Mariners' Jerry Dipoto must put in a call to Cubs about their infield surplus

If Jerry Dipoto is serious about turning 2026 into a true “all-in” season for the Seattle Mariners, he needs to get on the phone with the Cubs right now — because Chicago just created the exact kind of roster squeeze that smart front offices can exploit.

Alex Bregman landing in Chicago on a five-year, $175 million deal shook the market while creating a logjam in the Cubs’ infield like a freeway pile-up. The “clean” alignment is obvious: Bregman at third, Dansby Swanson at short, Michael Busch at first… and then you’re staring at the Nico Hoerner/Matt Shaw problem at second. And that problem is the Mariners’ opportunity.

Dipoto can’t ignore the Cubs’ infield logjam after the Bregman move

Seattle’s infield picture is still too “we’ll see how it looks in March,” and that’s not a winning plan. The Mariners already lost Jorge Polanco, and outside of doing right by Josh Naylor, the “big move” everyone’s been waiting on hasn’t shown up yet. 

Meanwhile, the Cubs can afford to get cute. Mark Feinsand laid it out: Shaw has more trade value because of the years of control, but Hoerner is the proven, Gold Glove “safer choice” if you’re trying to win in 2026. He also noted the Cubs could simply keep both, run Shaw as a super-utility guy in 2026, and hand him second base in 2027. 

That’s great for the Cubs. It’s also exactly why Dipoto should try to make their decision for them with an offer that solves a different Chicago issue.

Chicago just paid a real price for rotation help, sending a prospect-heavy package to Miami for Edward Cabrera — headlined by Owen Caissie plus two more young players. If the Cubs want to keep the infield big-league strong and backfill what they just shipped out, moving an infielder is the cleanest lever they’ve got.

Hoerner is the type of player the Mariners always say they want: premium defense, real MLB track record, and the kind of steady competence that stops you from lighting innings on fire. A perfect fit for a team trying to win tight games down the stretch.

The catch is the timeline. Hoerner is lined up to hit free agency after 2026. But if you believe the Mariners’ competitive window is right now, then a one-year “prove it” runway shouldn’t be a dealbreaker. You’re not blocking prospects long-term, and you’re upgrading immediately.

But if you want the more “Dipoto-brained” answer, it’s Shaw. His rookie season wasn’t just a shrug. The second half was really loud: .839 OPS and a 130 wRC+ over 63 games after the break, with his slugging jumping in a real way. 

Shaw is exactly the kind of player who can be 2B or 3B in 2026, depending on how Ben Williamson, Colt Emerson, and Cole Young look in spring training (and how quickly the org wants to push those chips in). That flexibility is gold for a roster that’s still trying to line up its next infield core.

So what exactly should Dipoto do? Call about both. You don’t get extra points for “respecting another team’s roster crunch.” But if we’re talking pure fit:

• If the Mariners want the safest path to a better 2026 lineup and defense: push hard on Hoerner.
• If the Mariners want a longer-term piece with legit breakout potential who still fits around the kids: prioritize Shaw, and be ready to pay for it.

Either way, the Cubs just handed Seattle a rare gift: a credible infield trade partner with a reason to pick up the phone.

Dipoto can’t let this turn into another offseason where the Mariners watch the market move and tell themselves they were “in on” everything. The Cubs have a surplus. The Mariners have a need.