The Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast

Brett and Michael are back for the forty-fifth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law), and it’s been a very busy week . The Cubs finally made their biggest move of the offseason—and one of the biggest in franchise history— signing third baseman Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal. With deferrals lowering the luxury tax hit, the Cubs pushed decisively into t...

Brett and Michael are back for the forty-fourth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law), returning after a brief holiday break. While the Cubs were mostly quiet during that stretch, the calm didn’t last long. Right before recording, the Cubs finally made their long-anticipated move for a controllable starting pitcher, acquiring Edward Cabrera from the Marlins in a deal...

Brett and Michael are back for the forty-third episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! With the offseason rolling along, the guys check in on the latest Cubs news, rumors, and roster questions as the front office continues shaping the team for 2026. They discuss where things stand across the roster, what types of moves still feel likely in the coming weeks, and how th...

Brett and Michael are back for the forty-second episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! It’s been a quiet Winter Meetings , but the Cubs have made another meaningful addition to the bullpen. They break down Chicago’s signing of lefty Hoby Milner , a move that felt inevitable after last offseason’s near-miss. Milner profiles as an ideal fit for the middle innings, and...

Brett and Michael are back for the forty-first episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! With the Winter Meetings a week away , the guys cover the latest Cubs news and rumors as the offseason slowly begins to take shape. They talk about the Cubs’ minor league deal with infielder Scott Kingery , how it fits the team’s low-risk depth-building approach, and where things st...

Brett and Michael are back for the fortieth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! With the offseason still in its early stages, the guys aren’t expecting a major wave of moves just yet—but the Cubs did make their first signing of the winter , adding veteran reliever Phil Maton on a two-year, $14.5 million deal with a 2028 club option and annual incentives. They disc...

Brett and Michael are back for the thirty-ninth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! It’s a busy week for roster logistics, with the 40-man roster deadline and the Qualifying Offer acceptance deadline both hitting. The guys walk through how the Rule 5 Draft works and what those roster decisions mean for the Cubs heading into the winter. They also react to Shota Ima...

Brett and Michael are back for the thirty-eighth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! Not much movement yet in the Cubs’ offseason, but the big storyline remains Shota Imanaga’s qualifying offer decision , which must come by November 18 . Reports suggest Imanaga is expected to decline the $22 million offer , with his camp exploring what his market might look like i...

Brett and Michael are back for the thirty-seventh episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! They discuss the Cubs’ decision to decline Shota Imanaga’s option , what it means for his future, and whether a Qualifying Offer could still be in play.  They also touch on Shane Bieber’s surprising one-year deal to stay in Toronto, how front offices are approaching short-term pi...

Brett and Michael are back for the thirty-sixth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! With the baseball season nearing its end, the guys talk through a range of topics—from dominant postseason pitching performances to what lies ahead for the Cubs. They start by discussing Trey Yesavage’s breakout playoff and World Series run , and where a pitcher with his stuff woul...

Brett and Michael are back for the thirty-fifth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! It’s that tricky part of the offseason where storylines are just starting to form, but there’s still plenty to dig into. The guys discuss the Dodgers’ rumored interest in Kyler Tucker , and how it fits the trend of big-name players being tied to big Cubs offseasons—though major fir...

Brett and Michael are back for the thirty-fourth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law) —the first episode of the offseason. They reflect on what was a memorable 2025 campaign, one that ended just two runs short of the NLCS after falling 3–1 to the Brewers in Game 5 of the NLDS. The guys talk through the sense of closure following the season, the excitement of five po...

Brett and Michael are back for the thirty-third episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The Cubs are fighting to stay alive as they head into NLDS Game 4 tonight (Thursday) at Wrigley Field, trailing the Brewers 2-1. They recap last night’s thrilling 4-3 win that kept the series alive and take a hard look at the defensive miscues that cost the Cubs in their two losses...

Brett and Michael are back for the thirty-second episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The Cubs are moving on after taking down the Padres in the Wild Card round—their first playoff series victory in seven years —and the guys are amped. They reflect on the Padres series, noting how close it really was and how both teams leaned heavily on their bullpens and matchup m...

Brett and Michael are back for the thirty-first episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! With the postseason right around the corner, the guys cover a number of key injury and pitching storylines. Kyle Tucker could return as soon as this weekend in a DH role after meeting with his personal PTs in Tampa, but questions remain about whether he’ll be at full strength. Cade...

Brett and Michael are back for the thirtieth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The Cubs have officially clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2020 after sweeping the Pirates, and the guys reflect on how far this roster has come. They debate whether this team has the pieces to make a deep October run and what a realistic championship path looks like. T...

Brett and Michael are back together for the twenty-ninth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The Cubs dropped their series to the Nationals and opened the Braves set with another loss, pushing their skid to three games. Still, they remain the only team in baseball without a four-game losing streak this season and hold the fifth-best record overall. The guys talk a...

Brett is flying solo for the twenty-eighth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! He recaps a strong stretch of baseball for the Cubs, including series wins over both the Rockies at Coors Field and the Braves at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have widened their Wild Card lead thanks to some stumbles by the Padres, but the main spotlight goes to Cade Horton. His second half...

Brett and Michael are back for the twenty-seventh episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! They discuss the rocky start to the Giants series, including Matthew Boyd’s rough outing despite San Francisco’s struggles against lefties leading into the matchup. The guys also dive into the subtle shift in expectations as the Cubs pivot from chasing the NL Central crown to foc...

Brett and Michael are back for the twenty-sixth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! They recap a pivotal stretch against the Brewers, where the Cubs took three of five games and showed plenty of reasons to believe they’re the stronger club—even if the standings still lean Milwaukee’s way. The guys dig into why the Brewers seem to consistently out-perform their ros...

Brett and Michael are back for the twenty-fifth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The guys react to Miguel Amaya’s ankle injury—suffered in his first game back from months on the Injured List—which thankfully came back as a sprain with no fracture. They also talk about Owen Caissie’s call-up in the wake of Amaya’s injury, how he fits into the Cubs’ lineup, and h...

Brett and Michael are back for the twenty-fourth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law), and they’re joined once again by Dave from Feldco! The guys react to what felt like a disappointing trade deadline for the Cubs and evaluate the state of the team heading into August. Despite the lack of big moves, the Cubs remain one of just two teams in baseball who have yet to...

Brett and Michael are back for the twenty-second episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! They break down the Cubs’ series loss to the Royals and reflect on the team’s recent .500-level play, which has allowed the Brewers to continue closing the gap in the NL Central.   With the trade deadline approaching, the guys also dig into some of the names being floated around a...

Brett and Michael are back for the twenty-first episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! They kick things off with a quick recap of the All-Star Game—including the swing-off finale—and explain why that particular twist has no place in the regular season. They also highlight Pete Crow-Armstrong embracing his status as a role model and how Kyle Tucker’s deadpan, low-ener...

Brett and Michael are back for the twentieth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The Cubs wrapped up their week with a dominant 8-1 win over the Twins and an unforgettable Fourth of July performance, crushing eight home runs in an 11-3 win over the Cardinals—a new franchise record. They spotlight Michael Busch’s red-hot stretch, including his three-homer game and...