Passan: Multiple teams pursuing George Kirby

Seattle didn’t move on from George Kirby or Emerson Hancock at the trade deadline, but they managed to ship veteran Luis Castillo to the White Sox over the weekend, which could open up a rotation spot for Anderson. The 22-year-old top pitching prospect figures to arrive at some point in mid-August so that he’ll remain rookie-eligible for next season. He’s put together a sublime professional debut with a microscopic 1.20 ERA and 119/12 K/BB ratio across 82 1/3 innings over 16 starts for Double-A Arkansas. Needless to say, Anderson should’ve been stashed in most fantasy leagues a while ago.

He was denied the win after the bullpen faltered in the late innings. Kirby allowed just five hits — all of them singles — while walking one and striking out three. It was a nice bounceback outing for Kirby after he was crushed for seven runs, including four homers, in his last outing against the Rangers. He lowered his ERA to 3.76 with the win, and barring a last-minute trade, he lines up to face the Rays in his next start on Saturday.

Castillo is having the worst season of his professional career with a 5.06 ERA and 3-9 record over 20 appearances — 17 starts — and 99 1/3 innings. The 33-year-old right-hander has been much more effective in the past, however, and has pitched better after a dreadful start to his 2026 campaign. Still, this is not the Castillo of old, and he’s much closer to a streamer than someone fantasy managers need to have in their lineup. It’s fair to take a wait-and-see approach before believing in a rebound.

In exchange for Castillo, the Mariners will acquire right-handed reliever Seranthony Dominguez, outfielder Nolan Jones, and catcher/outfield prospect Boston Smith. The Whit Sox will also take on all of Castillo’s contract, which pays him 22.75 million the next two years with an option for 2028. The Mariners have long been rumored to explore trading a starting pitcher with Emerson Hancock and George Kirby’s name bandied about, but it’s Castillo who will be heading to Chicago. The right-hander is not the same hurler he was a few years ago when he was among the very best in the sport, but he’s a solid mid-rotation option for a team that has played well above expectations with an excellent chance of reaching October. He’s more streamer than fantasy stalwart, but perhaps the change of scenery helps Castillo find the form of the previous campaigns.

It’s fair to wonder whether Seattle will wait until mid-August to promote Anderson since that would allow him to remain rookie-eligible for next season. There will be a rotation spot open one they move on from either Emerson Hancock or Luis Castillo ahead of next week’s trade deadline. There’s a chance that both of them are on the move. Anderson has checked every metaphorical box during his professional debut with a microscopic 1.20 ERA and 119/12 K/BB ratio across 82 1/3 innings over 16 starts for Double-A Arkansas. Needless to say, Anderson should be stashed in all fantasy formats. His time is coming.

Three runs in five innings on the road against one of the game’s best offenses probably doesn’t do much for Hancock’s trade value either way. He gave up one homer, though that was hit just 95.4 mph off the bat by Andy Pages. The other runs scored on three straight singles in the third and a single, a double and an infield single in the fourth. A better third baseman than Weston Wilson might have made the play on the last hit in the fourth to prevent the run. Hancock dropped to 6-5 with a 3.26 ERA. If he stays put, he should face the Tigers next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Castillo gave up a leadoff homer to Shohei Ohtani in the bottom of the first inning. He then loaded the bases with no outs in the third, but came out of it with just one more run allowed on a groundout. The Dodgers would add two more runs in the fourth, followed by a solo homer by Max Muncy in the fifth. Castillo’s day would be done after five frames, giving up 11 hits and issuing two walks while collecting just two strikeouts. The 33-year-old right-hander will take a 5.06 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and an 86/32 K/BB ratio across 99 2/3 innings into a start against the Tigers in Seattle next Tuesday.

According to Passan, the Mariners are looking to trade a starting pitcher to try and land a right-handed hitter. Since Luis Castillo is owed almost $23 million next season, it’s less likely that he will be traded. Hancock is under team control through the 2030 season and has had a breakout season with a 3.16 ERA in his first 19 starts, with 97 strikeouts in 105 1/3 innings. Of course, he has been less impactful of late as his fastball has lost vertical movement, but he has remained a solid source of ratios and innings. He would likely lose some fantasy value if he leaves his pitching-friendly home ballpark.

Kirby’s velocity dipped quickly today; he averaged 96.9 mph in the first but was down to 95.7 mph in the second and 94.9 mph in the fourth. That’s well off his season average of 96.6 mph, and he gave up more runs today than in his previous four starts combined. It’s the third time in his career that he’s given up four homers; it also happened once in 2022 and once in 2023. Oddly enough, in all three of those starts, he gave up exactly seven runs in between four and 4 2/3 innings. He fell to 8-9 with a 3.98 ERA in advance of a start against the Twins.

The assumption had been if the Mariners made a move in their rotation, it would likely be jettisoning Luis Castillo. Hancock would have more value to other teams as a controllable starter who is not making $22.75 million a season. Hancock has had a breakout year, with a 3.16 ERA in his first 19 starts, with 97 strikeouts in 105 1/3 innings pitched. The Athletic’s pair of reporters believe the Cubs and Mariners could match up well in a trade, though stop short of reporting that the Cubs have engaged with the Mariners on Hancock.