1 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,880 Speaker 1: Welcome into Northside Territory, Foul Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. I'm 2 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: Sahadev Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are your 3 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic. 4 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 2: Patrick. 5 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:22,319 Speaker 1: We are back home in windy cold Chicago. I've caught 6 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:24,959 Speaker 1: up on sleep. I've caught up on my sleep. I 7 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: don't think cotton is a word. I don't know why 8 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: I said cotton. I've caught up on my sleep barely. 9 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 1: I could probably go, you know what, it could probably 10 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: go for a few more hours. 11 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 2: Actually, yeah, I don't know. 12 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 3: If you're on the way back there. 13 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 2: Man, It's always a long week. 14 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: Whenever the winter meetings hit, the Cubs weren't crazy busy. 15 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:53,160 Speaker 1: There were some big moves that happened this week. Obviously. 16 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: I think the last of the big moves would probably 17 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: say was the Pee Alonzo signing that happened after we recorded. 18 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: I believe last the Orioles stepping up there. I guess 19 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: that's what happens. They're they're kind of, you know, you 20 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: fail to meet expectations. You got to start spending and 21 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: spending aggressively to get back in it. And it seems 22 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: like the Orioles are trying to be one of those 23 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: aggressive teams this winter, along with Toronto every winter. The 24 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: Dodgers are out there. The Mets are not the aggressive 25 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: team this winter. It appears, at least so far. We've 26 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 1: not seen them aggressively spend, and the Cubs aren't aggressively spending, 27 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 1: but they are. It's similar to what we said last episode. 28 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 1: They're talking to teams, they're talking i mean representatives, they're 29 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: talking about higher end free agents, and they've gotten smaller 30 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: deals done. The bullpen is slowly starting to come together 31 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: and people are gonna lose their minds about these small moves. 32 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: But they've made a couple with Coln Snyder, who's a 33 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: minor league deal, and then of course Hoby Milner, who 34 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 1: was linked to the Cubs last winter and is a 35 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: you know, Craig Council favorite. 36 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 3: I mean, it's haide of. 37 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 4: Imagine how tired you would be if you actually covered 38 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 4: a big market team that acts like a big market team, 39 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 4: or if the Cubs actually did anything of substance during 40 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 4: our time in Orlando. Obviously, there were some of these 41 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 4: smaller moves around the bullpen, and there's a lot of 42 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 4: time to go but yeah, it was not exactly a 43 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 4: show stopper down there in Orlando from. 44 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 3: The Cub's perspective. 45 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 4: Who knows, maybe something will pop here before Christmas, but. 46 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 2: I don't know. 47 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 4: We sort of looked at each other down there of 48 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 4: like reminiscing on the John Lester signing when you know, 49 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,239 Speaker 4: Cubs officials were doing uh. 50 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 3: Was it tequila? 51 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 4: They're doing shots at the bar at least, so they're 52 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 4: doing shots in San Diego there to celebrate their signing 53 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 4: of John Lester, and it was, you know, I think 54 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 4: performative to an extent, like they definitely enjoyed walking down 55 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 4: to the lobby there and being like, yeah, we took 56 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 4: this guy away from. 57 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 3: The Red Sox. 58 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 4: You know, the Giants, the Dodgers were sort of you know, 59 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 4: at least there's a perception they were lurking. And now 60 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 4: it's a lot of you know, a lot of talking, 61 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 4: smaller moves for the bullpen, which I think these moves 62 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 4: for the bullpen absolutely makes sense. But there's a lot 63 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 4: of closers kind of flying off the board here of 64 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 4: like guys that they've been sort of interested or they 65 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 4: touched base on and there's still a couple more out there, 66 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 4: but you know, going being willing to go three years 67 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:51,119 Speaker 4: for Devin Williams is not exactly like you know, unconventional move. 68 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 4: And clearly they were not strong enough in there to 69 00:03:56,000 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 4: make him take the cubs that seriously. I guess Pete 70 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 4: Fairbanks is still out there. Amliopagan went off the board 71 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:11,119 Speaker 4: before the winter meetings. Ryan Helsley, you know they were 72 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:15,320 Speaker 4: definitely in on he signed with the Orioles. So I 73 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:17,559 Speaker 4: think you feel better about some of those bullpen moves 74 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 4: if you had more of a late ending anchor coming 75 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 4: in this winner. 76 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, and they're not like you said they're I mean, 77 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 1: they're trying to get that guy in. They're aggressively so 78 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:31,720 Speaker 1: doing what the market dictates. 79 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 2: Not yet, not yet. 80 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: And I don't know if I fully expect them to 81 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 1: at those you know, to meet those top tier prices. 82 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: I just that's not what they do for especially for relievers, littlone. 