As the trade deadline creeps closer, George Kirby keeps surfacing in the conversation around the Mariners. Seattle has no intention of moving any of its young starters - Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo or Bryce Miller - but the front office still has work to do if it wants to give this roster a real shot at a playoff push.
The needs are clear: a right-handed bat and at least one dependable right-handed reliever. That’s why any Kirby deal would have to bring back a player who changes the team right away, not just a piece for later. If Seattle ever decides to turn the speculation into action, the return has to be the kind that moves the needle immediately.
One obvious fit would be Mason Miller. The Padres right-hander has been one of the most dominant closers in baseball, and he would give Seattle the late-inning force it still lacks.
Even with Matt Brash expected back next month, the Mariners could use another arm to lighten the load on the bullpen, especially with a postseason run in mind. Miller has a 0.79 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 45.5 innings pitched, and his 49.1% strikeout rate leads all qualified relievers.
He also sits in the 100th percentile in fastball velocity, hard-hit rate and expected ERA. Put him with Andrés Muñoz, and the back end of the bullpen becomes a real weapon.
Another name that fits the bill is CJ Abrams. Washington needs rotation help, and Kirby would give the Nationals a steady starter for years.
Seattle, in turn, would land a shortstop who has taken a big step forward at the plate. Abrams has driven in 82 runs and already set a career high with 27 homers.
His .561 slugging percentage across 449 plate appearances puts him among the league’s most dangerous hitters. He bats left-handed, but he would still address a major Mariners need while giving them value in the middle infield.
The catch is the price. ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that Washington is asking for an “extremely high” return for the 25-year-old, which makes a deal tough to pull off before the deadline.
Still, if Kirby ever gets pulled into a blockbuster, Abrams is the kind of player Seattle should be chasing.
Otto Lopez is another option, and he may be the most realistic of the three. Miami’s recent 12-game losing streak has opened the door for possibilities that weren’t there before, and The Athletic’s Will Sammon, Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal reported that Lopez is one player the Marlins could consider moving.
The right-handed hitter is batting .328, has stolen 22 bases, and owns a sharp 13.6% strikeout rate. He has also posted 5.3 bWAR over 105 games, a strong sign of how much he contributes on both sides of the ball.
Lopez may not have the same name value as some of the other targets, but his blend of athleticism, defense and right-handed contact would fit what Seattle has been looking for.
Byron Buxton is the biggest swing of all. He checks nearly every box the Mariners have been trying to fill: right-handed power, center-field defense and impact in the middle of the lineup.
His .864 OPS is above league average, and his 25 home runs put him near the top of the league. Add him to Julio Rodríguez and Randy Arozarena, and Seattle’s outfield suddenly looks a lot more dangerous.
But the warning signs are impossible to ignore. Buxton has had trouble staying healthy throughout his career and was just placed back on the IL on Wednesday.
He also has a no-trade clause, which makes a move even less likely. Even so, he remains the standard for what a Kirby trade would need to return: a player who can alter the team in a major way when healthy.
If the Mariners ever do decide to deal Kirby, the return has to match that level. Anything less just wouldn’t be enough.
In Other News...
Mariners Linked To A Deadline Move That Could Cost Plenty
The Mariners are already being mentioned in the early chatter around the 2026 trade deadline, and the logic is easy enough to follow. Seattle has not hidden its appetite for impact talent, and when ESPNs Jeff Passan starts connecting a contender to one of the games most dominant late-inning arms, it tends to get attention fast. San Diego reliever Mason Miller has been lights-out this season, and he is not just a short-term fix, which only adds to the intrigue for a Seattle club that could have the kind of trade pieces other teams covet.
The catch is that this is the sort of move that can reshape a roster, not just patch one. Miller is controlled well beyond this season, so any conversation would have to start with a serious package, and there is no guarantee the Padres would even entertain it. For the Mariners, the appeal is obvious: a proven closer with elite stuff and years of team control. The question is whether San Diego would ever be willing to make that kind of player available in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Just Made A Curious Rotation Change Before Dodgers Series
The Mariners made a small but notable tweak to their pitching plan ahead of a tough stretch, moving Bryan Woo up to start Thursday at Dodger Stadium while Bryce Miller was pushed back to Fridays home game against Minnesota. Manager Dan Wilson said the switch was designed to give Miller an extra day of rest, a practical adjustment with the schedule tightening and the club trying to keep its rotation lined up as best it can.
For Seattle, the timing makes the move worth watching because Woos profile has been so different depending on the setting, and Dodger Stadium is hardly the easiest place to ask for a clean outing. The lineup also got a bit healthier around the edges, with Colt Emerson back after missing the opener because of back spasms, while infielder Leo Rivas joined the taxi squad as a precaution. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Just Changed What Mariners Can Demand From The Angels
The Angels trade of Logan OHoppe and Chase Silseth to Texas for infielder Angel Arredondo gave the rest of the division a useful read on how far Los Angeles is willing to go to move pieces, and how modest the return can be when the market is thin. Arredondo, according to MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, is not considered one of the Rangers or Angels better-regarded prospects, which matters for a Mariners club watching the same roster and the same trade lane with interest.
Seattles place in the standings keeps the pressure on to keep looking for upgrades, and this kind of deal can reshape what the Angels can reasonably ask for if the Mariners come calling. The list of names that could be in play is broad, from established big leaguers to younger talent and package pieces, and the Rangers move suggests the price tag may not be as steep as it looked a day ago. [Read more 🡒]