The Chicago Cubs are set to lose one of their front-office heavyweights this offseason, but they’re also bringing in outside help to strengthen another corner of the operation.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Jared Banner is headed to the Baltimore Orioles to become the franchise’s next general manager. Banner had been working as an assistant GM under Jed Hoyer in Chicago, and his rise through the sport has included stops with Boston and New York before his time with the Cubs.
Banner’s path in baseball dates back to 2007, when he began with the Red Sox. He later joined the New York Mets in 2018 and became their farm director before Chicago brought him in during 2021.
From there, he became one of Hoyer’s key lieutenants. Passan noted that Banner’s background in "farm development" is what made him an attractive fit for Baltimore.
He also had a hand in one of the Cubs’ notable organizational wins, helping bring former Mets prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong to the North Side. That kind of move tends to raise a front-office profile, and Banner was also in the mix for the Athletics’ top job before they went another direction and left the Orioles opening on the table.
Banner will now serve as Mike Elias’ second in command in Baltimore, a move that still counts as a significant promotion.
While one key executive is leaving, the Cubs are also making a move of their own to bolster the front office. According to Francys Romero, Steve Miller will take over as vice president and oversee Chicago’s international scouting department. Miller has been with the Tampa Bay Rays since 2019, where he served as Director of International Scouting.
That’s a notable addition for a Cubs organization looking to sharpen its developmental pipeline. The Rays have built a reputation as one of the most respected front offices in baseball, and part of that success has come from identifying international talent that can matter at the big league level. Their farm system has also been among the best in the sport, ranking in the top three in nearly every national ranking.
Chicago’s minor league system has some intrigue at the top, with Josiah Hartshorn and Owen Ayers both turning in breakout years. But the overall depth in the system remains a concern, especially after the Cubs have moved on from several highly regarded prospects in recent years for additions that haven’t all delivered. Former No. 1 prospect Owen Caissie, for example, was dealt to the Marlins for Edward Cabrera.
Miller won’t be in charge of every part of scouting, but the Cubs clearly believe his international experience can help strengthen an area they need to improve.
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