The Seattle Mariners recently made an effort to strengthen their chances of making a return to the playoffs this fall. Ahead of the trade deadline, top executive Jerry Dipoto added outfielder Taylor Ward and reliever Seranthony Domíguez to the roster. The moves filled two important needs for Seattle. Still, some Mariners fans believed the club should have done more.
MLB insider Ken Rosenthal recently answered several questions on his Foul Territory podcast, including one concerning Seattle. A Mariners fan asked why Dipoto and the organization did not move another starting pitcher in exchange for additional offensive help. Rosenthal explained that Seattle was willing to listen to offers involving two members of its starting rotation.
“It’s not like they didn’t listen on George Kirby and Emerson Hancock; they did,” claimed Rosenthal. “But they set the bar high, and it’s always dangerous to trade starting pitching because you may compromise your depth. Ultimately, they didn’t get the package they wanted.”
Kirby and Hancock have both enjoyed relatively solid seasons for the Mariners. The 28-year-old Kirby owns a 3.68 ERA in 2026 and has been particularly effective recently. He has surrendered two runs or fewer in six of his past seven starts. Hancock, meanwhile, has posted a 3.35 ERA along with a 1.11 WHIP this season.
Seattle Mariners to Resume George Kirby, Emerson Hancock Trade Talks
Although Seattle ultimately chose not to accept the offers it received for the pair, Rosenthal expects trade discussions surrounding Kirby and Hancock to pick back up during the offseason. The insider also believes the Mariners’ offensive shortcomings could become even more significant before improving. Randy Arozarena and J.P. Crawford are both projected to leave the organization once they reach free agency.
“Come the offseason, they might be active again in listening [to offers] again on Kirby and Hancock, simply because they’re going to need to fill those holes,” continued Rosenthal. “Maybe they don’t wanna do it through free agency.”
In a recent piece for The Athletic, Rosenthal also revealed that the Mariners had interest in acquiring Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto. Seattle reportedly appears prepared to shift highly regarded prospect Colt Emerson over to third base. If Crawford leaves, the Mariners would have a significant opening at shortstop. However, a potential deal for Neto ultimately did not come together.
Seattle has Replacements Waiting in the Wings
The Mariners understandably placed a steep asking price on Kirby and Hancock. Both pitchers have performed well, while each remains under team control for several more seasons. Kirby is not scheduled to reach unrestricted free agency until 2029, while Hancock is expected to remain in arbitration through 2031.
Even with that in mind, Seattle still has considerable starting-pitching depth in its organization. Notably, the Mariners’ top two prospects in the minor leagues are both starting pitchers. For the time being, Seattle and Dipoto will hope Kirby and Hancock can play important roles in pushing the club toward another postseason appearance. Currently, the Mariners sit four games behind the Houston Astros in the American League West and 3.5 games out of a wild-card position. FanGraphs currently gives Seattle a 31% chance of reaching the postseason.