Cubs Talk Podcast

Did the Cubs really offer Jake Arrieta $110 million? Is Alex Cobb truly searching for an $80 million deal? Are the Miami Marlins out of their minds with what they want for Christian Yelich? David Kaplan, Kelly Crull and Tony Andracki discuss these rumors and more from the coldest offseason in recent memory. The trio also chat about baseball's luxury tax and who will cave first - the owners or the...

Is the slow-moving market playing right into the Cubs' favor? Should the Cubs extend themselves and give Jake Arrieta an extra year on a contract just to keep him from going to a rival? Should Javy Baez and Addison Russell switch positions for the 2018 season? A panel of David Kaplan, Tony Andracki, Scott Changnon, Nate Poppen and Eric Strobel discuss those topics and more on the latest CubsTalk P...

Jon Graff, Eric Strobel and Luke Stuckmeyer are joined by Len Kasper to wrap up 2017. The voice of the Cubs discusses the lukewarm Hot Stove, the Cubs’ pitching additions, the mental fortitude of Kyle Schwarber, and whether the recent World Series triumphs on the North Side and in Houston will impact the current White Sox rebuild. Plus, Len has a deep cut for his favorite moment of 2017 and also g...

Cubs broadcaster Jim Deshaies stops by the CubsTalk Podcast to break down the Cubs’ pitching moves this offseason and why he believes the starting rotation will feature five guys who could all wind up as the ace of the staff in 2018. Plus, Deshaies chats with Kelly Crull, Tony Andracki and Jon Graff about being reunited with one of his former minor-league teammates with the Cubs and how he dodged...

Kelly Crull and Tony Andracki discuss the impact of the Marlins' trades and daydream on how Christian Yelich would be a perfect fit atop the Cubs order if Miami ever decided to move him. Plus, where do the Cubs stand with free agent pitchers and is a Wade Davis return still possible? Crull also chats 1-on-1 with MLB super-agent Scott Boras about Jake Arrieta's value and how to navigate a slow-movi...

Tony Andracki and Kelly Crull break down where Brandon Morrow and Drew Smyly fit in the Cubs' pitching plans while Kyle Schwarber craziness reaches new heights. Peter Gammons and Bob Nightengale weigh Schwarber’s trade value and how likely it may be that the Cubs could secure a Chris Archer, Gerrit Cole or Michael Fulmer this winter. Nightengale also explains how Brandon Morrow could fill an Andre...

MLB Network’s Dan Plesac stops by the CubsTalk Podcast to discuss Kyle Schwarber’s trade value, how the Cubs can solve their pitching deficiencies and why Wade Davis should still be on their radar even after the soon-to-be-official signing of Brandon Morrow. Plus, Kelly Crull and Tony Andracki break down why they are now even more convinced Schwarber won’t be traded, how far the Cubs got in Gianca...

David Kaplan and Eric Strobel are joined by Tampa Bay Times beat writer Marc Topkin to discuss potential Cubs pitching targets Alex Cobb and Chris Archer. Topkin also reveals why new Cubs pitching coach Jim Hickey is known as a sorcerer within baseball circles. Plus, Kap and Eric break down the Cubs’ pursuit of coveted Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani, and debate whether the Cubs have a better shot a...

USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale stops by the CubsTalk Podcast with David Kaplan and Tony Andracki to discuss the Cubs’ chances at landing Theo Epstein’s White Whale: Shohei Ohtani. Would the 23-year-old Japanese phenom fit on a National League team? Plus, Nightengale hands out MLB comparisons for Ohtani, including a former Cub icon in terms of the young lefty’s bat.

In the latest CubsTalk Podcast, Kelly Crull and David Kaplan look ahead to Thanksgiving and discuss the official coaching hires for the Cubs. They also talk about where the Cubs go from here with Jake Arrieta and Wade Davis, whether Alex Cobb could factor into the rotation plans and Kap goes off on the 11:30 a.m. Opening Day start time.

GM Jed Hoyer stops by the CubsTalk Podcast to chat about the Cubs coaching staff, offseason trade rumors and why this is such a big winter for the future of the franchise after 2017 left a bad taste in everybody's mouths at Wrigley Field. Plus, is John Lackey a good fit for the Cubs' 2018 starting rotation and should we forget about that Jason Heyward-to-the-Giants buzz?

