Cubs Talk Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 305: Cubs remain quiet on the trade market Dec 11, 2019

Show notes

The Cubs Talk podcast comes your way from Day 3 of the Winter Meetings in San Diego.

Former Cubs GM Jim Hendry joins Kap. They reminisce about the day Hendry signed Ted Lilly before undergoing a heart procedure (1:00) and he discusses his new role working in the Yankees front office. (3:00) Plus, Kap asks him how much pride does he have seeing two of his draft picks — Javy Baez and Willson Contreras — become all-stars (10:00) and Hendry discusses the biggest trade that almost happened and how it would have affected the 2008 season. (11:40)

Then Tony Andracki joins Kap with the latest Cubs news... or lack thereof. (20:00)

Ep. 304: Will Jose Quintana be wearing a different uniform in 2020? Dec 10, 2019

Show notes

Kap and Tony are in San Diego for Day 2 of the Winter Meetings.

Theo Epstein met the media for the first time Monday night. Kap and Tony react to his comments on how free agency affects his team's ability to make a trade. (1:00). Plus Theo discusses all the talk about his payroll limitations and how Yu Darvish's performance at the end of 2019 helps that. (6:00)

Will Jose Quintana be wearing a different uniform in 2020? The guys discuss that. (10:00)

Joe Girardi joins Kap to discuss the state of the Phillies, former Cub Jake Arrieta and the state of catching with robot umps a possibility in the future. (13:00)

Ep. 303: Kap and Tony in San Diego to discuss trades and if Castellanos is returning to Wrigley Dec 09, 2019

Show notes

Kap and Tony are at the Winter Meetings in San Diego.

1:30- The Cubs have already shed a lot of payroll but they still have a ways to go. How is that possible? Tony crunched the numbers to find out.

5:00 - Tony and Kap react to Tom Ricketts' comments to the Sports Business Journal about the team's inability to develop pitching and how the Wrigley Field renovations have affected the budget.

9:30- Will the Cubs trade a member of their core this week? Tony says don't get your hopes up, Cubs fans. Kap is a little more optimistic. Plus would the Cubs be better off dealing Jose Quintana now as he enters the final season of his deal? (17:30)

21:00- The Cubs farm system isn't what it used to be. Tony talks about the prospects that are there now that might help the big league club.

22:30- Is the door closed on Nicholas Castellanos returning to Wrigley? Tony says there's a light bit of an opening. He explains why.

Ep. 302: NL contenders making moves Dec 06, 2019

Show notes

On this edition of the podcast, Tony Andracki, Nate Poppen and Tim Stebbins wonder: What are the Brewers doing this winter? The trio also discuss the latest moves by the Braves and Phillies and how the Cubs fit into the National League playoff race at the moment. Plus, they react to rumors regarding Willson Contreras and Nicholas Castellanos and weigh in on whether or not Nico Hoerner should be the Opening Day second baseman.

01:00 - What are the Milwaukee Brewers doing so far this winter? What does the Omar Narváez trade haul say for the market for Willson Contreras?

06:30 - Get ready for every Cubs trade rumor this winter to be linked to the Angels and Joe Maddon.

08:00 - Are the Brewers the 4th best team in the N.L. Central right now?

10:30 - After the Cole Hamels and Zack Wheeler signings, where do the Cubs stack up against the rest of the contenders in the National League?

13:00 - How will Cole Hamels be viewed by Cubs fans after spending just a season and a half at Wrigley Field.

14:40 - The Cubs are rumored to still be "interested" in Nicholas Castellanos. How would he fit in the outfield long term? What would signing Castellanos allow the Cubs to do with the rest of their roster?

18:45 - Should Nico Hoerner be on the Cubs roster out of Spring Training? What would Hoerner making the team mean for the construction of the roster and infield depth?

Ep. 301: Goodbye Addison Russell Dec 04, 2019

Show notes

On this edition of the Cubs Talk Podcast, David Kaplan, Tony Andracki and Jeff Nelson discuss the end of the Addison Russell era, how the Reds may now be the favorites in the NL Central, and where Cole Hamels may pitch in 2020.

01:00Should the Cubs have gotten rid of Addison Russell a year ago?

06:00Javy Baez' took his game to the next level while filling in for Russell

07:30Any chance Kris Bryant gets moved this offseason?

