George Kirby trade update could be 'deadline game changer' for Cubs, Braves

George Kirby trade update could be ‘deadline game changer’ for Cubs, Braves originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Seattle Mariners could trade one of their top starting pitchers before Monday’s Major League Baseball trade deadline. 

Right-hander George Kirby’s trade odds have skyrocketed over the past several days, according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan. 

The ESPN duo tabbed Kirby’s chances of being traded at 50%. 

“Seattle’s openness to moving Kirby could be a deadline game changer, with the starting pitching market at a standstill and Kirby rising to the top of all non-Skubal arms,” McDaniel and Passan wrote. 

“With a fastball that sits at 97 mph, arguably the best command of any starter in baseball and two years of club control beyond this season, Kirby is a prize for contenders and noncontenders alike. If he moves, the return will be hefty,” they added. 

Mariners could consider trading Kirby

This season, the 2023 All-Star has a 3.76 ERA with an American League high 136 hits allowed in 127 innings across 21 starts. 

Kirby may have the best command of any starting pitcher in the Majors, carrying a career walk percentage of 3.8%. 

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Teams in need of rotation help could be blowing up Seattle’s front office before the 6 p.m. EDT cutoff time. The 28-year-old does not reach free agency until 2029. 

Two National League clubs that badly need starting pitching help are the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves. 

Kirby would fit seamlessly in either rotation before the postseason. 

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