North Side Territory: A Chicago Cubs Podcast

Too soon to rule out the Cubs signing their new star player to a long-term contract extension? The Alex Bregman negotiations were not a promising sign. But it’s not all doom and gloom from Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. Tucker is a legitimate franchise player who can make this a special season at Wrigley Field. And the front office is not necessarily done making moves in spring...

Now that the Alex Bregman saga has ended, the Cubs can look forward and focus on what they have in Arizona. With that in mind, Patrick Mooney joins Sahadev Sharma with the latest from Mesa. The Athletic writers discuss the big opportunity in front of top prospect Matt Shaw, Nico Hoerner’s encouraging progress after offseason surgery, and the pitching plans for Ben Brown, Cade Horton and more. Two...

In the end, it wasn’t even that close. Bregman Watch concluded with the All-Star third baseman choosing the Red Sox, the chance to hit at Fenway Park and a deal that the Cubs’ front office ultimately could not match. Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic explain the pressure that Jed Hoyer is under, ownership’s tight control over the budget for baseball operations and where the Cubs go...

The scene in Arizona as spring training begins on Super Bowl Sunday. Patrick Mooney joins Sahadev Sharma from Arizona as The Athletic’s Cubs beat writers break down the latest news and notes. With pitchers and catchers officially reporting, there are two main questions: Is Jed Hoyer done making moves? And where is Alex Bregman? To claim your Double your Roses offer, go to 1800Flowers.com/ft Two ea...

With spring training about to start, at least one projection system is bullish about the Cubs, and the offseason still isn’t over yet. Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic share what they’re hearing about the team’s internal win projections and how Alex Bregman would fit into those plans. Until that waiting game is over, the Cubs have to be considered a serious contender for the All-S...

With spring training around the corner, Baseball America prospect writer Geoff Pontes joins the show to discuss why he’s so high on Matt Shaw, who could be the Opening Day third baseman next month. The conversation with Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic then gets into Cade Horton and whether the buzz is starting to fade around the top pitching prospect. Other hot topics include: wh...

Even with the report dates fast approaching, the offseason still isn’t over yet. This is also when the Cubs like to be opportunistic. What does that mean this time? Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic explore those options, and share their first impressions of new closer Ryan Pressly. Plus, some context around the San Diego trade rumors (Dylan Cease, Michael King) that typically draw...

With the Cubs and Astros making another deal, Chandler Rome, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney get together for another crossover episode. How much does Pressly have left in the tank? And how much did the addition of Josh Hader bother Pressly last season? The reporters from The Athletic discuss what Pressly meant to the Astros, and what the All-Star reliever will bring to the Wrigley Field clubhou...

Uh, no. But the offseason isn’t over yet, as Cubs officials might say. What’s next is the primary topic of conversation for Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney, The Athletic’s Cubs beat writers.  They share the bullpen names that they’ve heard, and break down how those relievers would fit at Wrigley Field.  Still, it’s been an offseason of mixed messages around the Cubs, a big-market team that hasn’...

Sammy Sosa was the main headliner, but he wasn’t the only big name at the team’s annual winter event. For a full recap, Brett Taylor of Bleacher Nation joins Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney, The Athletic writers on the Cubs beat. Together, they explain Sosa’s return to Chicago and what the Cubs are trying to accomplish in the final innings of the offseason. Where will the Cubs pivot after missin...

Chandler Rome, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic get together for a scouting report on Kyle Tucker and how his personality will mesh in the Wrigley Field clubhouse, whether he is ready to be a face of the franchise, and what to make of his arbitration case.  From there, they discuss Alex Bregman’s market and potential willingness to accept a short-term deal. Could the Cubs be a fit...

In a wide-ranging conversation, the All-Star pitcher gives his overview of the Cubs’ offseason so far.  Steele chats with Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic about the Kyle Tucker addition, the arbitration process, Roki Sasaki’s free agency, the anticipated reaction to Sammy Sosa this weekend at Cubs Convention, and more.  Get up to 10 FREE meals and a free high protein item for life...

