The Mariners do need help on the right side of the plate, and they could use another reliable arm in the bullpen. That part of Jim Bowden’s trade idea is easy to understand. The problem is the price.
Bowden’s proposal would send George Kirby to the Giants for infielder Casey Schmitt and left-handed reliever Erik Miller. On paper, it checks a couple boxes for Seattle: Schmitt brings a right-handed bat that can handle lefties, and Miller gives the bullpen some balance.
But that kind of roster-fitting logic can hide a bigger issue. The Mariners would be giving up a foundational starter to patch two spots that can be addressed without moving someone of Kirby’s caliber.
Schmitt is a useful player and absolutely the kind of name Seattle should have on its radar. He’s hitting .275/.304/.482 with 19 home runs, 50 RBI and a 120 OPS+, and he’s been especially strong against lefties at .323.
He doesn’t walk much, but he can move around the infield and offers real power. That’s a good player.
It’s just not George Kirby territory.
Kirby’s 2025 season was dented by injuries and the ERA took a hit, but he still went 10-8 with a 4.21 ERA in 23 starts. This year, he’s looked much closer to the pitcher Seattle saw in 2023 and 2024, going 8-8 with a 3.57 ERA and one complete game so far.
That’s the heart of the issue. Schmitt looks like the kind of player a contender adds once the core is already in place. He doesn’t look like the return for one of the team’s best pitchers.
The Mariners should be interested in Schmitt. They should ask about him and be open to talking prospects or a lesser major league piece.
But once Kirby is on the table, the conversation changes. Schmitt stops being the centerpiece and becomes part of a much larger deal.
His value may be as high as it’s ever been after a breakout season, and the years of club control only make him more attractive. Miller also adds something real, especially since he’s under team control through the 2030 season.
So this isn’t a bad idea in the sense that it’s outrageous. It’s just not enough if Kirby is truly available.
Seattle would probably feel confident it could improve Miller and sharpen his command, and the organization has a track record of helping pitchers take steps forward. That part of the deal is believable.
Still, the bigger picture matters. The Mariners would be trading a proven starter for a platoon bat and a bullpen arm. Relievers can swing wildly from year to year, and complementary hitters are easier to replace than a starter with Kirby’s talent, durability and club control.
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For Seattle, the timing matters because this was a core part of Everetts next wave, a collection of players who had spent the first half building real momentum. The group includes a breakout bat, a high-average contact hitter, a healthy rebound story and a versatile piece who helped finish the job in a title-clinching win, so the AquaSox are not just losing depth, they are losing some of the energy that had defined the roster. The next question is whether Everett can keep that momentum going while the organization keeps pushing its most advanced talent one level closer to the big leagues. [Read more 🡒]