Chicago Cubs Rumors: Do Jean Segura, Edwin Diaz make sense in a trade?

Hot on the heels of Monday’s blockbuster trade, it’s clear the Seattle Mariners are selling. Will the latest Cubs rumors tie the team to the Mariners?

As baseball anxiously awaits the first major free agent signing of the offseason, the hot stove heated up in a big way Monday. The Seattle Mariners traded left-hander James Paxton to the New York Yankees in exchange for a package headlined by prospect Justus Sheffield. How does this tie back to Chicago? It hasn’t yet – but don’t be surprised if you see Cubs rumors connecting the club to the Mariners in coming weeks.

The Chicago Cubs have been largely quiet so far this offseason. At this point, we’ve heard everything from the team doesn’t have any money to spend to they’re actively pursuing Bryce Harper, so it’s anybody’s guess where the truth lies.

My guess? It’s somewhere in the middle. I’m sure Chicago has money to spend – but don’t expect to see Tom Ricketts in front of the press talking about spending “a little bit stupid” either. But if the team is looking to remain financially conscious, then the club may be more active in the trade market than in free agency.

Enter the Seattle Mariners. This isn’t a ‘burn it to the ground’ unloading of talent on behalf of Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto. He wants this team to remain competitive in both the short and long-term. The Cubs, meanwhile, have all kinds of talent that could make sense for Seattle.