The Chicago Cubs have reportedly been in trade talks with the Seattle Mariners, and while Emerson Hancock’s breakout season and control through 2030 present an intriguing option, he doesn’t have the same track record, talent, or upside as his teammate George Kirby. And now, a few days before the trade deadline arrives, teams think they have a shot at trading for Kirby.
While the Mariners have been shopping veteran starter Luis Castillo in addition to Hancock, teams across the league believe Kirby can be acquired, which comes as a pleasant surprise for the Cubs. This team doesn’t just need a solid pitcher for the stretch run and to fortify the rotation beyond 2026, the Cubs need a difference-maker in the rotation. Kirby can provide that for the right price.
Although the Cubs haven’t been specifically connected to Kirby just yet, you have to assume he’s been brought up while discussing Hancock with the Mariners.
Kirby, 28, is under team control through the 2028 season. The right-handed starter was an All-Star in 2023, and while his strikeout rate has declined in 2026, Kirby is still a premier power pitcher in MLB.
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His fastball sits at 96.7mph; he doesn’t walk hitters; his 5.0 BB% ranks 6th-best among starting pitchers; and he keeps the ball on the ground, producing a 45.7% ground-ball rate through 20 starts this season. Kirby is coming off a bad start against the Texas Rangers on July 27, allowing seven runs in four innings, but in his previous 19 starts, the righty had a 3.57 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 116 innings.
The Cubs are projected to acquire multiple arms by Monday night, with three pitchers being their ultimate goal. They’re in the market for rentals, and Jed Hoyer will always look for cost-controlled pitchers as well. Last offseason, it was Owen Caissie as the headliner in a trade that brought in Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins. Kirby did have a shoulder injury in 2025, but he hasn’t had any issues since returning, and his track record is much more established than Cabrera’s, so the price will be higher if the Cubs want to strike a big deal with the Mariners.
At the very least, you get the idea that the Cubs will come away with a solid starting pitcher at the trade deadline because, regardless of the asking price, it seems as though there are more pitchers available this time of the year compared to 2025.
