วีดีโอ

AAA Iowa vs MLB hitting. How good is the system? Would it be worth trading pitchers for Brett Bady NYM? Pitching is a strength. But can't figure out if hitting will be. Would the trade be a loss if they can't get Bady to his potential? What got Amaya and PCA back on track at MLB level?

Going into 2024 I had a lot of doubts about the Cubs actually being in contention. My assumption since the end of 2023 was that they wouldn't be playoff contenders until 2025. An now with how poorly 2024 went and the horrible situation Hoyer has put himself in with this roster it wouldn't shock me if that's pushed back to 2026. I've just got very little faith in the front offices capabilities to build a contending roster. They seem to be so fixated on acquiring a roster full of high floor/low celing players. That's why the team has a ton of good-great defenders that are below average-slightly above average offensively.

Sign Burns and Scott. Let the kids fill in the gaps.

Thank you Mick

If Hendrinks is gone then your going need starter(s)

I think if trades were up to me on this current Cub team ideally, I would trade away Dansby Swanson(even if that is not possible). Dansby looked much better last year in 2023. This year he was my biggest disappointment. He definitely did not live up to his contract. In my opinion, Cody lived up to his 2024 contract, since it was a tough year to hit, at least at Wrigley. I believe his BA, HR, RBIs were all better than Dansby's were. I believe Cody played 15-20 less games than Mr. Swanson. I consider him a much more important cog in the Cubs machine this season. Now, who would I be willing to trade this offseason? I would suggest Nico Hoerner no matter if that hurts me a bit to think of it. Dansby Swanson without any question only because time and again he would come to the plate in crucial situations throughout most of the season and fail! Ian Happ would also be on that list because as you said he could be hot on some days and ice cold on others at the plate. He could help bring us a superstar hitter and fielder. I am not sure what Isaac Paredes or Michael Busch could do in a trade situation but if they somehow could make our team that much better because of using them in a trade it might be acceptable. I think Busch might be someone worth keeping an eye on. He is only a rookie and was able to hit for a better average than two veterans like Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson. I have been watching this team for over 50 years and although this year was not very good I feel like some people forget how the Cubs can put up years and years of disappointing seasons. It is the history for most of the past 80 years of this team. I am only expressing my opinions here but I will have great hope for this team again next year when the 2025 season begins. I am hoping for more changes than a big consistent hitter too. We definitely need an ace starting pitcher as good as Corbin Burnes who can keep up or even exceed what Shota did this year. We also may need a closer and definitely could use another good piece or two in the bullpen.

Jed catching roo much crap from everyone...personally im sick of it....thos team us on cusp of big things

And address your bullpen

Sign Burns. Trade Paredes and prospects for a top 10 catcher (if available), play Shaw at 3B.

make sure we give Smyly and Wisdom long contracts. We are building a team around them.

Move happ and Nico let’s get stars.

The Cubs are an average team with average players. The players that really stand out for the future of the Cubs are Shoda, PCA. Suzuki, and maybe Steel. But I have no confidence in the small market mentally of the Cubs organization.

Maybe go get Ben Joyce to be a closer

Would love to see a trade for Adley Rutschman. They need outfielder we need a catcher!

Get Bauer nowadays!

We are not involved again because of Jed Hoyer like I gave said all year!!!! A waste of money on Heywa... I mean Swanson and Ricketts is to stupid to do anything about the mess the Cubs really are!!!!

Alonso-NO

Grate stuff. Thanks 👍

Burnes SO per 9 and velocity have been in steady decline, Those are huge red flags for a horse that has been rode hard for a long time , Seattle is where You get that arm, Gilbert/Ford for Hoerner'/ Prospect and or Perades would be a win win deal for both Teams and would leave payroll for a big bat and would open up 2B/3B , I slot Shaw in opening day at 2b/3B in this scenario and You have the option of moving Busch to 2B and making a run at the polar bear or Bergman for 3B .

One thing I noticed about the Cubs this season is that they are very "pretty" white guy team. I bet Ricketts told Jed the Cubs are a middle class fan base team. Keep the team mostly white for the mostly white fans. Keep the tour buses coming with all that money and give them their special "first time experience" at Wrigley Field.

hahaha tom ricketts don't not care about winning of he did care about winning cubs be the playoffs every year ?

I say you go cheap and you get cheap. The Cubs are cheap organization. Tight purse rich organization that love to make money but hate to spend big to make money big. You know, it is in the gene.

Dansby Swanson doesn't not have no leadership why cubs sign him 2023 🤦‍♂️

Dansby was signed for his defense and leadership.

My stomach feels green!

Mick any chance cubs trade a big prospect along with swanson to get out of that contract? Just feel like ricketts wont spend with the swanson contact

PCA leads off to start the season and swipes 70 bags. The offense follows from there. 🎶Go Cubs Go 🎶

Mick, The executive to get is probably Chris Antonetti from Cleveland or their GM, if Chris is locked in with ownership and theres no path for promotion/payday. The cubs are really stuck with their roster construction and their prospect pipeline. I'd trade for Vlad Jr, if they take Seiya back, which is doubtful he'd accept a trade up there. I think a path is loading up on pitching and making it an edge. Tanner Scott + 2 closer/8th inning guys and 2 SPs to go along with Steele, Shota, Taillon and then see how the prospect bats push the veterans. Walker Buehler and Jordan Montgomery types might be an interesting angle to help them reset their value. Just because the payroll is $275m opening day, doesn't mean it has to finish that way. You can trade Cody, Taillon, Seiya during the season if prospects push them out. I guess we'll have to see how the market evolves. Phillies, Brewers, Orioles had good seasons with bad Octobers, so they'll be looking to shake things up. Tom and Jed are the wild cards in this thing. Jed has to be proposing different strategies that require Tom's approval on spending/contract lengths. Tom will then decide, if Jed is the guy. Even if they win the NL Central next year, does that mean an extension?

