North Side Territory: A Chicago Cubs Podcast

Happy holidays from North Side Territory. With a playoff season in the books and the offseason in full swing, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney sit down to reflect on the last 12 months on the Cubs beat. From Pete Crow-Armstrong becoming a star to Craig Counsell putting his stamp on the organization to the crowds reenergizing Wrigley Field, there was no shortage of topics to cover....

The Cubs are rebuilding their bullpen without Keller, who authored a comeback story at Wrigley Field that landed him a two-year, $22 million contract with the Phillies. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney give you their takeaways from Keller’s bounce-back season, and how that applies to the Cubs moving forward. This is also a chance to get to know vice president of pitching Tyler Zomb...

Reacting to Michael King’s deal with the Padres, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney map out where the Cubs could go from here. The two beat writers from The Athletic share what they heard on King, as well as their insights on Tatsuya Imai and Zac Gallen, two other starters who have been repeatedly linked to the Cubs. Is it time to be concerned yet? Listen to North Side Territory for the latest offs...

After leaving baseball’s annual convention, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are back from Orlando and ready to share the information they gathered on the Cubs. How is the front office remaking the bullpen for Craig Counsell? What’s the deal with the Nico Hoerner trade rumors? And is a playoff contender really prepared to let Kyle Tucker walk as a free agent and replace him with ro...

Checking in from Orlando, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share what they’ve been hearing about the Cubs’ various offseason pursuits. Matt Shaw has been a discussed name at Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings, but the Cubs seem intent on building around him and continuing their youth movement. Where does that leave the Cubs with Alex Bregman and their objective to acquire more...

Before traveling to Orlando for baseball’s annual offseason convention, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share what they’re hearing about the Cubs and where the expectations should be set right now. The two beat writers from The Athletic are reporting that the Cubs are back in the mix for Alex Bregman. What does that mean for Matt Shaw and the club’s wide-ranging search for pitching? Find out on...

With the Winter Meetings approaching, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney sit down to compare notes on the Cubs’ approach to the free-agent market. Kyle Tucker visiting the Blue Jays’ complex in Florida is yet another sign that he’s planning to play somewhere else next year. The Cubs, however, have not ruled out adding another hitter and spending for impact free agents. Their pursuit...

After Part 1 of the Thanksgiving mailbag focused on pitching, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are back to answer more questions from listeners, focusing primarily on the offense. The Athletic writers acknowledge what could become a huge hole in the lineup, and outline how the front office may respond this winter. Plus more thoughts on young talent and the potential for contract extensions. Follo...

The baseball industry does not shut down during Thanksgiving week. As the Cubs continue to scour the pitching market, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney sit down to answer good questions from listeners. The Athletic writers share some of the names they’re hearing, in terms of bullpen targets. Plus a breakdown of the Phil Maton deal and some trade possibilities. Listen to North Side Territory throug...

With the offseason activity beginning to pick up in that window after the GM meetings and before Thanksgiving, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney focus on the two players who received qualifying offers from the Cubs. Imanaga will return to Wrigley Field on a one-year, $22.025 million contract while the Cubs are positioned to get a draft pick if/when Tucker signs with a different team...

Do the Cubs have enough young talent to sustain a perennial playoff contender? Geoff Pontes joins the show to discuss his top-10 rankings of the organization’s best prospects. In a wide-ranging conversation with The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney, the Baseball America writer shares his reporting on the farm system’s pitching deficit, as well as perspectives on the hitters who can mov...

Back from Las Vegas, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney compare notes after roaming The Cosmopolitan this week, trying to track down information on the Cubs. The two writers from The Athletic share what they heard and observed at the sport’s offseason kick-off event. Included in this episode: names the Cubs are targeting in free agency, an overall assessment of the pitching market and an update on...

The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are in Las Vegas for Major League Baseball’s GM meetings, reporting on the latest developments with the Cubs. At this traditional starting point for the offseason, the Cubs are signaling their intentions to think big with their pitching staff, not ruling out the top free agents. Listen to North Side Territory for a rundown on those early targets, th...

With the offseason underway, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney break down the latest happenings around a Cubs team that will be very busy this winter. What did Pete Crow-Armstrong learn from his Gold Glove-winning season? How will Jed Hoyer’s front office rebuild a bullpen almost entirely from scratch? And why do these early offseason moves seem overly conscious of the budget? Liste...

The Cubs made their first major offseason move by declining a three-year option to extend Shota Imanaga’s contract. In turn, the Japanese pitcher declined his player option for next season and elected to become a free agent. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney bring you both sides of this story, explaining why Chicago’s front office made this decision and how Imanaga will explore his...

With the World Series nearing a conclusion, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney take questions from listeners to give Cubs fans a preview of what to expect this winter. This edition of the mailbag gives insights into Jed Hoyer’s front office, the shape of the 2026 pitching staff and which players might be up for a contract extension. Follow North Side Territory all offseason for the l...

The Cubs are probably going to pour their resources into the pitching staff this offseason. Without making any moves, the club could right now put together a competitive 2026 Opening Day lineup. But where’s the fun in that? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney go over the names you need to know this winter – and there are several familiar faces on this list of hitters with the potentia...

Already shifting into offseason mode, it’s not too early to start thinking about which pitchers the Cubs will be targeting this winter, both via trades and the free-agent market. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney give you five names to consider, based on their reporting and institutional knowledge, as well as the reasons why (or why not) they would fit into the organization’s plans....

After winning a playoff round and then losing to a small-market rival, the Cubs are trying to build a team for the next level, which would mean finishing ahead of the Brewers in the division and seriously competing for a World Series trophy. Changes to the roster are inevitable. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney give you their best guesses on who won’t be back, and how the front off...

After processing Jed Hoyer’s entire end-of-season news conference, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share their latest takeaways. The answers (and non-answers) from Chicago’s president of baseball operations were telling. The Wrigley Field interview room provided a good snapshot of where the Cubs are as an organization (and where they still have to go). The offseason will revolve a...

The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney take you inside the visiting clubhouse in Milwaukee, where Cubs players processed the disappointing end to a good (but not great) season. What happened against the Brewers? How is there a chance that Kyle Tucker comes back to Wrigley Field? And where does the front office turn its focus now? Listen to North Side Territory throughout the offseason fo...

In winning two elimination games, the Cubs put the pressure back on the Brewers as this National League Division Series returns to Milwaukee. The fans sensed the moment, too, chanting “Fred-dy! Fred-dy!” as Ian Happ finally delivered his signature postseason moment against Brewers ace Freddy Peralta. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share their reporting and insights from the clubh...

Fans will get at least one more night of playoff baseball at Wrigley Field this year. An electric atmosphere greeted the Cubs on Wednesday as they returned home facing an 0-2 deficit in their best-of-five National League Division Series against the rival Brewers. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share their takeaways from Game 3, outline the pitching plans for Thursday’s Game 4 and...

What a letdown for Cubs fans, and a team that believed it could do something special. A National League Division Series that began with so much promise and potential has fizzled out, at least from a Chicago perspective. The Brewers keep showing why they were the best team in baseball during the regular season, and how this is playing out has to be embarrassing for the Cubs as an organization. The...

After all the hype surrounding this grudge match, the Brewers came out and completely dominated the Cubs at the start of this National League Division Series. What just happened? How do the Cubs regroup? Where does this best-of-five matchup go from here? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are reporting from Milwaukee, giving you insights directly from the field and the clubhouse. Dow...