Welcome to Chicago. Thursday’s filing deadline came and went without an agreement between the Cubs and their newly acquired All-Star outfielder, moving both sides toward an arbitration hearing. What does this mean for the long-term relationship? Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic discuss the bad optics and peculiar timing of this development. Plus, there’s an introduction to the pit...

Until proven otherwise, this still looks like an 83-win team. Unless the Cubs capitalize on this opportunity and continue the momentum that started with the Kyle Tucker trade. How will Cody Bellinger’s salary be reallocated? Could the bullpen market be lining up for Jed Hoyer’s front office? Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic are back to analyze the smaller roster moves made around...

Before you know it, pitchers and catchers will be reporting for spring training in Arizona.  But before the Cubs Convention and the final stages of the offseason, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney look back on the five biggest stories around the 2024 team.  From the shocking Craig Counsell hire to the pressure building around Jed Hoyer’s front office, the writers from The Athletic have you covered...

With the holidays approaching, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney take questions from listeners and readers. The reporting duo from The Athletic get into Jed Hoyer’s boldest move yet, what the priorities will be for the rest of the winter, whether Roki Sasaki and Corbin Burnes are in play, and where the Opening Day payroll will end up. Two easy ways to support the show: Leave us a nice rating/revie...

In an open letter, Sammy Sosa acknowledged making “mistakes,” finally taking the step that Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts required for the former slugger to be welcomed back into the fold. Why had Sosa been estranged from the organization for so long? Why did this rollout feel so awkward? And will Sosa actually show up for Cubs Convention next month? The Athletic’s Cubs beat writers, Sahadev Sharma an...

For a team that appeared to be stuck at the start of the offseason, the Cubs have reimagined their roster by acquiring Kyle Tucker from the Astros and moving Cody Bellinger to the Yankees.  Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic break down both deals: How do the Cubs pivot with the money that was allocated for Bellinger? Would Tucker consider signing a long-term contract extension? And...

It’s about time. The Cubs finally made a big move to acquire one of the best players in the game. Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic break down all angles of the Kyle Tucker deal with the Astros. What did the Cubs give up? Why is the front office operating with more urgency? What’s next at Wrigley Field? We’re about to find out. Support NST! Please leave this podcast page a rating a...

Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic run down what they heard in Dallas during one of baseball’s signature events.  It all starts with Kyle Tucker and a potential deal with the Astros, but the Cubs are active on several fronts.  With the price of pitching soaring, there’s a breakdown of what a Justin Steele contract extension might look like, and an explanation of why the Cubs are ser...

Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are reporting from the Winter Meetings, where the Cubs are trying to line up a deal with the Astros for Kyle Tucker, a star hitter who would transform their offense and represent a big splash for an organization that needs impact talent.  What does that mean for Seiya Suzuki and Cody Bellinger? The Athletic’s Cubs beat writers share what they’re hearing in the lob...

With the winter meetings approaching, Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon chatted with Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic about the latest happenings around the team.  They get into the Matthew Boyd signing, why pitchers are getting paid this winter, and what to make of another round of Cody Bellinger trade rumors. Taillon, who’s always a great interview, gives his perspective on the Cubs’...

Adding another piece to their rotation, the Cubs are betting on the upside that Matthew Boyd showed during Cleveland’s playoff run. But this two-year, $29 million deal for a starter with an injury history comes with several questions. Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic break down why the Cubs targeted Boyd, whether this is the extent of the rotation upgrades, and what they're hearin...

The action within the baseball industry typically picks up after the Thanksgiving break. With some moves already in the works and the winter meetings fast approaching, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic answer questions from listeners who want to know more about the Isaac Paredes trade, Yusei Kikuchi’s deal with the Angels and the overall direction of a team that has a lot to prove...

With the Cubs out of the running for the best-of-the-best free agents, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney try to explain what’s going on in Wrigleyville. If Juan Soto and Corbin Burnes aren’t coming to the North Side, what does a best-case offseason look like? Is this more on the Ricketts family ownership group or Jed Hoyer’s front office? The Athletic’s two Cubs beat writers answers questions from...