to win, that's a pretty valuable pitcher.

People also seem to ignore that he reportedly made an arm slot adjustment this past offseason that's led to more swing-and-miss. Outside of a couple rough starts in June, he's been remarkably consistent all season. He's had several no-decisions or losses where he only allowed one or two runs because Seattle didn't score for him.

Remember, he was a Top-10 overall pick for a reason. Development isn't always linear, and not every pitcher arrives in the majors fully formed. It's entirely possible we're watching him become the pitcher scouts projected when he was drafted.

Now, would I trade Ivan Herrera straight up for him? Probably not. But labeling Hancock as "not very good" feels like selling him short. I'd argue he's a legitimate mid-rotation starter with the upside to be more if the changes he's made continue to stick.

[tyoung12290]

Id take him because hes cost controlled but he really doesnt seem to be that good. Herrera is an over pay. Maybe Herrera and Obrien for Hancock and prospect. Herrera is slumping but come on people.

I only really want Herrera gone because he shouldn't be catching. I think its about time to commit to Crooks for the rest of the year, bc Bernal looks ready to start the year here next year we need to start deciding which catchers are worth keeping.

I guess I'd ask, what is your definition of "not good?"

Are we comparing him to Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, or Yoshinobu Yamamoto? If so, then sure, Hancock isn't in that tier.

But if we're talking about a 27-year-old, cost-controlled starter who takes the ball every fifth day and consistently gives his team a chance to win, that's a pretty valuable pitcher.

People also seem to ignore that he reportedly made an arm slot adjustment this past offseason that's led to more swing-and-miss. Outside of a couple rough starts in June, he's been remarkably consistent all season. He's had several no-decisions or losses where he only allowed one or two runs because Seattle didn't score for him.

Remember, he was a Top-10 overall pick for a reason. Development isn't always linear, and not every pitcher arrives in the majors fully formed. It's entirely possible we're watching him become the pitcher scouts projected when he was drafted.

Now, would I trade Ivan Herrera straight up for him? Probably not. But labeling Hancock as "not very good" feels like selling him short. I'd argue he's a legitimate mid-rotation starter with the upside to be more if the changes he's made continue to stick.

Id have to dig in deeper I guess, I just see less than a k/inning and an xERA in the mid 4s. I dont think we are going to have a shortage of pitchers who provide similar in the near future(mathews, Dobbins, Leahy, Mcgreevy etc). Could he be a touch better than those guys maybe but I think we are going to have mid to back end of the rotation guys in spades with how heavily we have attacked pitching in the system. If Cerfolio and Pierpont think they can squeeze more out of him I'd be down with it,

[Melville]

Id take him because hes cost controlled but he really doesnt seem to be that good. Herrera is an over pay. Maybe Herrera and Obrien for Hancock and prospect. Herrera is slumping but come on people.

I only really want Herrera gone because he shouldn't be catching. I think its about time to commit to Crooks for the rest of the year, bc Bernal looks ready to start the year here next year we need to start deciding which catchers are worth keeping.

Like it or not, starting pitching is simply more value in MLB's economy than RH hitting is.
Herrera is a solid bat - but nothing special and with limited upside.
He is a career .270 hitter who can provide 15-18 HR over 600+ PA's - and who has no defensive position.
STL fans might love him - but other teams have a more clear-eyed view.

[scoutyjones2]

Herrera and Jojo of OBrien for Hancock? Works for both teams. Btv lines up.

What would it also take to get Arroyo from Seattle? 3B prospect with bat to ball skills and growing power. Blocked in Seattle.

Maybe up the hitter to Burleson?

They want/need right handed hitting. All teams are looking for RH hitting except Houston.

Do a 3 way trade then. Give them someone else’s RH hitter.

Why would the 3rd party, with a coveted RH bat, nerf the Cards to participate?

[rockondlouie]

I wouldn't give them any of our top prospects, absolutely NOT Herrera or Burly for him.

2027 going into his age 28 season

Prior to this year he was "meh" low strikeout, 4.81 ERA1.36 WHiP pitcher in 31 GS/37 G

Gorman + JAGesse + Hence

[Talkin' Baseball]

Hancock was on the outs with Mariners this offseason and was going to be moved to the bullpen before Miller got hurt giving him a rotation spot. Cards could have easily got him in the Donovan trade. His ERA is a bit deceiving however so the Mariners are looking to sell high on him.
They would like O’Brian but want a right handed bat for the outfield which Cards don’t have. Expect to see Spencer Steer heading their way.

Hancock (or Miller) is in fact the very pitcher I advised the Cardinals should demand - and instead they settled for a long shot novelty act.

The past 2 seasons it seems like Miller is dancing around arm issues. In my opinion, this is an outlier season for Hancock.

[rockondlouie]

You want a real blockbuster w/the M's that fits BOTH teams needs?

L. Gilbert

for

J. Walker

[TraveledLessRoad]

You want a real blockbuster w/the M's that fits BOTH teams needs?

L. Gilbert

for

J. Walker

I wonder who'd say no in that deal

[rockondlouie]

You want a real blockbuster w/the M's that fits BOTH teams needs?

L. Gilbert

for

J. Walker

I wonder who'd say no in that deal

It would be interesting TLR

Gives the Cardinals that true #1 who could matchup w/any teams #1 in a playoff match while giving the M's the RHed power hitter they crave.

Never happen, just a fun thought exercise.

[WaltsSuccessor]

Herrera and Jojo of OBrien for Hancock? Works for both teams. Btv lines up.

What would it also take to get Arroyo from Seattle? 3B prospect with bat to ball skills and growing power. Blocked in Seattle.

Maybe up the hitter to Burleson?

They want/need right handed hitting. All teams are looking for RH hitting except Houston.

Do a 3 way trade then. Give them someone else’s RH hitter.

Interesting idea. Nootbaar to Houston and Paredes to Seattle…something like that. With a RP from the Cards heading to Seattle too. Probably one or two other prospect pieces needed to balance it all out.

Worth considering.

Addresses the concerns of Hancock regressing by not giving up any long-term value from our end (of substance). Noot and Romero (or possibly even O'Brien) would be real value for 2026 without mortgaging the future at all.

Cardinals could also flex their low payroll flexibility. Houston wants to dip under the luxury tax (they are super close). Cover all of Noot's remaining 2026 salary. Then the prospect(s) come from Houston to balance it out with Seattle.

[BrockFloodMaris]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/07/ ... ncock.html

This is the kind of trade I would be all over if I was in the Cardinals front office. The Cardinals need controllable top-of-the-rotation starting pitching, and the Mariners need a hitter and a late-inning reliever.

I would be willing to gamble a high ranked prospect or two for a pitcher like Hancock. He's currently 27, with a 3.16 ERA in 19 starts and 105. IP, which comes out to 2.4 WAR per Baseball Reference.

He's under team control until 2031 and doesn't hit arbitration until 2028.

I’ve heard the number at $50M+ that BDW has invested into rebuilding our minor league player development system in order to develop our own Emerson Hancocks. A parade of them for many years to come.