Cubs Now

One of the greatest relievers in franchise history stops by the Cubs Weekly Podcast. Pedro Strop chats with Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki about memories from the 2016 World Series run, his favorite moments at Wrigley Field and plenty more from his Cubs career. Plus, Strop fills us in on what's coming next in his career and when he plans to return to Chicago.

The Cubs introduced Dansby Swanson Wednesday morning at Wrigley Field. Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki provide their biggest takeaways from the press conference and how Swanson will fit in with this Cubs team. Plus, Swanson explains why the Cubs hold a special place in his heart and Martinez explains how Carter Hawkins and Jon Lester helped sell Swanson on coming to Chicago. Hear from Hawkins, Jed...

The Cubs made their offseason splash, signing free agent Dansby Swanson to a multi-year deal, per sources. The Cubs Weekly Podcast breaks down the signing and what comes next for the Cubs. Tony Andracki and Andy Martinez analyze the move for the Cubs and what it means to their roster for 2023. The pair then discuss what the move means for some of the other players on the roster, like Nick Madrigal...

Cubs news has been coming in fast and furious during the Winter Meetings in San Diego and our Cubs Weekly Podcast panel breaks it all down on location. Ryan Dempster joins Tony Andracki and Andy Martinez to analyze all the craziness around MLB, the Cubs' reported signings of Cody Bellinger and Jameson Taillon, Pat Hughes' Hall of Fame call and Willson Contreras' rumored deal in St. Louis. How much...

The 2022 MLB Winter Meetings are underway in San Diego, bringing a special edition of the Cubs Weekly Podcast. And the Cubs brought their own special addition to the table, in the form of the reported signing of former MVP Cody Bellinger. Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki break down how Bellinger will fit with the Cubs, what he brings to the table and why there's reason for untapped optimism surroun...

Ryan Dempster drops by the Cubs Weekly Podcast to reminisce on his 9-year Cubs career with Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki. Dempster tells tales of what it was like to be teammates with Greg Maddux, how incredible Derrek Lee's 2005 season was, 2007-08 memories, the differences between Lou Piniella and Dusty Baker and much more. Plus, Dempster also shares his strategy during a benches clearing braw...

Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki discuss the Cubs' early-offseason roster decisions, which included outrighting 9 players to the minors and selecting the contract of 4 prospects to add to the 40-man roster. Willson Contreras and Jason Heyward are officially gone and the Cubs also made a minor trade with the Tampa Bay Rays that could pay off huge dividends in the 2023 team. Plus, Martinez analyzes t...

MLB’s offseason kicked off in earnest this week with the annual General Managers Meetings at the Conrad at Resorts World in Las Vegas. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and general manager Carter Hawkins convened with the rest of their counterparts from across the league this week for meetings, breakout sessions and plenty more. Taylor McGregor and Andy Martínez were in Las Vegas to...

Chicago native and Cubs radio analyst Ron Coomer stops by the Cubs Weekly Podcast to revisit Game 7 of the 2016 World Series with Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki. Six years after the greatest game in Cubs franchise history, the trio discusses the biggest takeaways from that magical night in Cleveland and relive the emotional roller coaster. Plus, hear what Coomer did during the rain delay, how he...

Cubs vice president/director of pitching and assistant GM Craig Breslow joins the Cubs Weekly Podcast to explain to hosts Tony Andracki and Andy Martinez exactly what his job entails on a day-to-day and week-to-week basis. Breslow also provides a peek behind the curtain as to how the organization's pitching infrastructure has grown in the last few years and what they still hope to accomplish in co...

Our Cubs Weekly panel of Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki answer reader questions ahead of a pivotal offseason. From best free agent fits to offseason predictions, we attempt to answer every question fired our way - including some fun off-the-wall queries. 00:56 - Who are some Cubs players that you think will break out next season? 03:47 - Was Jar Jar secretly a dark lord of the Sith (the true ‘pha...

Bruce Levine, Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki dissect Jed Hoyer's end-of-season press conference and provide the main takeaways from the Cubs president of baseball operation's hour-long session with media. Plus, the podcast panel provides predictions for the Cubs offseason, including the biggest areas of need on the roster and a bold prediction for the winter. The trio also reflects on the 2022 se...

Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki attempt to answer a slew of questions surrounding the Cubs pitching staff entering the offseason and looking ahead to 2023. What are reasonable expectations for Kyle Hendricks next year? Where do Hayden Wesneski, Keegan Thompson, Javier Assad, Adbert Alzolay and Adrian Sampson fit into the pitching staff next year? Plus, what are the most important storylines to wat...

