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As the MLB trade deadline nears, there can be no question that the Chicago Cubs need to make a move to add starting pitching.
The Cubs have already made two trades for pitchers, but neither one moves the needle. Adding Aaron Civale from the Athletics and David Peterson from the Mets isn't exactly what Cubs fans had in mind. And even though Peterson has pitched 11.2 innings while allowing just one earned run over his first two starts in a Cubs uniform, Chicago needs to do better.
The Cubs are 57-45. But if they have any hope of tracking down the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central or making legitimate noise in the postseason, they'll need more than a starting rotation of Matthew Boyd, ***** Imanaga, David Peterson, Jameson Taillon, and Colin Rea.
Cubs fans want the team to swing big. And one of the perfect trade targets has started to reveal himself. The Cubs could make an effort to land right-handed pitcher Emerson Hancock from the Seattle Mariners.
According to a recent report from MLB insiders Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon, the Mariners are open to moving Hancock in their search for a right-handed hitter. Rosenthal and Sammon mentioned the Cubs as a team that would seemingly be interested in Hancock.
Here's where things get a bit complicated.
The Mariners were one game away from the World Series in 2025, and they currently sit just 0.5 games behind the Texas Rangers for the AL West lead.
Seattle won't be giving Hancock away for prospects. The Mariners may try to acquire young players in the deal who can help them in the future, but if they're trading from their surplus of starting pitching, they'll also want MLB assets in return who can help them make a playoff push this season. Right-handed hitting is what they covet. And outfielder Seiya Suzuki or utilityman Matt Shaw could headline the deal.
Both players carry varying levels of value for each team. Suzuki is clearly the more impactful bat right now. He has 17 home runs, 53 RBIs, and a .837 OPS for the Cubs in 2026. He'd help Seattle immediately while leaving a bigger hole in the Cubs' lineup. But he's also on an expiring contract.
Shaw, on the other hand, is on the IL with a left hand sprain and could return shortly. He has a .737 OPS and doesn't receive regular playing time for the Cubs. But he's still just 24 years old and figures to be part of the team's long-term future should they hold on to him.
It is unclear which bat the Mariners would prefer or whether the Cubs are open to trading either one. But the on-paper fit seems to make a lot of sense, especially because the Cubs may need to add more than one starting pitcher.
Adding Hancock to the rotation would give the Cubs a capable arm for the rest of the season, but he also comes with club control, allowing them to get a head start on addressing the rotation for the offseason. Hancock is under contract through the 2030 season, and moving MLB talent to acquire him would allow the Cubs to use some of their top prospects to make another big splash, such as pursuing Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal or an Angels starting pitcher like José Soriano or Reid Detmers.
Jed Hoyer has options, but truly filling the rotation need may start with moving an MLB bat.
Continue reading...
The Cubs have already made two trades for pitchers, but neither one moves the needle. Adding Aaron Civale from the Athletics and David Peterson from the Mets isn't exactly what Cubs fans had in mind. And even though Peterson has pitched 11.2 innings while allowing just one earned run over his first two starts in a Cubs uniform, Chicago needs to do better.
The Cubs are 57-45. But if they have any hope of tracking down the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central or making legitimate noise in the postseason, they'll need more than a starting rotation of Matthew Boyd, ***** Imanaga, David Peterson, Jameson Taillon, and Colin Rea.
Cubs fans want the team to swing big. And one of the perfect trade targets has started to reveal himself. The Cubs could make an effort to land right-handed pitcher Emerson Hancock from the Seattle Mariners.
According to a recent report from MLB insiders Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon, the Mariners are open to moving Hancock in their search for a right-handed hitter. Rosenthal and Sammon mentioned the Cubs as a team that would seemingly be interested in Hancock.
Here's where things get a bit complicated.
The Mariners were one game away from the World Series in 2025, and they currently sit just 0.5 games behind the Texas Rangers for the AL West lead.
Seattle won't be giving Hancock away for prospects. The Mariners may try to acquire young players in the deal who can help them in the future, but if they're trading from their surplus of starting pitching, they'll also want MLB assets in return who can help them make a playoff push this season. Right-handed hitting is what they covet. And outfielder Seiya Suzuki or utilityman Matt Shaw could headline the deal.
Both players carry varying levels of value for each team. Suzuki is clearly the more impactful bat right now. He has 17 home runs, 53 RBIs, and a .837 OPS for the Cubs in 2026. He'd help Seattle immediately while leaving a bigger hole in the Cubs' lineup. But he's also on an expiring contract.
Shaw, on the other hand, is on the IL with a left hand sprain and could return shortly. He has a .737 OPS and doesn't receive regular playing time for the Cubs. But he's still just 24 years old and figures to be part of the team's long-term future should they hold on to him.
It is unclear which bat the Mariners would prefer or whether the Cubs are open to trading either one. But the on-paper fit seems to make a lot of sense, especially because the Cubs may need to add more than one starting pitcher.
Adding Hancock to the rotation would give the Cubs a capable arm for the rest of the season, but he also comes with club control, allowing them to get a head start on addressing the rotation for the offseason. Hancock is under contract through the 2030 season, and moving MLB talent to acquire him would allow the Cubs to use some of their top prospects to make another big splash, such as pursuing Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal or an Angels starting pitcher like José Soriano or Reid Detmers.
Jed Hoyer has options, but truly filling the rotation need may start with moving an MLB bat.
Continue reading...
