Cubs Rumors: Jed Hoyer could get a second chance at trade targets if Mariners reset

Free agency is officially open as of Monday, which means Jed Hoyer is now on the clock. The Chicago Cubs have a lot to squeeze in over the next month before the lockout inevitably begins after December 1. If 2021 is any indication, the market could be in a bit of a frenzy as teams and players race to make deals before all activity ceases for the foreseeable future. It's not just free agents they need to be focused on, though.

With the starting rotation full of holes and currently leaning on Justin Steele, Ben Brown, and Edward Cabrera, the Cubs are expected to explore the trade market. As it stands, their pitching situation is dire enough to make them wholly uncompetitive next year if they don't act. One team that should show back up on their radar as they cast a wide net is the Seattle Mariners. After missing the postseason this past season, big changes are expected under Jerry Dipoto.

In ESPN's early offseason discussion, Buster Olney and Jesse Rogers both mention Seattle as likely to be "reshaping" their roster for next year. Olney goes one step further, citing some early rumblings that the Mariners are exploring trades from their wealth of starting pitching to land a bat. Sound familiar? While offloading Luis Castillo to the White Sox opened up room for their homegrown starters, the arrival of top prospect Kade Anderson has again put them in a spot where they could afford to trade one of their younger arms, which means the Cubs should be calling.

The two names likely to be in discussions for Chicago are George Kirby and Emerson Hancock. Both starters came up at this season's trade deadline in connection with the Cubs, though the price was too high at the time to realistically consider. Of the two, Hancock is coming off a breakout season with a 3.57 ERA and 4.00 FIP in 138 2/3 innings, and he's under control through 2030. Kirby is only locked up through 2028, but he has the higher ceiling.

Though he recorded a 4.33 ERA and 3.90 FIP this year, he was establishing himself as one of baseball's best young arms through 2024. In back-to-back seasons of over 190 innings starting in 2023, he posted a 3.44 ERA and 3.30 FIP, which would be a huge boon in a Cubs rotation with little certainty. However, Kirby has some work to do to get back to that form. 2026 saw his once-vaunted fastball fall off a cliff, averaging a career-high 96.8 mph, but spiking from a .188 batting average and .341 slugging percentage against to a .251 BA and .425 SLG, with a much lower 23.4% whiff rate. Either way, both he and Hancock are interesting to consider.

The Cubs and Mariners continue to link up well in a trade

Dating back to last offseason, the two teams have made a ton of sense given their needs. The Cubs don't have quite the same near-MLB position player depth they once had, but they could still afford to ship off one of Matt Shaw or Pedro Ramirez to facilitate a deal. Some of the money that would've been used to bolster the rotation could instead be used to add a legitimate outfield bat like Seiya Suzuki or Randy Arozarena to fill that hole.

The Mariners have Brendan Donovan penciled in at third base, but he was known for his ability to move around the field in St. Louis. Shaw could also factor into the open corner outfield spots, given how well he progressed playing out there in 2026. He still hasn't quite reached his offensive potential, and a left hand injury cost him two months of playing time, but a 237/.327/.410 slash line still resulted in an above-average 106 wRC+ that could entice Seattle. The Cubs would probably prefer to deal him at this point after the strong impression Ramirez made on the team, and especially on Craig Counsell.

Granted, any trade discussions are likely to take a back seat to free agency. As Olney notes, most teams will probably prefer to wait and see what the next CBA looks like before pulling the trigger on a swap. The run on free agency will also naturally drive attention to the open market. With more pressure on both front offices than ever, though, it would not be a surprise to see the Cubs and Mariners finally get something across the finish line after years of speculation and smoke.

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