Jed Hoyer Trying to Talk Mariners into a Trade at GM Meetings?
Sure, this doesn’t seem like a big deal, I mean it’s the GM Meetings and obviously executives are going to be talking, duh. However, we’re also talking about Jerry Dipoto, the busiest man in all of baseball seen with Jed Hoyer down in San Antonio, Texas, so my mind is racing, thinking about a potential trade between the Cubs and Mariners.
No joke, since taking over as the lead shot-caller with the Mariners in 2015, Dipoto has made more trades than any other top boss in the league. In his first four years, Dipoto had already overseen deals that involved 200 different players.
in case you thought this was a joke…here they are! the 200 different players involved in a Jerry Dipoto Mariners trade! here's to the next 200 ????
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) December 5, 2019
2⃣0⃣0⃣❗️ pic.twitter.com/eqV9pdzUsm
Who knows, maybe Hoyer and Dipoto were catching up and simply talking about their offseason vacations, but 670 The Score’s Bruce Levine made it a point to specifically mention how the two executives were seen chatting it up at the GM Meetings on Wednesday.
The Cubs and Mariners are kind of in a similar spot heading into 2025. Both teams have finished with win totals in the 80s, and while both organizations have some strengths they have both fallen short of being a postseason team in recent years. Levine brings up the fact that the Cubs and Mariners could be ideal trade partners as Chicago seeks to improve their starting pitching and Seattle is in search of help on offense.
Via 670 The Score.
In addition to free agency, the trade market is the other route for the Cubs to acquire a starting pitcher this offseason. The pitching-rich Mariners may be a trade match and could be interested in the talented young infielders coming through the Cubs’ system such as Matt Shaw and James Triantos. Hoyer was seen talking with Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry DiPoto on Wednesday after the sessions at the GM Meetings had broken off for the morning.
Levine mentions a pair of infield prospects in Matt Shaw and James Triantos. It makes sense, seeing that the Mariners have openly expressed interest in adding an infielder this offseason and the Cubs seem set for the most part with Dansby Swanson, Isaac Paredes and Nico Hoerner under contract for multiple years.
However, Hoerner’s status remains up in the air following his right flexor surgery in October and Hoyer has already hinted at Shaw and maybe even Triantos being the backup plan at second base if Hoerner is not ready at the start of the 2025 season.
That brings me to another Cubs note from the GM Meetings, where Jon Morosi is reporting that outfield prospect Owen Caissie is generating trade buzz.
Owen Caissie is a popular name in early-stage trade buzz at the GM Meetings.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 6, 2024
The 22-year-old Cubs prospect is coming off an impressive Triple-A season (.848 OPS) but does not have a clear path to everyday at-bats in a crowded @MLB outfield. @MLBNetwork
Could the Mariners have interest in Caissie?
If we’re thinking big, then you obviously look at Seattle’s rotation that features Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, Luis Castillo and Bryan Woo. Castillo has three years remaining on his five-year, $108 million contract, but that deal also includes a full no-trade clause.
Gilbert, 28, has three years remaining of arbitration, Kirby has four, while Miller and Woo are still in the pre-arb stage of their contracts.
Or you know, maybe it’s a nothing burger and they really were talking about their October getaways. Or maybe we do see a deal get done between these teams, but it’s a small trade that we can all get irrationally angry about.
Surprise us, Jed! We know Jerry Dipoto is just itching to make a trade right now.