Mariners News: George Kirby progress, Drew Pomeranz trade, Dylan Moore honors

After winning their fourth straight series on Sunday, the Seattle Mariners technically had a day off on Monday. But the news cycle never stops with this team, and it turned out some major updates.

For starters, George Kirby is about to be one step closer to returning from shoulder inflammation. As reported on by Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, the righty will throw a bullpen session at T-Mobile Park sometime this week.

Assuming that session goes well, Jude reports that Kirby would then throw a live batting practice session during the Mariners' upcoming five-game homestand between April 25 and 30.

Mariners News: Kirby's return can't come soon enough

There still isn't a firm timeline for when Kirby will rejoin the Mariners. According to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, there's even still "a few boxes" that the 2023 All-Star must check before he can go through with the upcoming bullpen session.

Yet as understandable as it is that the Mariners don't want to rush the 27-year-old, the team sure could use him back in the rotation.

Seattle has used Emerson Hancock and Luis F. Castillo in Kirby's stead, and the two righties have a combined 9.95 ERA in four starts. The other Luis Castillo is having a rough go of things in his own right, as even his 4.44 ERA obscures how much traffic he's had on the bases in his five starts.

Kirby has been excellent in the 89 starts he's made for the Mariners since 2022, putting up a 3.43 ERA with a 7.6 strikeout-to-walk ratio. When last anyone saw him on the mound in spring training, he was toying around with a cutter that had the potential to push his excellence even further.

Assuming Kirby goes on a rehab assignment after getting through the aforementioned throwing sessions, his return is likely still a couple weeks away. Mercifully, though, the wait for his return may be closer to its end than to its beginning.

Mariners News: Drew Pomeranz gets sent to the Chicago Cubs

The Mariners also made a trade on Monday, with Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic first to report that veteran lefty Drew Pomeranz is headed to the North Side of Chicago to join the Cubs:

It was a bit of a wild ride for the 36-year-old Pomeranz in the Mariners organization. He signed with the team on a minor league deal in December, got released in March, and then re-signed on a fresh minor league deal shortly after. His performance for Triple-A Tacoma was a mixed bag, as he walked six but also fanned 14 batters in 9.2 innings.

We had been crying out for another lefty in Seattle's bullpen, so trading Pomeranz (just for cash considerations, no less) is frankly a frustrating development. Gabe Speier will have to continue to go it alone as Dan Wilson's lone southpaw, and he's too good to be used in a mere specialist role.

Mariners News: AL Player of the Week honors for Tyler Moore

Lastly, Major League Baseball announced Players of the Week for the American League and National League on Monday, and it was some surprise that Dylan Moore took the award for the AL.

The 32-year-old infielder did have a heck of a week, going 10-for-26 with three home runs across six games. He notably led off two games with home runs.

It's just that he's not the hottest hitter on the Mariners right now. Indeed, Cal Raleigh is making an early MVP case with seven homers and a 1.365 OPS over his last nine games. He homered four times and drove in eight runs last week.

Not that we're complaining, of course. The good news has been flowing for the Mariners of late, and it's nice to see recognition for an offense that is beating expectations and even making a little history.