The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney field questions from listeners and give answers with insights collected at the start of spring training. Is there a disconnect between Seiya Suzuki and Craig Counsell? Does ownership trust the front office to make long-range decisions? In a pivotal year, the entire organization has a lot to prove.Get 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to ArenaClub.com/foul and use code foul.

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Too soon to rule out the Cubs signing their new star player to a long-term contract extension? The Alex Bregman negotiations were not a promising sign. But it’s not all doom and gloom from Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. Tucker is a legitimate franchise player who can make this a special season at Wrigley Field. And the front office is not necessarily done making moves in spring training. Plus positive signs from Ryne Sandberg and the Hall of Famer’s message to Matt Shaw.Visit MINTMOBILE.com/Territory where all 3-month plans are only $15 a month, including the Unlimited plan.

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Now that the Alex Bregman saga has ended, the Cubs can look forward and focus on what they have in Arizona. With that in mind, Patrick Mooney joins Sahadev Sharma with the latest from Mesa. The Athletic writers discuss the big opportunity in front of top prospect Matt Shaw, Nico Hoerner’s encouraging progress after offseason surgery, and the pitching plans for Ben Brown, Cade Horton and more.

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In the end, it wasn’t even that close. Bregman Watch concluded with the All-Star third baseman choosing the Red Sox, the chance to hit at Fenway Park and a deal that the Cubs’ front office ultimately could not match. Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic explain the pressure that Jed Hoyer is under, ownership’s tight control over the budget for baseball operations and where the Cubs go from here. Because Bregman represented the right player at the right time.

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The scene in Arizona as spring training begins on Super Bowl Sunday. Patrick Mooney joins Sahadev Sharma from Arizona as The Athletic’s Cubs beat writers break down the latest news and notes. With pitchers and catchers officially reporting, there are two main questions: Is Jed Hoyer done making moves? And where is Alex Bregman?

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With spring training about to start, at least one projection system is bullish about the Cubs, and the offseason still isn’t over yet. Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic share what they’re hearing about the team’s internal win projections and how Alex Bregman would fit into those plans. Until that waiting game is over, the Cubs have to be considered a serious contender for the All-Star baseman, which keeps the pressure on the front office and ownership to make a big move that would push the club to another level.

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With spring training around the corner, Baseball America prospect writer Geoff Pontes joins the show to discuss why he’s so high on Matt Shaw, who could be the Opening Day third baseman next month. The conversation with Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic then gets into Cade Horton and whether the buzz is starting to fade around the top pitching prospect. Other hot topics include: what the Cubs gave up in the Kyle Tucker trade; whether Moises Ballesteros can catch; the club’s scouting in Latin America; sleeper prospects at lower-level affiliates; and the Cubs’ identity as an organization.

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Even with the report dates fast approaching, the offseason still isn’t over yet. This is also when the Cubs like to be opportunistic. What does that mean this time? Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic explore those options, and share their first impressions of new closer Ryan Pressly. Plus, some context around the San Diego trade rumors (Dylan Cease, Michael King) that typically draw in the Cubs.

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With the Cubs and Astros making another deal, Chandler Rome, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney get together for another crossover episode. How much does Pressly have left in the tank? And how much did the addition of Josh Hader bother Pressly last season? The reporters from The Athletic discuss what Pressly meant to the Astros, and what the All-Star reliever will bring to the Wrigley Field clubhouse. After trading for Pressly and Kyle Tucker, you would think that the Cubs would be all-in for Alex Bregman, but the signals have been mixed and ultimately this might be up to Astros owner Jim Crane.Get up to 10 FREE meals and a free high protein item for life at HelloFresh.com/FT10FM. One item per box with active subscription. Free meals applied as a discount on the first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan.Watch NST and CCT on YouTube.

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Uh, no. But the offseason isn’t over yet, as Cubs officials might say. What’s next is the primary topic of conversation for Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney, The Athletic’s Cubs beat writers. 

They share the bullpen names that they’ve heard, and break down how those relievers would fit at Wrigley Field. 

Still, it’s been an offseason of mixed messages around the Cubs, a big-market team that hasn’t followed through on an all-in trade, allowing for a youth movement while also carefully monitoring the budget.

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