11:00Could Cole Hamels be pitching on theother side of town next year?

15:30Are the Reds now the favorite in the NL Central?

19:00Changes in the Cubs coaching staff

21:00Strange memories from past Winter Meetings

Ep. 300: Extension time for Javy? Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

01:00 - Is Javy Baez going to be the first Cubs "core" player to sign a new contract extension?

04:00 - Could a potential Baez deal be the first domino to fall for the Cubs this winter?

06:30 - There could be some actual news at the Winter Meetings - Taking a quick look at the Brewers offseason outlook.

10:30 - Was Craig Kimbrel a cautionary tale? Will another team wait again to sign a pitcher in order to not give up a draft pick?

14:30 - There are still plenty of things to be thankful for when it comes to the Cubs.

Ep. 299: Laying out a Báez extension and why Contreras’ value spiked Nov 22, 2019

Show notes

On the latest Cubs Talk Podcast, David Kaplan gives his thoughts on what a Javier Báez extention could look like. He also discusses how Yasmani Grandal signing with the White Sox increases Willson Contreras' trade value.

1:25 - Will Cubs and Javy Báez agree on a contract extension?

3:44 - If Báez doesn't want to commit long term, do Cubs trade him now?

6:15 - Kap gives his proposed deal that Báez could accept.

8:41 - Will Cubs lock up other key players with same type of mentality?

10:52 - Will Cubs be willing to trade Willson Contreras?

11:55 - With Grandal to the White Sox, teams might be more willing to part with their best prospects with Contreras in a deal.

Ep. 298: MLB Insider Jeff Passan talks about Cubs offseason plans Nov 19, 2019

Show notes

02:00 Jeff Passan predicts a significant trade or two for the Cubs this winter

03:00 Passan says the Cubs will be retooling, not rebuilding, because they still have good players

04:00 Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras are the most likley to be traded

05:00 Passan explains the perception of Contreras around the league

07:00 How active will the Cubs be in free agency?

08:00 Any chance the DH will come to the NL soon?

09:00 What would a Cubs team with Anthony Rendon look like (even thought it's very unlikely)

12:00 What are you more disappointed in? The haul the Cubs gave up to the White Sox or the results they have gotten from Jose Quintana?

19:00 Is Willson Contreras the most likely Cubs player to be traded this winter?

21:00 If the DH is eventually coming to the National League, is it worth hanging on to Kyle Schwarber even longer?

Ep. 297: GM meetings takeaways Nov 15, 2019

Show notes

On the latest Cubs Talk Podcast, Tony Andracki, Jeff Nelson, Nate Poppen and Tim Stebbins discuss where the Cubs stand after the GM meetings, if the Cubs could get equal value back in a trade involving Kris Bryant, and how the Astros allegedly stealing signs affected Yu Darvish.

01:00Takeaways from the GM Meetings

03:00Addition of Andy Green as bench coach

07:00Adding Mike Napoli to David Ross' coaching staff

09:00Astros allegedly stealing signs

11:00How the alleged sign stealing affected Yu Darvish

17:00The Scott Boras circus at the GM Meetings

19:00The trade market for Kris Bryant

23:00Is Willson Contreras the most likley candidate to be traded this offseason

27:00Reliever Will Smith off the market

29:00Could Brandon Morrow be back in the organization in 2020?

Ep. 296: Ned Colletti interview Nov 13, 2019

Show notes

On the latest Cubs Talk Podcast, David Kaplan talks with former Cubs front office executive and Dodgers GM Ned Colletti on how to fix a major league roster, when to deal a player who is heading into free agency, and how a trade he didn't make with LA helped bring

01:30How he moved from MLB to being a scout in the NHL

04:30How to fix a major league roster

06:40On building the roster when other teams know your weaknesses

09:30When to deal a player who is facing free agency

11:30Balancing trying to win now vs. building a team for a sustained run

14:30On how a GM can't depend only on signing a big free agent

18:00On his time with the Cubs in the 1980's

19:45On how a GM deals with Scott Boras

22:00On how a GM deals with talk radio and the media

26:00On how he almost got CC Sabathia on the Dodgers for 2008 playoff run

28:00On how not trading for Ryan Dempster helped bring Kyle Hendricks to the Cubs