With the Chicago Cubs surrounded by rumors, the offseason is sure to be a pivotal one; the team is attached to the likes of the top player in free agency, star pitcher Tarik Skubal. In a recent free-agent development with the Seattle Mariners, the team is connected to the Cubs as they enter a new era with Jason Kanzler hired as the new manager.

MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today wrote Friday morning that Seattle is “drawing serious interest” in Ian Happ, who has been with Chicago since 2017 and is now a free agent.

As Happ would immediately improve the Mariners' defense, boasting four Gold Glove honors in the outfield, he also provides some offense, as he hit 24 home runs and 68 RBIs last year in 156 games with a .218 batting average. Seattle's president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said that the “left side of our outfield” is an area of need, citing the defense as a “max priority.”

League insider Jon Morosi reported Wednesday that the ball club is “interested” in Happ, as there is a connection with Kanzler, who spent time with the Cubs as director of player personnel for the last three seasons.

Other information about the Mariners

Nightengale would have other tidbits about the Mariners, such as the team “having no interest” in bringing back shortstop J.P. Crawford, who is now a free agent and has been with the team since 2019. With interest around the league, Crawford could very well see himself on a different team next year, as he hit a .221 batting average with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs last season.

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Plus, there is an expectation that Seattle will be trading “one of their starting pitchers for position player help, with Nightengale listing George Kirby and Emerson Hancock as options, though Ryan Sloan is “off limits.” Kirby had a 4.33 ERA with 148 strikeouts and a 9-11 record, while Hancock recorded a 3.57 ERA with 126 strikeouts and a 7-8 record.

It remains to be seen what moves the Mariners make this offseason, as they look to improve after finishing 76- 86 and third in the AL West, with Kanzler wanting to impress next season.