What are the realistic chances David Ross or Ozzie Guillen becomes the Cubs’ next bench coach? What would it take to get Chris Archer pitching in a Cubs uniform? Can the Cubs actually trade Jason Heyward’s full contract this winter and get pitching in return? Is the door shut on Jake Arrieta returning to Chicago? The NBC Sports Chicago crew tackles these questions, with David Kaplan, Kelly Crull,...

With Joe Girardi out of a job in New York, could he ever manager again in Chicago? And how does his availability affect Cubs bench coach Davey Martinez in his bid for a manager gig somewhere? Do these Cubs coaching changes reflect more heavily on Joe Maddon moving forward? Is Bryce Harper coming to the Cubs in two years or is he just a big flirt? Who are the Cubs most likely to trade of their youn...

Kelly Crull, Patrick Mooney and Tony Andracki close the book on the 2017 Cubs season following Theo Epstein’s press conference, looking back at what will go down as the craziest calendar year in Cubs history from last November through the team’s loss in the NLCS this October. Moving forward, where do guys like Kyle Schwarber, Albert Almora Jr., Justin Wilson and Mike Montgomery fit? Will the Cubs...

Patrick Mooney and Tony Andracki analyze the Cubs' sub-optimal position in the NLCS, down two games to none to the Dodgers with a lack of offense and a struggling bullpen. Plus, what was Joe Maddon thinking with his lineup and bullpen decisions in the first two games of the series? And what is really going with Wade Davis?

Kelly Crull, Luke Stuckmeyer and Tony Andracki do their best to try to make sense of what will go down as one of the craziest, weirdest games in baseball history. What were the moments that each reporter will remember for the rest of their lives? Who were some of the underrated heroes that helped the Cubs advance to their third straight NLCS? Plus, did Joe Maddon really win it for the Cubs in the...

Patrick Mooney, Kelly Crull and Tony Andracki break down all the news ahead of the Cubs-Nationals NLDS showdown beginning Friday night in Washington D.C. The Cubs rotation is set, but how will that impact the series? Have fans seen the last of Jake Arrieta in a Cubs uniform? Are the Nationals fully healthy with question marks surrounding Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer? Plus, the trio gives their X-...

Insider Patrick Mooney and producers Jeff Nelson and Scott Changnon to describe their unique experiences to watching the Cubs clinch the 2017 National League Central Wednesday night while taking a look at how far the Cubs have come over the last few years in the rivalry with the St. Louis Cardinals. And with attention now focused on the postseason, who will the Cubs insert into their playoff rotat...

Kelly Crull, Jeff Nelson, Nate Poppen and Tony Andracki run down the math and scenarios for the Cubs entering the last week-and-a-half of the season. Plus, is this showdown with the Milwaukee Brewers the biggest series the Cubs have played since 2003? At the very least, the panel agrees it’s the most important/impactful series since that four-game set against the San Francisco Giants in August 201...

My how the Mets have fallen in two years, going from the team that steamrolled the Cubs in the 2015 NLCS to just counting down the days until 2017 is up. That’s why the Cubs need to take advantage of every opportunity they have to make the postseason, as Jon Lester and Anthony Rizzo know full well. Newsday Mets writer Marc Carig discusses how the Mets have fallen on hard times in the last couple s...

Assuming the Cubs make the playoffs, who will be their fourth starter – Jose Quintana or John Lackey? Patrick Mooney, Jeff Nelson, Scott Changnon and Tony Andracki debate plus who to trust in the bullpen down the stretch and how the Cubs have moved from having one of the worst World Series hangovers ever to a point where they’re now the best defending champs we’ve seen since 2010. Plus Cubs reliev...

On the latest edition of the Cubs Talk Podcast, Vinnie Duber, Patrick Mooney and Jeff Nelson talk about the Cardinals’ “white-flag” trade and how it affects the National League Central race, wondering whether the Cubs should be more concerned with the Cardinals or the Brewers over the season’s final month. Plus, when will Addison Russell return from the disabled list and how much play will he get...

On the latest edition of the Cubs Talk Podcast, Vinnie Duber, Nate Poppen and Jon Graff discuss the Cubs’ current hot streak against last-place teams and taking advantage of a soft schedule. Plus, when will Addison Russell and Willson Contreras return to the Cubs’ lineup? And how concerning is Jon Lester’s injury?

Cubs Insider Patrick Mooney and Tony Andracki discuss Jon Lester’s injury from Thursday’s game and what it means for the Cubs moving forward. The guys break down how the rotation could play out and the effect Lester has on the team even on days he doesn’t pitch. Kyle Hendricks also stops by the podcast to talk about how he feels right now as he finds his groove coming off a hand injury. Plus, Moon...