The Chicago Cubs are already seeing their front office draw outside interest, and there’s a chance the departures aren’t done yet. Jared Banner is now the general manager of the Baltimore Orioles, and John Mallee has been tied to the New York Mets’ search for a hitting coach. Now Seattle’s managerial hunt has put another Cubs staffer on the radar.
The Mariners’ search has led them to Cubs farm director Jason Kanzler. He has spent the last three seasons overseeing Chicago’s minor-league system, and before that he was with the Houston Astros. That matters because the Astros are also looking for a new manager, which makes Kanzler a name that could surface there as well.
For Cubs fans hoping for stability this winter, it doesn’t exactly read like good news. The organization has recently added Steve Miller as a vice president in the front office, with international scouting under his watch, so there will be fresh voices around the building. But general manager Carter Hawkins also appears set to return, and for a club that has struggled to find a way past the Milwaukee Brewers, change in the room may not be enough if the same decision-making remains in place.
Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Angels finally made their direction clear after spending much of October in limbo. The team announced Wednesday that manager Kurt Suzuki will not be back in 2027, although he could stay with the organization in another role. John Mozeliak also appears to have locked in his interim status as general manager, and he is expected to step aside once the new front office structure is built.
Working alongside Stan Kroenke, the Angels’ expected new owner, the plan is to hire a president of baseball operations first, then a general manager, and finally a manager. That setup could make a move for Hawkins plausible, since it would represent a step up. Ryan Flaherty could also be in the mix as a managerial possibility, but the search is still early.
On the player side, the Cubs were among the clubs that scouted Japanese third baseman Teruaki Sato earlier this season, and the Hanshin Tigers have now confirmed he will be posted this offseason. Sato has crushed 79 home runs over the last two years in Japan, which should give him plenty of traction in a thin free-agent market.
Still, the fit with Chicago is not an obvious one. The Cubs need pitching more than another position player, and Sato’s primary position is third base.
There is an expectation he could move to first base in Major League Baseball, and he has some experience in right field, but even that route is murky for the Cubs. On paper, the outfield could be one way to make it work, though at that point Chicago might prefer simply bringing Seiya Suzuki back.
In Other News...
Cubs Have A Bullpen Decision That Could Quietly Matter
The Cubs are set up to bring back much of the same bullpen group next season, which gives the front office a little continuity in a part of the roster that often turns over fast. Daniel Palencia, Phil Maton, Ryan Zeferjahn and Ryan Rolison are all expected to be back, giving Chicago a core it can reasonably build around as some free agents move on.
Jacob Webb is the name to watch in the rest of the discussion. The Cubs are likely to pick up his $2.5 million club option even after a rough finish, a sign they still see value in his ability to work in middle relief or handle setup innings if he rebounds. It is the kind of quiet bullpen choice that does not draw much attention in November, but can matter plenty once the games start counting again. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Fans Should Watch One AL Contender Closely This Winter
After a run to the 2025 World Series, the Blue Jays are heading into an offseason with a few obvious holes to patch, and the offensive side of the roster looks like the place where they may be most aggressive. Among the names already tied to Toronto are two familiar to Cubs fans, Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ, a reminder that a contender with financial muscle and urgency can quickly become part of the market for proven bats.
Torontos interest could make this winter more interesting for Chicago than it might seem at first glance. The Blue Jays need help at designated hitter and in the outfield, but the expected lockout and the kind of crowded free-agent bidding that comes with it could complicate their plans, leaving Cubs fans to watch whether the team that came so close to a title can actually turn that interest into a signing. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Already Have A Tough Corbin Martin Decision To Make
Corbin Martins brief run with the Cubs looked promising at first. The right-hander gave Chicago four scoreless outings in his first stretch with the club and appeared to give the bullpen another useful arm before his command started to slip. Once the control problems piled up, the Cubs designated him for assignment and sent him back to Triple-A on May 10, a quick turn that underscored how little margin there was for error.
The harder part now is sorting out what comes next for a pitcher who never really got the runway to settle in. Martin kept working in the minors after the demotion, but his season was interrupted by an injury that cost him a long stretch down the line, leaving the Cubs with one more uncomfortable call to weigh on a depth piece who flashed enough early to make them notice in the first place. [Read more 🡒]