Mariners may have already revealed its willingness to make a shocking move — and two of its starting pitchers could be the price.
The Seattle Mariners may have passed on making the blockbuster offensive splash many fans wanted at the trade deadline, but that does not mean Jerry Dipoto and the front office have ruled out a major shake-up.
Far from it.
According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, the Mariners were willing to listen to trade proposals involving starting pitchers George Kirby and Emerson Hancock before the deadline. The problem was not a lack of interest in moving either pitcher.
The problem was the price.
Seattle reportedly set an extremely high bar for both starters, and no team ultimately came forward with a package good enough to convince the Mariners to surrender either arm.
Now, with the offseason approaching and potentially even bigger holes developing in Seattle’s lineup, those trade conversations could return — and this time, the Mariners may have even more reason to listen.
The possibility of Seattle trading one of its starting pitchers for a major offensive weapon could become one of the biggest storylines of the Mariners’ offseason.
And if the right star slugger becomes available, the front office could have a very difficult decision to make.
Mariners Wanted More Offense But Refused to Overpay
Seattle entered the trade deadline knowing it needed offensive help.
The Mariners ultimately acquired outfielder Taylor Ward and reliever Seranthony Domínguez, moves designed to strengthen two areas of the roster.
But for many fans, those moves simply were not enough.
The biggest question surrounding the organization was obvious: Why not use some of the team’s impressive pitching depth to acquire another major bat?
Rosenthal addressed that very question on the Foul Territory podcast.
According to the MLB insider, Seattle did explore the possibility of trading Kirby and Hancock.
That revelation is significant.
It means the Mariners were not completely unwilling to sacrifice starting pitching to fix their offense. Instead, they were unwilling to do it unless another team offered a return that justified giving up one of their valuable rotation pieces.
That distinction could become extremely important this winter.
Because Seattle’s offensive situation may get even more complicated.
George Kirby Could Become a Major Trade Chip
Kirby is arguably the biggest name involved in the situation.
The 28-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.68 ERA this season and has shown signs of becoming increasingly effective as the year progresses.
Most importantly, Kirby has recently started looking much more like the pitcher Seattle knows he can be.
He has allowed two runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts, giving the Mariners another reason to hesitate before moving him.
But that same stretch could also increase his trade value.
A starting pitcher who is under team control for several more seasons and is currently pitching well is exactly the type of asset other teams would aggressively pursue.
Kirby’s contract situation makes the situation even more fascinating.
He is not scheduled to reach unrestricted free agency until 2029.
That means a team acquiring him would not simply be renting him for the remainder of one season.
It would be acquiring several years of control over an established major league starter.
That kind of player could command a massive return.
And if Seattle decides it needs a true middle-of-the-order slugger, Kirby could be one of the few pieces on the roster capable of bringing that type of player back.
Emerson Hancock May Be Just as Valuable
Then there is Hancock.
The right-hander has quietly put together an impressive 2026 campaign, posting a 3.35 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP.
Those numbers make him much more than a throw-in piece in a potential blockbuster.
Hancock also offers something extremely valuable to Seattle: years of team control.
He is expected to remain under team control through arbitration until 2031.
For rebuilding or retooling organizations, that type of control can be enormously attractive.
It also explains why Seattle would demand a substantial return.
If the Mariners trade Hancock, they are not simply giving up what he can provide this season.
They would be surrendering potentially several years of a productive starting pitcher.
That is why any team hoping to pry him away from Seattle would likely have to make an offer capable of changing the Mariners’ long-term plans.
The Mariners’ Biggest Problem Could Force Their Hand
Here’s where things get particularly interesting.
Seattle’s pitching depth may be good enough that the organization can afford to lose one starter.
Its offense may not be good enough to survive losing more bats.
Randy Arozarena and J.P. Crawford are both expected to become free agents, potentially creating even more holes in the lineup.
If those departures happen, the Mariners could suddenly find themselves needing multiple offensive upgrades.
And that could change the entire trade equation.
Instead of asking whether Seattle can afford to trade a starting pitcher, the front office may eventually have to ask whether it can afford not to.
That’s a much different question.
The Mariners could attempt to replace their departing hitters through free agency, but that route is not guaranteed to work.
The alternative could be using one of their valuable pitchers to acquire an established offensive star.
That is where Kirby and Hancock become extremely important.
Seattle Already Tried to Land Zach Neto
The Mariners’ interest in adding offensive talent was also evident in their pursuit of Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto.
Rosenthal previously reported that Seattle showed interest in Neto, with the organization reportedly considering a significant positional adjustment involving highly regarded prospect Colt Emerson.
The plan could have involved moving Emerson to third base while Neto took over at shortstop.
That would have given Seattle a potential solution to its looming shortstop problem if Crawford eventually departed.
But the deal never materialized.
And that failure could force Seattle back into the market this winter.
If Crawford leaves, the Mariners will have to find an answer at shortstop.
At the same time, the club could need another major offensive bat.
That combination could create the perfect environment for a blockbuster.
Seattle Has Something Other Teams Want
The Mariners’ biggest advantage is something many contenders desperately lack:
starting pitching depth.
Seattle has built an impressive collection of pitching talent throughout its organization.
Even more importantly, two of the club’s top prospects are starting pitchers.
That gives the Mariners a potential safety net.
If Seattle trades Kirby or Hancock, the organization would still have young pitching coming through the system.
Of course, prospects are never guaranteed.
A highly ranked minor league pitcher can struggle after reaching the majors, while injuries can derail even the most promising careers.
That’s why Seattle has placed such a high price on its established starters.
But eventually, the Mariners may have to decide where their greatest weakness lies.
If pitching is the team’s strength and offense is the problem, trading from the rotation could make sense.
Especially if the return is a legitimate star.
A Blockbuster Could Be Coming This Winter
For now, the Mariners are still chasing a playoff spot.
Seattle currently sits four games behind the American League West leader and 3.5 games out of a wild-card position.
FanGraphs has given the club roughly a 31 percent chance of reaching the postseason.
That means the Mariners are still alive, but they have little room for error.
If they make the playoffs, the front office could point to its deadline strategy as evidence that protecting the rotation was the correct decision.
If Seattle misses October, however, the questions will become much louder.
Why didn’t the Mariners do more?
Why did they refuse to move a starter?
And perhaps most importantly: What would it take to finally fix the offense?
Those questions could dominate Seattle’s offseason.
Kirby or Hancock for a Star Slugger?
The idea of trading a starting pitcher may make some Mariners fans uncomfortable.
It should.
Quality starting pitching is incredibly difficult to find.
But the Mariners also cannot ignore the reality of their roster.
If they lose key offensive players in free agency and fail to replace them, their pitching depth will not matter nearly as much.
At some point, the organization may have to turn its greatest strength into a solution for its greatest weakness.
Kirby and Hancock are valuable precisely because other teams would want them.
If a star slugger becomes available and the asking price includes one of Seattle’s starting pitchers, the Mariners could suddenly find themselves facing the decision they avoided at the deadline.
Do they protect their rotation?
Or do they finally swing for the fences?
The answer could determine the direction of the franchise.
For now, Seattle is reportedly keeping the door open.
And if the right offer arrives this winter, one of the Mariners’ starting pitchers could be the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade that completely transforms the lineup.
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