Carlos Peña drops by the Cubs Weekly Podcast to explain what his Hispanic heritage means to him and what it was like coming up through the minor leagues as a Hispanic ballplayer. Plus, Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki evaluate what role Zach McKinstry and Michael Hermosillo might have on the 2023 Cubs after a recent stretch of solid play. Martinez also details his unique find in the story of Alfons...

Triple-A Iowa broadcaster Alex Cohen joins Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki on the Cubs Weekly Podcast. The trio discusses the upcoming MLB rule changes - like larger bases and pitch clock - that have been at the Triple-A level all season. Plus, updates on players like Adbert Alzolay, Alexander Canario, Brennen Davis and how Caleb Kilian has fared since his cup of coffee in the big leagues. Cohen a...

Hayden Wesneski turned in one of the most dominant MLB debuts in Cubs recent history but his pitching may not have been the most impressive part of his evening. Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki explain on the latest Cubs Weekly Podcast and chat about Wesneski's role for the rest of the season and in 2023. Plus, the duo discusses Wade Miley's return, next steps for Justin Steele, Keegan Thompson and...

We're at the point in the season where the Cubs are using the final few weeks to evaluate younger players. Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki break it down on the latest Cubs Weekly Podcast, including Jeremiah Estrada and Brendon Little making their MLB debuts this week in Toronto. Plus, why Cubs veterans believe the team is on the right track and how they can help young pitchers like Justin Steele a...

Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki dissect the Cubs' pitching staff with the addition of several young arms. How is the bullpen shaking out? What does the 2023 rotation look like? Plus, Lance Brozdowski chats with Brennen Davis on his injury recovery while Martinez and Andracki provide a slew of other prospect updates. The duo also discusses the importance of winning over the final six weeks of the s...

Lance Brozdowski stops by the Cubs Weekly Podcast to share his new Top 25 Cubs prospect rankings and make Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki smarter. Brozdowski breaks down his list, what went into his reasoning behind who is ranked where and what he struggled with most as he put together the order. Plus, the panel breaks down the depth of the system, some new additions to the rankings, which players...

The Cubs won big at Field of Dreams - both in the game and in the experience at the magical place. Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki relive the best moments from the momentous day in Iowa and recall how the Cubs took in the event. Plus, catch an interview with Murray Cook, the groundskeeper at the Field of Dreams. In the second segment, our duo discusses the Jason Heyward news, Franmil Reyes' additi...

The MLB trade deadline came and went and there was no shortage of surprising moves - by the Cubs and around the league. Juan Soto and Josh Hader are among the stars switching teams while the Cubs held on to a pair of stars of their own in Willson Contreras and Ian Happ. Even one of the moves the Cubs did make - trading away young reliever Scott Effross - was surprising, though the trio of veterans...

Cubs GM Carter Hawkins sits down with Cole Wright to discuss Willson Contreras' future, Nico Hoerner's emergence and more. Plus, the Cubs Weekly panel of Elise Menaker, Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki recap the emotional series at Wrigley Field for Contreras and Ian Happ. The trio also previews the upcoming trade deadline and the stories they're following leading up to the busy day. 00:46 - Trivia...

Cubs vice president of scouting Dan Kantrovitz drops by the Cubs Weekly Podcast to dissect the organization's 2022 MLB Draft haul.  Lance Brozdowski and Tony Andracki chat with Kantrovitz about the run on pitching (16 of the 20 selections were pitchers), two-way players, the timing of the draft and how the pre-draft plan came to fruition. 

Elise Menaker, Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki chronicle the journey to the MLB All-Star game for a couple of Cubs - Ian Happ and Willson Contreras. Plus: An All-Star themed trivia question, takeaways from the series with Baltimore and where the Orioles are at in their rebuild and how Kyle Hendricks' injury affects the rotation. - (00:28) Trivia - (02:45) Ian Happ's All-Star journey - (10:03) Will...

The theme of this week's podcast is Wrigley Field, as two members of the "Friendly Confines" crew stop by to detail their day-to-day duties. Mira Emma, a groundscrew intern and an Iowa State soccer player, joins Elise Menaker for an interview on how she helps get the playing surface ready for the Cubs. Also, security guard Fabian De Hoyos chats with Andy Martinez about his sudden rise to fame afte...