Mariners Listening To Kirby Trade Offers, & Other Starters Of Interest To Padres

The Seattle Mariners are listening on most of their starting rotation, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Passan reported Saturday afternoon that multiple teams have engaged on right-handed pitcher George Kirby, as well as right-hander Luis Castillo and Emerson Hancock.

Kirby, 28, is earning $6.55 million this season after avoiding arbitration and remains under team control through 2028. This season, he's sporting a 20.9% strikeout rate and a 20.9% whiff rate, both of which sit below average, offset by an elite 5.7% walk rate. His 3.33 FIP edges his 3.76 xERA, but quality of contact has crept up (.303 xwOBA, .384 xSLG, 42.0% hard-hit), leaving him reliant on limiting damage in the zone. The 96.6 mph fastball still plays; the swing-and-miss less so.

The Padres need rotation arms looking to make a postseason push, making any of these three pitchers a fit. This is especially true with the expectation that the Padres will hold on to Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon.