Mariners Moose Tracks, 3/23/25: Michael Hobbs, Nolan Jones, and Tanner Bibee

Some Sunday news from around baseball.

Hello everyone and happy Sunday! It’s time for your daily check-in on the state of the league.

In Mariners news...

• George Kirby began his rehab process yesterday, throwing from 60 feet on a Peoria backfield. The right-hander is still without a clear timeline for return.
• The Mariners have acquired minor league right-hander Michael Hobbs from the Mets.
• Longtime Mariners bullpen prospect Travis Kuhn appears to be headed to the Phillies.

Around the league...

• The Guardians re-acquired Nolan Jones from the Rockies in a swap that sends Tyler Freeman to Colorado. Selfishly, this is a very interesting trade to me since both players were members of the 2019 Lynchburg Hillcats squad that I was a radio broadcaster for. I just hope they both have a good time.
• Cleveland was active yesterday, signing starter Tanner Bibee to a five-year contract extension which buys out his first year of free agency.
• The Blue Jays have reportedly inked veteran catcher Alejandro Kirk to a five-year contract extension. Kirk was set to become a free agent after the 2026 season.
• The injury-prone Shane McClanahan was pulled from his spring training outing yesterday with an apparent triceps injury. McClanahan missed all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
• White Sox right-hander Drew Thorpe, the headline piece in the Dylan Cease trade, will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2025 campaign.