2026-27 Hot Stove Thread

[D-train]

MLB Trade Rumors has released its list of the Top 50 free agents with projected contracts:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/11/ ... tions.html

Three MLBTR staff writers each offered a landing spot for every free agent. Of the 150 predictions, the Mariners were listed only once apiece for outfielder Seiya Suzuki and catcher Tyler Stephenson.

The Mariners are not listed as a "best fit" for any of the Top 40 free agents at The Athletic:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/771198 ... l-share-ta

I guess they don't listen to Stanton interviews about never signing guys in their 30s to long term deals. Stephenson actually seems reasonable fit...RH C and 1B. Pretty good bat and good D....

[harmony]

Podcasters for the Washington Nationals and Arizona Diamondbacks propose trades for Seattle Mariner starting pitchers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TynLu6MCamY&t=1057s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCI1jVi3-y4

[D-train]

25 days until the lockout. I bet Jerry does nothing of significance. He has already said the team is basically complete....

[harmony]

Thoughts?

Good case, and the extra year of control really is the strongest part of it. My hang-up isn't the value so much as what Seattle needs.

The Mariners were 28th in scoring, and Ortiz's bat is about average (101 OPS+, per your numbers). Most of his value is the glove. That helps with Crawford gone and Emerson coming off wrist surgery, but it doesn't fix the offense. Meanwhile Hancock is cheap, controlled for four years and one of the few starters Seattle could count on as its fifth arm, which is hard to replace for the price.

On Milwaukee's side, Made and Peña arriving makes Ortiz more movable, but a contender might not want to trade a glove-first infielder for a starter with a 110 ERA+. I'd also keep in mind that Baseball Trade Values sees a $20M gap, so I'd expect Milwaukee to ask for more than Hancock straight up.

Would you do it if Seattle had to add a mid-level prospect, or would you rather spend that prospect on a bat?

Trade values bounce around at Baseball Trade Values.

BTV had Joey Ortiz at $14.7 million in surplus value on June 23 and Emerson Hancock with $25.5 million in surplus value on July 24.

FWIW Baseball Trade Values on Friday dropped the surplus value for Joey Ortiz from $36.7 million to $27.4 million while upping Emerson Hancock's surplus value from $16.1 million to $23.1 million.

[harmony]

The Athletic reports on Ty France and his resurgence:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/775771 ... l-share-ta

[DavidGee24]

The Athletic reports on Ty France and his resurgence:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/775771 ... l-share-ta

Very interesting, he went to Driveline and while it helped, he overthought it instead of just doing what he learned there. Why couldn't this have happened in 2023?