Most drafts of my offseason plan have the Mariners trading right-hander Emerson Hancock to the Brewers for infielder Joey Ortiz.
However, Baseball Trade Values outright rejects the trade proposal, giving Hancock only $16.1 million in surplus value and Ortiz $36.7 million in surplus value.
Under the expiring CBA, Hancock comes with four years of team control and Ortiz with three years of team control (and a projected 2027 salary of $2.4 million). Hancock is 10 months younger than Ortiz.
This year Hancock posted 2.7 bWAR, 1.7 fWAR and an ERA+ of 110 in 25 starts covering 138.2 innings. On the strength of his stellar defense, Ortiz posted 2.6 bWAR, 2.9 fWAR and an OPS+ of 101 in 415 plate appearances over 134 games.
In 2027 projections, FanGraphs and Steamer give Hancock 1.3 WAR in 36 games, including 26 starts, over 154 innings. FanGraphs gives Ortiz 1.5 WAR in 378 plate appearances over 87 games while Steamer gives Ortiz 1.4 WAR in 327 plate appearances over 86 games.
The difference in team control should compensate for any statistical edge Ortiz might have.
Would the Brewers find Ortiz expendable? Infielder Jesus Made, the top-ranked prospect at MLB Pipeline, is expected to make his Milwaukee debut in 2027 while the Brewers also have the 19th-ranked overall prospect in infielder Luis Pena.
Hancock fits the mold of starters Quinn Priester and Kyle Harrison, former top prospects who stumbled out of the blocks before finding success in Milwaukee.
Thoughts?
https://www.fangraphs.com/players/joey- ... ts/batting
https://www.fangraphs.com/players/emers ... s/pitching
https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/top1 ... c917a46060
2026-27 Hot Stove Thread
Re: 2026-27 Hot Stove Thread
Well, we needed offense last year, but at least Cole Young won the Gold Glove...
Lot of good it did us...
Lot of good it did us...