Cubs Now

Imanaga, Bellinger and the Cubs offseason

Bruce Levine stops by the Cubs Weekly Podcast to chat with Tony Andracki about Shōta Imanaga and how the Japanese southpaw could fit in Chicago. Also, what's the latest on the Cody Bellinger market? Are things trending in a positive direction for a potential reunion with the Cubs? Plus, what other moves could Jed Hoyer make this offseason? Levine and Andracki also preview the 2024 Cubs Convention, including the people they're most interested in hearing from and the panels they can't wait to watch.

Justin Grimm

Former Cubs reliever Justin Grimm joins the podcast, chatting with Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki about what he's been up to lately and his journey in baseball. Grimm reflects on his career, which included 263 appearances over 5 years with the Cubs. He tells stories from the epic 2015-16 Cubs seasons, shares the moment he knew the team was going to win it all, what it was like playing for Joe Maddon and much more. Grimm also reveals his favorite teammates and why Anthony Rizzo meant so much to him personally.

Best of 2023

Recapping the year that was on the Cubs Weekly Podcast as Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki discuss the best moments and interviews. Snippets include: -Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon reading funny Tweets -Former Cubs reliever Pedro Strop on the time he homered off Anthony Rizzo -Miguel Montero on the 9th and 10th inning of Game 7 -Ted Lilly's favorite Ryan Dempster story -Mike Fontenot chronicles Aramis Ramírez's epic walk-off in 2007 -Kyle Farnsworth shares his perspective on viral fight with Paul Wilson -Adbert Alzolay's mentality out of Cubs bullpen -Dexter Fowler on playing for both sides of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry -VP of scouting Dan Kantrovitz on the Cubs' 1st round pick Matt Shaw -Thomas Ian Nicholas (aka Henry Rowengartner) describes filming "Rookie of the Year" at Wrigley Field -Carlos Peña analyzes Seiya Suzuki's hot end to the season -Bruce Levine and Andy Martínez explain why the Cubs made the switch to Craig Counsell as manager -Jon "Boog" Sciambi on his favorite part of the job

Free agent fits

The Cubs have been extremely quiet this offseason so we examine the fit for a pair of intriguing free agents: Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman. Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki explain why Chapman might not make the most sense for the Cubs in the long-term, even though he would be a big upgrade in the near future. A big part of that is because of what the Cubs have in house to cover third base - both already in the major leagues and coming up through the farm system. The panel also debates where Mike Tauchman fits on the 2024 Cubs as well as how a pair of active teams this offseason (Diamondbacks, Pirates) affect the Cubs moving forward. Plus, we look back at the Top 10 Cubs games of the 2023 season, which air on Marquee Sports Network each night from Dec. 22-31.

The post-Ohtani offseason

In the days since Shohei Ohtani landed a $700 million deal with the Dodgers, we've learned a lot about the contract and how it impacts the rest of the offseason. That includes ripple effects on the Cubs' winter. Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki analyze the Plan B for Jed Hoyer's front office, including how the trade market is materializing and why Ohtani's quirky contract means some bad news for the Cubs. Plus, what's the latest with Cody Bellinger and a potential reunion in Chicago? What does the offseason look like for the Cubs now? What does the future hold for Christopher Morel and will we see a big league move for the Cubs before the end of 2023?

Ohtani intrigue and trade market developments

The 2023 MLB Winter Meetings are over and it was a quiet week for the Cubs - and for the Shohei Ohtani market. The game's greatest player remains unsigned but there was some drama that followed him around throughout the week in Nashville. Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki have you covered on the latest Cubs Weekly Podcast, breaking down all the MLB news and notes. As time goes on, it looks more and more like the Cubs will be active in the trade market this winter, but who could they acquire and who would they give up? Plus, a variety of other updates: -What's the latest on Cody Bellinger? -Does the Juan Soto trade affect Bellinger's status? -Christopher Morel's future -Plans for Drew Smyly, Hayden Wesneski and Keegan Thompson

Fact or Fiction at the Winter Meetings

Rumors were swirling around at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tenn. and the Cubs Weekly Podcast helps sort through what was fact and fiction. Host Andy Martínez and Marquee Sports Network contributor Bruce Levine discuss where the Cubs stand in the race for superstar Shohei Ohtani. The pair then discuss where Christopher Morel stands in trade talks and who the Cubs are targeting in that department. Later in the podcast, the pair discuss their takeaways from Jed Hoyer, Carter Hawkins and Craig Counsell’s availabilities this week.

Hot stove with Boog Sciambi

The voice of the Cubs Jon "Boog" Sciambi stops by the Cubs Weekly Podcast. Sciambi chats with Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki on how his offseason is going as well as one of his favorite hobbies - his collection of around 150 pairs of shoes. Sciambi reflects back on his first 3 years in the booth for Cubs broadcasts, including his favorite part of the job and memorable moments. He also evaluates the 2023 Cubs season and where he sees the team moving forward. Sciambi - who has known Craig Counsell since 1997 - fills fans in on what to expect from the new Cubs manager and why he's so good at leading teams on the field. Plus, Sciambi provides his thoughts on the MLB Hot Stove season and how he consumes all the rumors and news throughout the winter.

What we learned from Counsell's introductory presser

Craig Counsell was introduced as the 56th manager in Cubs franchise history Monday at Wrigley Field. What did we learn from the press conference? Chris Emma joins Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki on the Cubs Weekly Podcast to provide their main takeaways from the press conference. Topics include why Counsell chose the Cubs, first impressions of the new manager, how this pairing came to be and how Counsell can directly - and indirectly - impact the Cubs' position in the standings in 2024 and beyond. Plus, what comes next for the Cubs? There are many decisions to be made on Counsell's coaching staff at a time where player acquisition is also paramount during the offseason.

