Matthew Nethercott

The Seattle Mariners are listening on most of their starting rotation, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Passan reported Saturday afternoon that multiple teams have engaged on right-handed pitcher George Kirby, as well as right-hander Luis Castillo and Emerson Hancock. Kirby, 28, is earning $6.55 million this season after avoiding arbitration and remains under team control through 2028. This season, he's sporting a 20.9% strikeout rate and a 20.9% whiff rate, both of which sit below average, offset by an elite 5.7% walk rate. His 3.33 FIP edges his 3.76 xERA, but quality of contact has crept up (.303 xwOBA, .384 xSLG, 42.0% hard-hit), leaving him reliant on limiting damage in the zone. The 96.6 mph fastball still plays; the swing-and-miss less so. The Cubs' biggest need at this deadline is pitching. All three of these players would provide Chicago with the quality innings they need. View full rumor

The Chicago Cubs have been connected to former division foe Freddy Peralta in trade talks, according to The Athletic. Peralta pitched most of his career with the rival Brewers, including making postseason starts against the Cubs. Peralta was formerly managed by Craig Counsell, so there is some familiarity at play here. The Cubs need starting pitching, and at his best, Peralta is a very good one. This season for the Mets, however, has not featured his best; he's posted a 4.99 ERA in 113.2 innings pitched, but his expected numbers are better. His xERA is 3.83, which indicates Peralta is running into some bad luck. Many underlying metrics indicate that Peralta is a similar pitcher this season to what he was with the Brewers. The story from The Athletic notes that the Mets are talking to other teams, which isn't exactly a shocking piece of news. It's also not surprising to learn that the Mets are asking for a top-100 prospect in return, though whether not they receive that offer remains to be seen. View full rumor