Three last minute trade ideas for the Mariners
What could the Mariners add before the season begins?
Seattle Mariners receive: RHP Ian Hamilton
New York Yankees receive: RHP Emerson Hancock
The Yankees add a controllable starting pitching option after losing Gerrit Cole for a significant amount of time — if not the entire season — in Emerson Hancock. Hancock isn’t the lauded prospect he once was after a shoulder injury and a struggle to come up with a viable breaking ball, but should still be able to contribute in the back of a rotation in the big leagues.
Ian “Hamdog” Hamilton finally had a breakout 2023 season out of the Yankee ‘pen after a devastating car crash and a foul ball that cause a severe injury to his face derailed his 2018 season and needed extensive time to heal from. He pitched 58.0 innings in 2023 with a 2.82 FIP and 10.71 K/9. He should be considered a bit of a swing guy, taking on a similar role to Michael King for the Yankees last year. In his 39 games played in, he pitched more than one inning in 20 of them, pitching three innings in one outing three times.
Hamilton is a sinker-slider combo pitcher with a four-seam fastball he rarely uses that does touch 97 mph. The slider garnered a gaudy 42.5% whiff rate in 2023. He is under control through the 2028 season.
The Mariners still have a significant amount of instability in the bullpen with Gregory Santos and Matt Brash injured to start he season. Hamilton would provide a longer option out of the bullpen with strikeout ability and a wicked nickname.
Seattle Mariners receive: RHP Wilmer Flores
Detroit Tigers receive: 2B Ryan Bliss
This is strictly a prospect swap, but one that fills a need for both organizations.
While Colt Keith has been named the opening day starter at second base for Detroit, he is probably more of a natural third baseman and is getting reps at second base just to get at-bats. Zach McKinstry is also on the roster but is best served as a super-utility player. Adding Ryan Bliss gives them a true second base option and an intriguing bat at the plate.
The Mariners get the pitching depth they sorely need towards the top of the farm system. Flores isn’t a high level prospect but has a solid frame at 6’4” 225lb. The 23-year-old projects as either a back-end starter or mid to high leverage reliever. He has had an up and down career that saw him lose some velocity due to injury. However, that velocity seems to be back after working with a private instructor in the offseason prior to the 2023 season.
Here is a quick video of a start from his 2023 season:
Seattle Mariners receive: LHP Luke Little
Chicago Cubs receive: UTIL Dylan Moore
The Cubs can’t figure out what they want to do with their infield. They’ve got Christopher Morel now playing third base instead of first with the addition on Michael Busch. Of course, Nico Horner and Dansby Swanson are up the middle. Nick Madrigal is an option off the bench, but was injured for much of 2023 and sported an 83 wRC+. In short, the Cubs could use somebody they can rely on defensively and move around the field that can hit lefties.
The emergence of Samad Taylor this spring has given me pause when thinking about if Dylan Moore is a needed piece to this club in 2023. Having versatile bench pieces is important, but the club doesn’t need a surplus of them. With Sam Haggerty, Samad Taylor and Dylan Moore, one of them should be expendable. I’m choosing the most expensive and valuable one.
LHP Luke Little was a flamethrower coming out of the 2020 draft (the hardest throwing lefty, in fact, touching 105 mph) but dialed back his velocity in hopes to gain a little more control. Little is massive, standing 6’8” with 220lb to put behind the ball. He is now sitting 95-97 mph, touching 99 mph. He is now working as a bullpen arm after it became obvious the control was never going to be enough to work as a starter. The slider is a plus pitch that sits low 80s and generated a 56% swing-and-miss rate last year.