The Seattle Mariners’ new manager could end up mattering to the Chicago Cubs long before he ever fills out a lineup card.
Seattle’s decision to hire Jason Kanzler after dismissing Dan Wilson created an unexpected wrinkle for a Cubs club that may be looking for pitching help. Kanzler, who has no managerial experience, was hired by Chicago in 2024 as director of player development and previously coached with the Houston Astros. That connection alone gives the Cubs a familiar voice in the room if the two teams start talking trade.
And Seattle looks like a team worth calling. Buster Olney reported this week that the Mariners are open to dealing from their stockpile of arms in order to land a bat. For a Cubs team that wants to improve both the rotation and the bullpen, that makes the Mariners a natural fit.
The Mariners were a 76-86 club in 2026 and finished third in the AL West, with plenty of uneven production around the roster. Randy Arozarena was one of the bright spots, leading the team with a .281 batting average, 26 home runs and 79 RBIs. If he does not accept the qualifying offer, he’ll be one of the most sought-after free agents on the market.
But the bigger story in Seattle is the pitching depth. The Cubs have already shown interest in adding a controllable arm, and Seattle has several that would make sense.
Logan Gilbert stands out first. He struck out 200 hitters this season for the second time in his career, and his profile checks a lot of boxes: fastball velocity, a nasty slider and a splitter that can miss bats in bunches. He wouldn’t be the front-line ace on a contender, but he looks like the kind of dependable fourth or fifth starter a good team can lean on.
George Kirby is another name worth watching. He went 9-11 with a 4.33 ERA in 2026, but he was an All-Star in 2023 and still brings premium stuff, including a fastball that sits at 96+ and a mix of deceptive pitches that can make life miserable for hitters.
Then there are Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller, both attractive because of the years of control attached to them. Woo has four more years of team control through 2030, while Miller is under control through 2029. That kind of club control fits with Chicago’s recent push for Reid Detmers of the Los Angeles Angels, who is under team control through 2028.
Seattle’s collection of starters may be the deepest trade market in the league, and Kanzler’s presence only adds another layer. He knows the Cubs’ system and roster well, and that familiarity could help the Mariners identify names they want and make negotiations smoother. Whether Chicago dangles a more MLB-ready piece like Matt Shaw or a younger high draft pick like Kane Kepley, Kanzler could have a useful word for his new front office about what the Cubs can offer.
In Other News...
Alex Bregman Just Gave Cubs Fans Real Reason To Believe
After missing out on him in free agency the year before, the Cubs finally landed Alex Bregman on a five-year deal and got the kind of middle-of-the-order presence they had been chasing. The start was quieter than anyone in Chicago probably wanted, but Bregman settled in and finished with a .265/.355/.464 line, 28 home runs and a 128 wRC+, production that put him among the better third basemen in the league and earned him a finalist spot for the National League Silver Slugger Award.
What matters most for the Cubs is how he closed the season, because the late surge did more than clean up the numbers. It gave the lineup a more reliable tone heading into 2027 and offered a reminder that the signing was about more than name value, with Bregman looking like a player who can anchor the offense when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Suddenly Have More Pressure To Chase This Pitching Target
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The timing adds another layer of pressure. Because the NPB and MLB agreed to a modified posting window this offseason due to a pending lockout, teams have only 30 days to get a deal done, which compresses the process and rewards clubs ready to move quickly. The Cubs are viewed as a potential suitor, and if they want to stay in the conversation, they may need to act before the market tightens and the competition gets even more serious. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs May Finally Have A Real Shot At Freddy Peralta
Freddy Peraltas market is already drawing attention as the right-hander heads toward free agency, and the Cubs make a lot of sense as a team to watch. Chicago has been looking for more dependable starting pitching, and Peralta fits the kind of arm that can change the shape of a rotation if the price and term line up.
What makes him especially intriguing is the way his game has evolved, with his recent success giving clubs reason to believe there is still another level to tap into. The fit is obvious enough that speculation has already started to build around where he could land, but the real question for the Cubs is whether they are willing to move quickly enough to turn interest into a serious pursuit. [Read more 🡒]