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The Chicago Cubs' front office is undergoing a significant reshuffle this offseason, with one high-ranking executive departing and another being brought in to fill a key role. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Jared Banner, who most recently served as an assistant general manager under Jed Hoyer, is set to become the next general manager of the Baltimore Orioles.
Banner's baseball career began with the Boston Red Sox in 2007, where he held various positions before moving to the New York Mets in 2018 as their farm director. He joined the Cubs in 2021 and quickly became one of Hoyer's most trusted lieutenants. Passan notes that Banner's expertise in farm development is what ultimately attracted the Orioles to him. Banner also played a key role in acquiring former Mets prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong for the Cubs. His impressive resume made him a candidate for the Oakland Athletics' top baseball operations job, but the A's opted for a different direction, paving the way for his move to Baltimore. Although Banner will be second in command behind Orioles' GM Mike Elias, the opportunity is considered a major step up.
Key Analysis
While the Cubs are losing a key executive in Banner, they are also making a strategic addition to their own front office. According to Francys Romero, Steve Miller will join the Cubs as a vice president overseeing international scouting. Miller has been the Tampa Bay Rays' Director of International Scouting since 2019. The Rays are renowned for their strong front office and consistently rank among the top farm systems in baseball, thanks in part to their success in international signings. The Cubs, on the other hand, have seen their minor league depth decline in recent years after trading away several top prospects for major league talent. The hope is that Miller's expertise can help replenish the Cubs' developmental pipeline, particularly on the international front.