Mariners Looking to Sign Cubs Star Free Agent in Major Move

Detailed summary

One clear area that the Mariners need to improve is their outfield. Star outfielder Randy Arozarena has hit the free agent market, so Seattle could use another high-impact…

After entering the 2026 season with high expectations, the Seattle Mariners disappointed in a big way.

The Mariners finished this season third in the American League West with a 76-86 record and missed the playoffs. Due to how rough this season went for the Mariners, there is an expectation that they will be aggressive in free agency.

One clear area that the Mariners need to improve is their outfield. Star outfielder Randy Arozarena has hit the free agent market, so Seattle could use another high-impact outfielder to replace him. Due to this, the Mariners are now being linked to a notable free agent outfielder.

In a recent article for USA Today, Bob Nightengale reported that the Mariners have a lot of interest in Chicago Cubs star free agent outfielder Ian Happ.

"Free agent left fielder Ian Happ, the four-time Gold Glove winner with the Chicago Cubs, is drawing serious interest from the Seattle Mariners, who badly want to improve their defense," Nightengale wrote.

With the Mariners being in need of outfield help, it is understandable that they have Happ on their radar. The four-time Gold Glove winner has been an effective player for a long time now and could give the Mariners' roster a significant boost if they successfully signed him.

Happ appeared in 156 games during this season with the Cubs, where he posted 24 home runs, 68 RBI, and a .218 batting average. He also hit at least 21 home runs in five out of his last six seasons. With this, he would have the potential to provide the Mariners with more offense in addition to his strong fielding.

It will now be interesting to see if the Mariners' interest in Happ can lead to them landing him this offseason. When noting that he is one of the top outfielders on the free agent market right now, there is no question that Seattle has competition in the sweepstakes.

In 1,295 career MLB games, Happ has posted 197 home runs, 625 RBI, and a .243 batting average. He was also an All-Star back during the 2022 season.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Newsweek. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.