Cubs Talk Podcast

Host David Kaplan is joined by the Denver Posts' Rockies beat writer, Patrick Saunders to discuss the rumor and possibility that the Cubs would swap out Rockies star Nolan Arenado, for Kris Bryant. You can follow Patrick on Twitter @psaundersdp. (1:14) - Do the Rockies have the Kris Bryant trade on the table? (3:10) - Who is the better player, Kris Bryant or Nolan Arenado? (4:49) - How is Nolan Ar...

The Kris Bryant grievance has been decided and the Cubs win out. Or do they? NBC Sports Cubs content producers Jeff Nelson and Nate Poppen are with host of Baseball Night in Chicago's Leila Rahimi to discuss what does finally getting an answer to this means for Kris Bryant and the Cubs. (1:23) - Reaction to Kris Bryant losing his grievance case (4:45) - Does Bryant finally get traded for Arenado n...

The long off-season for the Cubs continues as they haven't made any significant moves so far and have watched players from last year's roster move on. Host David Kaplan is joined by NBC Sports Chicago producers Jeff Nelson and Nate Poppen as they discuss the lack luster off-season, expectations fans should have, Kaplan gives an exclusive update on the Kris Bryant grievance and the chances that the...

This has been the offseason of Kris Bryant rumors and with his grievance still unresolved Cubs fans can only speculate what will happen to the MVP. Is Kris Bryant trying to change the system like Curt Flood did? Host David Kaplan is joined by ESPN Chicago's Jesse Rogers to discuss Bryant's future as a Cub, and the lackluster offseason the Cubs have had. (1:50) - Why the Cubs have not made any move...

After the Cubs Convention, fans left still uncertain about the team headed into the 2020 season. Host David Kaplan and Cubs writer for NBC Sports Chicago Tim Stebbins discuss what they took from Cubs Con, the culture change that is coming to the organization, and a realistic possibility that the Cubs are looking into disgruntled star Nolan Arenado. (1:18) - Takeaway from Cubs Con (3:34) - Culture...

Jeff Nelson, Tim Stebbins, and Tony Andracki fill in for host David Kaplan as they discuss how different this year's Cubs convention will be compared to previous year's and how awkward it will be for Kris Bryant and other players who could be traded before the season. They also get into baseball's cheating issue, and Tony Andracki makes a huge announcement. (1:08) - Different feel at Cubs Con (3:1...

The Cubs are still mulling over trading star Kris Bryant. Host David Kaplan discusses the 50/50 chance that Bryant is traded with editor of Bleacher Nation Brett Taylor. They also get into the Cubs trying to get under the luxury tax, and predictions on how the 2020 season will play out. (1:50) - What are the Cubs doing? (3:20) - 2020 team is worse on paper than the 2019 team (7:40) - Hard to imagi...

The Cubs avoid arbitration by signing MVP Kris Bryant but now what? NBC Sports Chicago Cubs insider Tony Andracki is joined by Cubs content producer Nate Poppen to discuss what does the this signing mean, is Bryant still going to be traded and if he is, what can they get for him. (1:22) - Cubs sign all 6 players before arbitration (3:56) - What does this mean for Bryant's service time grievance? (...

Host David Kaplan and Cubs insider for NBC Sports Chicago Tony Andracki are joined by Cubs pitching Tommy Hottovy as they discuss the Cubs current starting rotation, how to build a winning bullpen, and how he struck out NBC Sports Cubs analyst David DeJesus. (1:31) - The Cubs have unfinished business this year (2:35) - Jon Lester at this stage in his career (12:12) - Getting David DeJesus out 3 da...

Host David Kaplan is joined by Jeff Nelson, Nate Poppen, and Tim Stebbins to discuss the only real news the Cubs have been apart of this offseason, how close the Cubs are in trading MVP Kris Bryant. (1:13) - The Cubs have been quiet all offseason (3:53) - After trading Bryant, could Cubs go after Nolan Arenado? (6:00) - Who would you rather have, Bryant or Arenado? (9:25) - Which current Cub would...

Former Cub Moisés Alou joins David Kaplan and Tony Andracki to discuss his time as a Cub and his time in the MLB. (1:53) - Favorite memory in Chicago (2:46) - Game 6 Cubs vs Marlins (4:28) - A lot of weird things that happened in Cubs vs Marlins series (6:19) - Feelings when the Cubs won the World Series in 2016 (8:31) - Favorite teammates (9:24) - Facing Kerry in the 20 strikeout game

NBC Sports Chicago's all-decade Cubs team is out and the crew goes over the list. With host David Kaplan out, Jeff Nelson, Nate Poppen, and Chris Kamka fills in and discusses the guys who made the team and the guys who just missed out. (1:57) - Starting pitchers (7:21) - Catcher (10:03) - 1st base (12:20) - 2nd base (15:13) - Shortstop (18:13) - 3rd base (21:17) - Utility/bench (23:29) - Outfield...

