In Major League Baseball, players often have a short window to showcase their talent—and even when they do, it might not be enough. That’s the situation facing Mariners pitcher Logan Evans, who delivered a brilliant 8-inning performance in Seattle’s 9-1 win over Washington on Tuesday, only to be sent back to Triple-A Tacoma less than a day later.
Evans is returning to the minors, and Emerson Hancock—who has also performed well filling in for an injured starter—could soon follow. With Logan Gilbert and Bryce Miller expected back in the rotation soon, there simply isn’t room for both Evans and Hancock, given the presence of Gilbert, Miller, Luis Castillo, Bryan Woo, and George Kirby.
The Mariners find themselves with an abundance of MLB-ready starting pitchers but lingering concerns about their offense. That opens the door for a potential trade deadline move to acquire a bat without weakening their elite rotation.
Roster moves:
🔹 Jackson Kowar, RHP, reinstated from 60-day IL.
🔹 Logan Evans, RHP, optioned to Triple-A Tacoma.— Mariners PR (@MarinersPR) May 28, 2025
Whether the Mariners aim high by dangling Gilbert or Kirby in trade talks (unlikely) or target a solid, if unspectacular, hitter in exchange for someone like Castillo or Evans (more realistic), the front office needs to at least explore a pitcher-for-hitter deal. This team has a habit of assembling rosters that fall just short—and while it may not be intentional, it certainly feels familiar to fans.
Mariners have a surplus of starting pitchers, and could leverage one at the deadline
Rumors about trades involving Seattle’s starting pitchers have been circulating for a few years now. Luis Castillo drew significant interest this past offseason, especially from Boston as they looked to bolster their rotation. Meanwhile, Philadelphia reportedly had Logan Gilbert and George Kirby in mind while exploring deals involving Alec Bohm—but, unsurprisingly, nothing materialized.
Now, with Bryce Miller stepping up at the MLB level and Emerson Hancock delivering five quality starts in eight outings (despite a high ERA), Seattle finds itself with a surplus of pitching. At the same time, despite a strong start to the season, the lineup still has several glaring weaknesses. You don’t need to be a genius to see the obvious calculation the front office needs to make here.
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