The Seattle Mariners entered Tuesday two games out of a wild card spot and could be looking to deal from their rotation surplus at the trade deadline, per MLB.com's Daniel Kramer.
According to Kramer, the team is not interested in trading George Kirby, Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo or Logan Gilbert.
"Seattle is, however, actively listening on Luis Castillo and Emerson Hancock, industry sources have said," Kramer wrote on Monday. "And there’s a growing possibility that at least one of them will be moved before next Monday."
The Cubs currently hold the top wild card spot in the National League, and are in desperate need of pitching. They just designated Jameson Taillon for assignment. Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown and Justin Steele are on the injured list and Cade Horton is out for the year. Even when Steele is ready to return, it will be too late to build him up to join the rotation.
Hancock is a controllable arm with a 3.16 ERA in 19 starts this year. The Mariners will be looking for bats and prospects in return. The Cubs could part ways with Matt Shaw and Kevin Alcántara, neither of whom seems to have a clear path to regular playing time for the Cubs.
The Cubs can still come back and win the National League Central, but the Milwaukee Brewers look like a runaway train right now. It will take a significant upgrade in the rotation to actually give the Cubs a chance to catch up.