Host David Kaplan is flying solo to discuss the financial situation the Cubs find themselves in this offseason and more importantly, the very real possibility that they might have to trade their MVP Kris Bryant. David Kaplan explains why in this episode of Cubs Talk. (1:28) - The Cubs in a financial bind (4:56) - Cubs tried to sign extensions with every player they want long term (6:36) - The like...

Host David Kaplan and Cubs beat reporter Tony Andracki discuss the culture change that new manager David Ross wants to bring to the clubhouse, trade rumors on Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber, and they discuss the fan complaints on lack of spending by the Cubs. (1:57) - Ross wants to bring accountability to the clubhouse (7:51) - Teams that are inquiring about Cubs MVP Kris Bryant (10:04) - Yankees...

The crew wraps up the week for the Cubs on the final day of the Winter Meetings in San Diego David Kaplan and Tony Andracki are joined by Jim Callis, MLB.com writer on the pipeline beat to discuss gthe Cubs trying to replenish the farm system that is bare (1:30). They also talk about some potential deals the Cubs get make and the returns by trading catcher Wilson Contreras (7:20), or former MVP Kr...

The Cubs Talk podcast comes your way from Day 3 of the Winter Meetings in San Diego. Former Cubs GM Jim Hendry joins Kap. They reminisce about the day Hendry signed Ted Lilly before undergoing a heart procedure (1:00) and he discusses his new role working in the Yankees front office. (3:00) Plus, Kap asks him how much pride does he have seeing two of his draft picks — Javy Baez and Willson Contrer...

Kap and Tony are in San Diego for Day 2 of the Winter Meetings. Theo Epstein met the media for the first time Monday night. Kap and Tony react to his comments on how free agency affects his team's ability to make a trade. (1:00). Plus Theo discusses all the talk about his payroll limitations and how Yu Darvish's performance at the end of 2019 helps that. (6:00) Will Jose Quintana be wearing a diff...

Kap and Tony are at the Winter Meetings in San Diego. 1:30- The Cubs have already shed a lot of payroll but they still have a ways to go. How is that possible? Tony crunched the numbers to find out. 5:00 - Tony and Kap react to Tom Ricketts' comments to the Sports Business Journal about the team's inability to develop pitching and how the Wrigley Field renovations have affected the budget. 9:30- W...

On this edition of the podcast, Tony Andracki, Nate Poppen and Tim Stebbins wonder: What are the Brewers doing this winter? The trio also discuss the latest moves by the Braves and Phillies and how the Cubs fit into the National League playoff race at the moment. Plus, they react to rumors regarding Willson Contreras and Nicholas Castellanos and weigh in on whether or not Nico Hoerner should be th...

On this edition of the Cubs Talk Podcast, David Kaplan, Tony Andracki and Jeff Nelson discuss the end of the Addison Russell era, how the Reds may now be the favorites in the NL Central, and where Cole Hamels may pitch in 2020. 01:00Should the Cubs have gotten rid of Addison Russell a year ago? 06:00Javy Baez' took his game to the next level while filling in for Russell 07:30Any chance Kris Bryant...

01:00 - Is Javy Baez going to be the first Cubs "core" player to sign a new contract extension? 04:00 - Could a potential Baez deal be the first domino to fall for the Cubs this winter? 06:30 - There could be some actual news at the Winter Meetings - Taking a quick look at the Brewers offseason outlook. 10:30 - Was Craig Kimbrel a cautionary tale? Will another team wait again to sign a pitcher in...

On the latest Cubs Talk Podcast, David Kaplan gives his thoughts on what a Javier Báez extention could look like. He also discusses how Yasmani Grandal signing with the White Sox increases Willson Contreras' trade value. 1:25 - Will Cubs and Javy Báez agree on a contract extension? 3:44 - If Báez doesn't want to commit long term, do Cubs trade him now? 6:15 - Kap gives his proposed deal that Báez...

02:00 Jeff Passan predicts a significant trade or two for the Cubs this winter 03:00 Passan says the Cubs will be retooling, not rebuilding, because they still have good players 04:00 Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras are the most likley to be traded 05:00 Passan explains the perception of Contreras around the league 07:00 How active will the Cubs be in free agency? 08:00 Any chance the DH will co...

On the latest Cubs Talk Podcast, Tony Andracki, Jeff Nelson, Nate Poppen and Tim Stebbins discuss where the Cubs stand after the GM meetings, if the Cubs could get equal value back in a trade involving Kris Bryant, and how the Astros allegedly stealing signs affected Yu Darvish. 01:00Takeaways from the GM Meetings 03:00Addition of Andy Green as bench coach 07:00Adding Mike Napoli to David Ross' co...

On the latest Cubs Talk Podcast, David Kaplan talks with former Cubs front office executive and Dodgers GM Ned Colletti on how to fix a major league roster, when to deal a player who is heading into free agency, and how a trade he didn't make with LA helped bring 01:30How he moved from MLB to being a scout in the NHL 04:30How to fix a major league roster 06:40On building the roster when other team...