Mariner Talk Chat Forum

What if Hancock is for real?
There are going to be some critical decisions that are going to need to be made. How do you make room to find out if Anderson and Sloan have what it takes? Who do you choose to extend? Do you trade the ones who you don't extend or run the wheels off them and let em walk in Free agency.

I think its a foregone conclusion that Castillo is gone after this season.

Gilbert FA in 28
Kirby FA in 29
Woo FA in 30
Miller FA in 30
Hancock FA in 31
Anderson and Sloan soonest possible FA in 33 if they came up next season.

I think at least one of the young guys will be ready by next year which means that even with Castillo gone, you still have a log jam next season. Do you trade someone? Just knowing what we know about The M's self imposed budget it seems unlikely that they sign more than 1 or 2 of these guys long term. Gilbert is the first up so do you extend him or do you wait and offer that extension to Kirby or Woo. Maybe they go cheap and don't extend anyone and we see Anderson in the rotation in 28 and then Sloan in 29.

Of the group I think that Miller is the one I have the least confidence in both in terms of quality and durability. I think Woo is the one I'd most like to extend. I think If I were making the decisions, I might look to unload Gilbert next off season and extend Kirby. Your opening day rotation in 27 Would be Kirby Woo, Miller Hancock and Anderson with everyone other than Kirby controlled for at least 3 years . Then if you can get a Woo extension done after the 27 season, you can look at trading Miller to make room for Sloan. The Rotation in 28 would be Kirby, Woo, Hancock, Anderson and Sloan with everyone controlled for at least 3 years.

In my opinion, looking at it from strictly a business and organization quality perspective, you have to trade these guys as their contracts are expiring, especially if you're not offering a Qualifying Offer.

Can't keep letting guys walk away without getting a return.

Castillo should have already been traded, maybe they didn't get any decent offers.

Logan Gilbert will probably have a couple pretty good seasons, but I'd be more than willing to trade for a good bat.

Woo is my ace, not even close.
Kirby
Miller
Hancock

Since I'm GM'ing, I'd try and keep these guys on a strict every fifth day regimen.

Days off? Sweet, see you next time around, Fifth Starter, you've been skipped.

More starts for the best pitchers should be the goal now that most only go 5-6 innings anyways.

Then let your next guy up have his chance until it's clear he needs more time in the minors, keep the AAA carousel moving if you need to, bullpen days, etc.

I wouldn't even really dedicate a spot to a fifth starter, because I don't want to be obligated to use them.

Send down the extra utility guy, bring up a spot starter, like a sneak attack on the competition they can't really plan for, etc.

Miller looked excellent at one point last season, I think it may have been when he came back in the bullpen. Maybe that's the move for him. But at this point I'd give a long look to see what you have in him.

They're so cheap i don't see them trying to sign both Kirby and Woo. They'll probably let one of them walk along with Gilbert, Castillo and Miller and get nothing back for any of them.

My assumption has been that they would try to sign Gilbert sometime this year and then trade Kirby in the offseason. I don't know where I got this, but I believe there's a sense in the organization that Kirby isn't likely to sign.

GL_Storm wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 31, 2026 1:32 am

My assumption has been that they would try to sign Gilbert sometime this year and then trade Kirby in the offseason. I don't know where I got this, but I believe there's a sense in the organization that Kirby isn't likely to sign.

I'll take Kirby over Logan

Sibelius Hindemith wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 30, 2026 11:42 pm

They're so cheap i don't see them trying to sign both Kirby and Woo. They'll probably let one of them walk along with Gilbert, Castillo and Miller and get nothing back for any of them.

Would going to a WS be getting something back?

GL_Storm wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 31, 2026 1:32 am

My assumption has been that they would try to sign Gilbert sometime this year and then trade Kirby in the offseason. I don't know where I got this, but I believe there's a sense in the organization that Kirby isn't likely to sign.

Dipoto has hinted they are pretty close to another extension

Donn Beach wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 31, 2026 2:58 am

GL_Storm wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 31, 2026 1:32 am

My assumption has been that they would try to sign Gilbert sometime this year and then trade Kirby in the offseason. I don't know where I got this, but I believe there's a sense in the organization that Kirby isn't likely to sign.

Dipoto has hinted they are pretty close to another extension

Yes, I know. I think it's probably Logan but we'll see.

GL_Storm wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 31, 2026 3:01 am

Donn Beach wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 31, 2026 2:58 am

GL_Storm wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 31, 2026 1:32 am

My assumption has been that they would try to sign Gilbert sometime this year and then trade Kirby in the offseason. I don't know where I got this, but I believe there's a sense in the organization that Kirby isn't likely to sign.

Dipoto has hinted they are pretty close to another extension

Yes, I know. I think it's probably Logan but we'll see.

It could be anybody, Woo, Young who knows. I believe him though.

Who had Colt Emerson on their Bingo Card for the extension.