A busy offseason begins

The Cubs have a new manager in Craig Counsell as the offseason kicks off and the Cubs Weekly Podcast broke it all down. Andy Martínez and Bruce Levine share why Jed Hoyer felt now was the time to pull the trigger and hire Counsell as their skipper. The pair discuss why the Cubs felt he was the right choice and how difficult it was to part ways with David Ross. Later in the podcast, the pair recap agent Scott Boras’ press conference, share some of his best one-liners and discuss the Cubs’ interest in Cody Bellinger. Levine offers some insight on the Cubs’ offseason plans. They also assess Christopher Morel’s move to first base in the Dominican Winter League.

A stunning move

A shocking managerial move leads to an emergency Cubs Weekly Podcast. Tim Stebbins and Tony Andracki break down the coaching swap as Craig Counsell is in and David Ross has been relieved of his duties as Cubs manager. Why did the Cubs make this move? What does this mean for the organization moving forward? How will this shake up the NL Central? Will the rest of the Cubs coaching staff be affected by the change? We analyze all the ripple effects of the aggressive move while Joe Girardi also lends his perspective as a former manager.

Offseason chatter with Jameson Taillon

Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon stops by the Cubs Weekly Podcast, joining Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki to discuss how he's experiencing Chicago in the offseason, a chat on fantasy football and the Bears plus his approach to the winter. Taillon detailed his journey to the Cubs, from the No. 2 overall selection in the 2010 MLB Draft (just behind Bryce Harper and ahead of Manny Machado) to pitching in New York with Anthony Rizzo, who sang praises of what it's like to play for the organization. In a couple fun segments to finish off the podcast, Taillon builds the perfect Cubs pitcher from individual traits and then plays a new game called Best of 7.

2023-24 offseason mailbag

Fans submitted their burning questions for the Cubs' 2023-24 offseason in the latest edition of the Cubs Weekly Podcast. Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki answer questions ranging from Cody Bellinger's future to top priorities for the Cubs this winter. Who are realistic free agent targets for the Cubs? What would a trade package for Pete Alonso or Juan Soto look like? How do the Cubs improve in clutch situations? Will Patrick Wisdom return in 2024? We answer these and more, including a rapid fire round of fun questions at the end of the podcast.

What Cubs can learn from 2023 postseason

The MLB playoffs are heating up and there is much to learn from how October has played out. Is securing a first-round bye actually an advantage? Will the success of the Phillies and Rangers motivate other teams to be more aggressive in free agency to build their rosters? And there is one important lesson the Cubs could take away from this postseason in how the best lineups are constructed. Plus, where do Hayden Wesneski and Keegan Thompson slot in on the 2024 Cubs? And among the most intriguing position groups this offseason, here's why first base/center field and the bullpen are the units that bear watching the most over the winter.

Youth Movement

The Cubs debuted plenty of rookies in 2023, including prospects like Jordan Wicks, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Daniel Palencia providing an interesting discussion: how does a team break young players into their roster while winning? Andy Martínez and Tim Stebbins discuss that on the latest edition of the Cubs Weekly Podcast. The pair analyze Crow-Armstrong’s debut and usage in his first few games at the big-league level. Later in the podcast, Martínez and Stebbins discuss Christopher Morel’s importance and where he could fit defensively in 2024. They also discuss Julian Merryweather’s role next season and the importance of the Cubs’ bullpen. The podcast wraps up with some postseason talk, including the NL Central’s struggles in the postseason of late and whether or not the playoff format is skewed against the top teams.

2023 season awards

Bruce Levine joins the Cubs Weekly Podcast to chat with Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki and answer the question about whether this 2023 season was a success or not. The panel also discusses what the offseason has in store for Cody Bellinger and whether or not he'll be back in 2024. Plus, the trio weighs in on the Cubs' support of David Ross and the resurgence of Kyle Hendricks. We also doled out 2023 Cubs season awards, including MVP, best moment and plenty more.

Assessing the 2023 season

Was the Cubs' 2023 season a success? Our podcast panel of Andy Martínez, Tim Stebbins and Tony Andracki attempt to answer that question while providing initial thoughts on the campaign. What went right for the Cubs? From Cody Bellinger's MVP-caliber season to Justin Steele's Cy Young bid. What went wrong for the team this year? From performance in close games to a lack of bullpen depth, our crew discusses all angles. Plus, will the Cubs bring back Bellinger?

Backs against the wall

The Cubs Weekly Podcast recapped a tough, two-day stretch that saw the Cubs lose a pair of games by 1 run in Atlanta. Tony Andracki, Andy Martínez and Tim Stebbins broke down the start of the series and looked ahead to the final 4 games of the regular season. The trio discussed the Cubs’ bullpen woes, how David Ross can piece together the end of a game and how the defense — a staple for this team — has struggled of late. Later in the podcast, the group discuss the impact of Jeimer Candelario returning to the lineup and what it means for the Cubs moving forward. As it stands, the Cubs have Justin Steele lined up to pitch game 162 against Milwaukee, which begs the question: if the Cubs get into the playoffs, who starts Game 1 of the Wild Card round? Andracki, Stebbins and Martínez discuss that and more in this week’s edition of the pod.

Down to the wire

One step forward, one step back

The Cubs had an epic offensive explosion Tuesday night at Wrigley Field to reclaim a playoff spot. Wednesday night brought about some question marks with Justin Steele's tough outing. We break it down on the latest Cubs Weekly Podcast with our panel of Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki. How will the Cubs utilize Marcus Stroman down the stretch? Plus, why the Nick Madrigal injury is an underrated important storyline, Alexander Canario's big night and an ever-fluid bullpen.