Let’s trade for Clase or Heisley. And sign a good lefty bullpen. We have 66m to spend and at least 5 good prospects as trade chips. We only need 4 players to become a force: 1 SP(#1 or 2 quality) ; 1 star closer; 1 lefty setup man; 1 superstar bat(only superstar) Alonso can be DH or 1st base. Busch can play 2nd. Hoerner can be utility infielder.

Bullpen is the last area to rebuild, cause bullpen arms mostly only good for couple years. If you sign a top closer, you are wasting his best years competing wild card. So I don’t question their plans for bullpen this season. But next season they need to spend resources to build a good bullpen.

We can only hope they get new blood to lead the team. Jed and company just aren’t the answer.

It’s not Cubs satisfied, it’s the core players failed Cubs. Astro’s core players did not. If Bryant, Baez are still playing at high level, they would never trade them.

Cubs also willing to pay 700m for Ohtani, he only wanted Dodgers. Soto should be around 550m

What is the team's goal for next year? If it isn't winning the world series then I'm all in favor of giving the young players a shot. Will there be growing pains? YES. I'm not interested, however, in just making the playoffs and being eliminated in round one. Plus, I don't see Hoyer pursuing an ace starter or a superstar hitter this offseason. Hopefully, I'm wrong.

DH should be AAA guys up. That was a pitcher's spot (.150 BA) not power slugger. Sluggers were 3-4 in lineup. And difference in managers was finally getting conclusion to Morel question. I'm curious to see how FO deals with Happ, Hoerner, 2nd catcher, bullpen. And how council shuffles DH, Corner outfields, and 3B. Will THIS be the year they sign Trevor Bauer!! 😆

Corbin burnes would be such a great addition, especially since he played for Counsell. What are closer options? I don't personally think we should trade for Mason Miller since it would be a haul, and history shows our closers get hurt.

Dad is grumpy all the time

I wish we could get Vlady and agree some sort of starter that can be an ace, or maybe some killer closer/end game reliever like a miller that you feel can close out games definitively

You can't sensibly improve this offense from outside the organization. It's going to have to come from improvement by Swanson, Bellinger, Paredes, Hoerner, and Amaya (keep waiting for that "next step" from Suzuki too); growth from PCA and Busch: and contributions from prospects. But you can improve the pitching. How about a rotation of Steele, *Trevor Bauer* , Imanaga, *Roki Sasaki* , and Jameson Taillon. That's pretty damn good and you've still got SP depth in Assad, Brown, Wicks, Killian, Wesneski, and Cade Horton--some of which can bolster the bullpen. Speaking of which, target *Tanner Scott* and *Jeff Hoffman* to shore up the pen. Even with Bellinger's contract still on the books, you could add all 4 of those pitchers for less than the $70M luxury tax space. And at mid-season I'd look to deal either Hoerner or Paredes (your only marketable and tradeable veteran candidates) to strengthen catching and pitching--Mariners catching prospect Harry Ford is the main guy I would target, as they need position players but already have Cal Raleigh. If you _really_ wanted to try to swing for the fences, you could target Samuel Basalo (who is behind Adley Rutschman) in a good old fashioned challenge trade for Matt Shaw.

The best thing that could happen for the Cubs is Bellinger opting out. I thought it was a bad sign to begin with. The fact that no one else wanted him should have been a major red flag. The starting pitching is solid. The bullpen needs major work. The bats are...fine. The Cobs would get much better if they could sign Soto but that seems unlikely. Perhaps Anthony Santander as a consolation prize? Then put Suzuki at DH. Then cross your fingers and hope Dansby bounces back and PCA keeps getting better. And stop trying to move Nico! We need guys like that. Oh, and please don't get Alonso. He would be way too expensive for a one tool player.

So many players are good at one thing or another. Glove first, bat first. Trade away great glove men to get guys with 30 HR Power, but how many runs will that guy give up ? Christopher Morel is an example. The bullpen gave up so much this season. I dont think Bellinger walks, though. He won't get a better deal.

Anthony has been asleep for 2 weeks after not sleeping for 6 months.

As always, great podcast! Go Cubs!

Trading Steele means mediocrity for 5 more years. Absolutely not

The same record with worse performances from almost all the position players. Soto doesn't bring the money Ohtani does, but worth $500 million for sure. I have no issue if they move Hoerner, Parades, Suzuki, Alcantara, Canario, or Cassie. Just not for lotto tickets.

Don't need another player that strikeout a lot. If he improve on that then bring him up.

Once again, i have zero confidence in upper management and ownership for 025

I get you Mick, but as long as their putting people in the stands, it makes me wonder if their gonna do anything. So tired of the same thing every season. They've let so many get away, and their all playing in October. We're so far away from any of these postseason teams.

why would you let jed put his hands on any moves is beyond me get rid of him

Get Bauer nowadays!