As the trade deadline approaches, the Seattle Mariners front office has shown a willingness to listen to offers on right-hander George Kirby, according to industry sources cited by Seattletimes. Multiple teams have checked in regarding the potential availability of Kirby, and the club has suggested he could be moved in the right deal, as Seattle Sports reported.
Mariners Open to Trading George Kirby Amid Shift in Strategy
The stance on Kirby represents an apparent shift in trade conversations over a 24-hour window, driven by the team’s free-fall in the AL West standings. While the front office previously maintained that starting pitchers like Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, and Bryce Miller were off limits, the team is now evaluating its options as the deadline looms on Monday at 3 p.m. PT. Other club executives have gotten the sense that Kirby is available, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, as detailed by bleacherreport.com.
Despite the growing speculation, a deal was not considered imminent as of Saturday morning, and club sources emphasized that listening to inquiries does not mean a trade is expected. We’ll consider anything,
one Mariners source noted to Seattletimes, while another described the activity as just a lot of talking.
Evaluating Kirby’s Performance and Contract Status
Kirby has long been regarded by Seattle as one of its most talented and foundational pitchers, praised for his combination of high velocity and pinpoint command that earned him an All-Star nod during his second season in 2023. Over his five major league seasons, all spent in Seattle, the 28-year-old owns a 3.65 ERA.
During the 2026 campaign, Kirby has gone 8-9 with a 3.98 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, and 107 strikeouts across 120 innings over 20 starts. His season follows an injury-shortened 2025 campaign in which he dealt with right shoulder inflammation and posted a 4.21 ERA across 23 starts. His 96.6 mph fastball remains a staple of his arsenal, complemented by an elite 5.7% walk rate, according to northsidebaseball.com.
From a financial and roster control perspective, Kirby provides significant long-term value to any prospective suitor. He is earning $6.55 million this season in his second year of arbitration after qualifying as a Super Two player, and he remains under club control through the 2028 season. Because he is not a rental, the Mariners are under no immediate pressure to move him.
Broader Rotation Market and Standings Context
In addition to Kirby, the Mariners have listened to trade inquiries regarding veteran Luis Castillo and breakout right-hander Emerson Hancock as the front office pursues roster upgrades. Hancock carries a team-best 3.26 ERA over 110.1 innings this season, while Castillo represents the most experienced arm in the group.
The sudden openness to dealing from the rotation surplus comes as the Mariners have struggled on the field, losing 14 of their previous 16 games to drop to a 53-58 record and fall into third place in the AL West. Even so, the team entered Saturday only three games behind the first-place Houston Astros and three games out of a wild-card spot, leaving the club’s ultimate deadline strategy open to interpretation following last season’s deep postseason run.
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