Mariners' Emerson Hancock rumor throws twist into Luis Castillo trade talks

The Seattle Mariners have a lot of starting pitchers.

That surplus has always seemed like a logical place for them to deal from ahead of the MLB trade deadline, regardless of whether moves would be considering "buying" or "selling." In this case, it would simply be the Mariners giving up a loaded position to improve in a different way.

All along, it's been assumed that the veteran Luis Castillo would be the most likely trade candidate.

An article on Thursday by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon, though, suggests that they might actually trade Emerson Hancock.

Hancock is better at this point than Castillo, and he's younger and cheaper. That works both ways, though -- Hancock would earn a bigger return in a trade, too.

"Hancock, 27, is more affordable, earning $793,300 this season, and controllable, for four additional seasons through 2030," Rosenthal and Sammon wrote in their new article. "He also is enjoying a breakout campaign, though his expected ERA in 19 starts is more than a run per nine innings higher than his actual 3.16. While teams do not necessarily view Emerson as a top-of-the-rotation type, a quality major-league starting pitcher under long-term control should hold considerable value leading to the Aug. 3 trade deadline."

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An injury would change things, but the Mariners even have pitching depth in the minor leagues. There's really no reason for them not to deal a starter.

"Hancock, who opened the season in the rotation as a replacement for injured righty Bryce Miller, is not as established as righties Logan Gilbert, George Kirby and Bryan Woo, all of whom the Mariners are unlikely to discuss, sources said," Rosenthal and Sammon write. "Miller, pitching better than than he has at any point in his career and under club control for three additional seasons, falls into the same nearly untouchable category."

This move would be about offense. For Seattle to make a second-half surge, the bats will have to pick it up a bit.

Pitching only is as useful as the runs the offense puts on the board. The Mariners are hoping to strike that balance.

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