Mariners listening to offers on Kirby ahead of walk-off win over Twins

SEATTLE -- Trade George Kirby? In this economy?

Yes, actually, the Mariners are considering it -- because the state of the marketplace in Seattle has reached its most unstable point of this season that began with such expectations.

According to league sources, as of Saturday morning, the Mariners had been engaged more aggressively by other clubs on the availability of Kirby ahead of Monday’s Trade Deadline.

However, multiple teams who’ve checked in get the sense that they would be surprised if he winds up being dealt, per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.

“Lots of talking happens at this time of year,” one source with knowledge of the Mariners’ discussions said.

A real tell to whether or not Seattle is open to trading Kirby is if he remains on turn to start Sunday’s matinee vs. the Twins -- the club’s final game before Monday’s 3 p.m. PT Deadline. He was seen going through his full pregame prep on Saturday.

If he were scratched, that’d be the truest suggestion to his availability. Such a decision, however, might not be announced until Sunday morning.

Regardless, the fact that Kirby is being discussed speaks to a potential outlook shift within Seattle’s front office -- on the heels of a 2-5 road trip and after Friday night’s homestand-opening loss to Minnesota at T-Mobile Park, which dropped the club to five games below .500.

The Mariners did rebound on Saturday, to a 4-3 victory on Cal Raleigh's walk-off fielder’s choice, but remain in third place in the American League West. Overall, the vibes around the club have been the lowest in nearly two years, when the club dismissed manager Scott Servais in late August of 2024 and replaced him with Dan Wilson.

Over the past week-plus, if not longer, the Mariners have made it clear to other clubs that they are open to dealing from their starting pitching depth. But those conversations had primarily centered on Luis Castillo and Emerson Hancock.

However, that Kirby’s name has also surfaced suggests that traction on Castillo and Hancock might not be as strong.