The Chicago Cubs are about to spend the offseason replacing one of the people who helped shape their future.
On Tuesday morning, the Seattle Mariners announced that Cubs Director of Player Development Jason Kanzler will be their next manager. It’s a surprising move on Seattle’s part, especially with the club also deep in talks with former Houston Astros manager Joe Espada, per MLB’s Daniel Kramer.
Kanzler has never managed at any level. Still, he’s built a strong résumé around the game, including time on the Houston Astros’ 2022 World Series-winning coaching staff. More recently, he has been a key face in the Cubs’ front office structure, overseeing the organization’s minor league system from 2024 to 2026.
At 34, Kanzler becomes the second-youngest manager in baseball. Blake Butera of the Washington Nationals is the youngest.
The loss lands hard for Chicago because Kanzler had become an important part of the organization’s player-development pipeline. The Cubs’ farm system may not be the deepest right now, but he has helped produce real progress from players the front office brought in. Several prospects have broken out over the last couple of seasons, including Josiah Hartshorn and Owen Ayers in 2026.
Chicago now has another major vacancy to handle during an offseason already packed with work. Kanzler’s departure comes only weeks after Jared Banner left the franchise to take the General Manager position with the Baltimore Orioles.
There has been some positive news on the Cubs’ staffing front, though. Hitting coach John Mallee was nearly pulled away this offseason, but he will remain in place after Chicago’s dominant offensive season.
The Cubs also hired Steve Miller away from the World Series runner-ups. Miller, the Tampa Bay Rays’ former Director of International Scouting, will join the organization in a VP role with similar responsibilities.
Even with those moves, the pressure on the Cubs’ top decision-makers keeps growing. They’ve lost several high-profile people, and they’ll need to replace them well if they want to stay in the contending picture.
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For a team still looking to strengthen its rotation, the appeal is obvious. The frustration is just as clear, because the Cubs acknowledge they may not be able to keep pace with the kind of bidding that figures to come from clubs such as the Dodgers and Mets before the Dec. 1 lockout. That leaves Chicago weighing ambition against reality, and wondering whether being linked to the markets best pitcher will amount to anything more than a brief, expensive flirtation. [Read more 🡒]
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Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that the Cubs have interest in Skubal, but the expected cost could be the sticking point. A deal in the range of more than $300 million would put Chicago in a difficult spot, especially with the Dodgers and Mets also looming as major players in the chase. For the Cubs, it is the kind of decision that could define not just the offseason, but the direction of the rotation for a long stretch beyond it. [Read more 🡒]
Druw Jones Is Giving Diamondbacks Fans Another Reason To Believe
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For Diamondbacks fans, that kind of consistency is easy to appreciate because Jones has long been viewed as one of the organizations most intriguing long-term pieces. The offensive upside will always be part of the conversation, but awards like this keep reinforcing the idea that his defensive profile is already carrying real weight. Arizona is still waiting to see how all of it comes together, and this latest recognition gives the fan base another reason to keep believing there is more coming. [Read more 🡒]