3 teams that could poach Carter Hawkins away from the Cubs during the offseason

After the Chicago Cubs' big trade deadline, the team looks better positioned than ever to make a deep run into the postseason. Now that baseball's top position player group has been complemented with a much deeper pitching staff, the rest of 2026 is shaping up to be very fun for the Wrigley faithful. With that being said, shadows are lurking in the offseason. Deadline additions Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor join a massive group of pending free agents on the Cubs.

That means this coming offseason will be one of substantial change on the North Side, and that could extend to off-the-field personnel as well. While Jed Hoyer and Craig Counsell aren't going anywhere, the team's success this year could lead to one major piece of the front office being lured away: GM Carter Hawkins. As recently as last year, reporting from USA Today's Bob Nightengale indicated that the Nationals were considering Hawkins to replace outgoing baseball ops boss Mike Rizzo.

While Hawkins became controversial among Cubs fans for his infamous "2032" comments last summer, a franchise in need of a new direction might benefit from that sort of steady, long-term outlook in a leadership position. Washington won't be looking to replace Paul Toboni anytime soon, but other clubs in need of a front office change sure seem likely to give Hawkins a call. Here's a look at three teams that might have interest in the coming months:

3 teams that could shake up their baseball ops groups this winter

Baltimore Orioles: Does the Adley Rutschman trade signal a need for change in Baltimore?

The Baltimore Orioles are in the midst of their second straight deeply disappointing season. While the team looked loaded on paper with Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jackson Holliday, and other touted prospects all getting to the majors around the same time, they simply haven't been able to live up to their previous billing as a future juggernaut. Current baseball ops head Mike Elias was originally hired by the Angelos family, so new owner David Rubenstein's patience might be running thin.

If the Orioles decide to pivot away from Elias, Hawkins would make plenty of sense as a replacement. The Orioles are a relatively small market franchise that doesn't typically run massive payrolls, which Hawkins should have plenty of familiarity with after his years in Cleveland. Those years with the Guardians might make him an asset for the Orioles' pitching development as well, which could be attractive after the disappointments of prospects like Grayson Rodriguez and Cade Povich.

Cincinnati Reds: Carter Hawkins could go to a division rival after Reds' quiet deadline

While Hawkins leading the Orioles would have minimal impact on the Cubs unless they were to meet the Orioles in the World Series, the possibility of him heading to an NL Central rival hits a lot closer to home. Cincinnati Reds GM Nick Krall has gotten serious flak from the team's fans after a do-nothing trade deadline that saw him hold on to obvious trade chips like Tyler Stephenson and Brady Singer. Krall has been at the helm in Cincinnati since 2018, and the club hasn't won more than 83 games under him.

That's a clear signal it's time for a change, and if Reds ownership agrees then Hawkins would surely be an attractive candidate to lead the organization. The Reds have the pieces needed to contend on paper. Chase Burns, Hunter Greene, and Andrew Abbot form a capable playoff rotation. Elly De La Cruz is a legitimate superstar. That core just needs a capable architect to put in the finishing touches, and Hawkins could be the right person to do that without sacrificing the future.

Los Angeles Angels: If John Mozeliak isn't staying, Carter Hawkins might be the next man up

The possibility of Baltimore or Cincinnati making a change in the front office is purely hypothetical at this point. The Angels, meanwhile, already have. Perry Minasian was fired earlier this season, and interim GM John Mozeliak steered the organization through a trade deadline that saw the club sell pieces like righty Jose Soriano and Jo Adell. Perhaps Mozeliak, who spent nearly 20 years at the helm of the Cardinals organization, will remain in the role long-term going forward.

If owner Arte Moreno decides to go in a different direction after the season ends, however, Hawkins could be an attractive option. The Angels' recent front office leaders have been characterized by aggressive moves to try and put a flawed team in the best position to contend short-term. Hawkins and his relentless focus on the future might just be the sort of baseball operations leader Moreno's club needs, especially if he can convince Moreno to buy in on a much-needed rebuild.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow