The Seattle Mariners avoided arbitration with a pair of players Thursday, reaching one-year agreements with outfielder Randy Arozarena and right-handed starting pitcher George Kirby, according to multiple reports.
Arozarena, acquired from Tampa Bay at the 2024 trade deadline, agreed to $15.65 million for 2026 in his final year of arbitration. Arozarena, 30, hit .238 with a career-best 27 homers, 76 RBIs and 31 steals across 160 games. He was named an All-Star for the second time and then hit .188 with one homer across 12 postseason games as Seattle came within a game of the World Series.
For his career, Arozarena has hit .250 with 118 home runs, 390 RBIs and 131 stolen bases in 801 games with the St. Louis Cardinals (2019), Rays (2020-2024) and Mariners. He’s slated to reach free agency after the season.
Kirby signed for $6.55 million, keeping the 27-year-old in place near the top of Seattle’s rotation. Despite battling a shoulder issue last year, he went 10-8 with a 4.21 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. He struck out 137 batters in 126 innings across 23 starts.
Kirby has started 112 career games, all for the Mariners, and is 45-34 with a 3.58 ERA and 1.112 WHIP with 621 strikeouts in 637 2/3 innings pitched. He was an All-Star in 2023 and remains under club control through 2028.