83 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 2: I mean to separate topic. Is it what they do 84 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 2: at all? I don't. I don't know if. 85 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: We have seen that behavior recently, but it's not what 86 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 1: they do with the relievers. There are names there that 87 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: could make sense. You mentioned Fairbanks, there are others who 88 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: we haven't heard fully connected that that could work, like 89 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: Luke Weaver would be like coming off of bad season, 90 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 1: we haven't heard his name. That doesn't mean they're not 91 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: like maybe that's it just hasn't come across for us yet. 92 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: Onlee Jansen, like the names like that, guys that have 93 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: closed or had high leverage moments, we haven't heard them yet, 94 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: but that maybe like that's that's where they pivot after 95 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 1: trying for a few others. We'll see where Pete Fairbrank 96 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,039 Speaker 1: banks his money ends up. I'm curious to see just 97 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,479 Speaker 1: just where that is because it does sound like he 98 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: has enough interest that I don't think the Cups are 99 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 1: going to get the type of deal that they'd hope 100 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: for on on him. But I thought it was telling 101 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 1: the way Craig Council spoke of the bullpen. 102 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,479 Speaker 2: You know, they can't, they can't go into. 103 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:56,160 Speaker 1: This this season without adding you know, a lot a 104 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: lot more. Whether that's just a bunch of bullpen fodder 105 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 1: and hope it pops. 106 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 2: I guess we'll see. 107 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: Colin Snyder had a really good twenty twenty four Patrick 108 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:09,039 Speaker 1: like he this is a find for the Seattle Mariners. 109 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 1: A guy went to tread and got you know, figured 110 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 1: some things out on how to use his arsenal. Like 111 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: he was one of those guys when I was looking 112 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 1: at his numbers. This was coming into last year. When 113 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: I was looking at the season he had and his 114 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: numbers before that, I was like, how does that even happen? 115 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:30,280 Speaker 2: Like this guy's. 116 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: Striking out thirteen percent of batters and jumps to like 117 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: twenty six or something like that. 118 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 2: That's crazy. That's a crazy jump. And it didn't really 119 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 2: make sense. But you know, he learned how to use 120 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 2: his arsenal. 121 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 1: Was a little dropped off in the strikeout range last 122 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 1: year and the results were a lot worse. We'll see 123 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 1: does he get back to who he was in twenty four? 124 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 1: Is it just you know, like there's gonna be many 125 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: more minor league signings. There have been a handful and 126 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 1: there'll be more. We may not talk about him at all. 127 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 1: Milner's the guy that I think, you know, I think 128 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 1: you can trust him to. 129 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 2: Get out lefties. 130 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: He's going to keep the ball on the ground, comes 131 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: from a funky angle. It's always nice to have a 132 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: different look out of the bullpen. They don't have any 133 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: lefties right now. They have to add some sort like, 134 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: I don't know if this will be the last lefty, 135 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 1: they add, I doubt it. 136 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 2: There's going to probably be another one. 137 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: But they had to do They had to do something, 138 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: and council trusts them that someone of the council knows, 139 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: trusts and believes it can get outs when needed. But 140 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: these are like six seventh inning guys, if that, you know, 141 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: like mostly like six, I would think like getting the 142 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: middle get through the middle innings. You know, I'm not 143 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: sure how often you'd want Milner against a righty. 144 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 2: But you did. 145 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: You know, you can make it work, and I think 146 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 1: a council knows how to use him properly. 147 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 4: I believe it is our buddy Marknzalaz. I want to 148 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 4: make sure I get this one right here. 149 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 3: Uh. 150 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 4: You know, Gonzo had covered the Cubs for a long time, 151 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 4: covered the White Sox, World Series, Diamondbacks, Giants, and he 152 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 4: had been He has a great sense of humor and 153 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 4: perspective on us. I can't fight right now. I think 154 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 4: he tweeted, you know, Milwaukee wasn't built in a day 155 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 4: after they signed Hoby Milner. Uh just was kind of 156 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 4: the council factor here of you know, Colin ray as 157 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 4: well as a guy they brought back. Always liked that line. 158 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 3: But yeah, like that's what farn office do. 159 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 4: I you know, it wouldn't be shocked if one of 160 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 4: those guys do you know, step forward, whether it's Snyder 161 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 4: or someone else they pick up. I guess it wouldn't 162 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 4: be shocking either if they brought back one of Pomeranz, 163 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:58,600 Speaker 4: theel Bar or Keller, Like I don't think, definitely, don't 164 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 4: think they'd go three for three. I think if Brad 165 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 4: Keller gets a third a three year deal, or a 166 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,560 Speaker 4: team sees him as a potential starter and extends, like, 167 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 4: I don't think the Cubs are gonna match that, but 168 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 4: it wouldn't be crazy to think that. You know, one 169 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:15,359 Speaker 4: of those guys said, I had a good, good experience, 170 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 4: I like pitching for counsel, like playing at Wrigley Field. 171 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 4: That's another way, but still, you know, the the you know, 172 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 4: fifteen million dollar closer. I don't think the Cubs are 173 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:30,959 Speaker 4: going to go three years on that. But is there 174 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 4: a guy that maybe falls through the cracks who has 175 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 4: pretty good closing experience? 176 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 3: I think I haven't heard Luke Weaver. 177 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 4: I think that's a good name, you know, Kenlee Jansen team, 178 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 4: the guy the CUB has been loosely connected to over 179 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 4: the years. I don't know if that's really the guy, 180 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 4: but I wasn't Counsel's reaction. You allude to this earlier 181 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 4: essentially like the bullpen, Yeah, we need one. Wasn't that 182 00:09:57,280 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 4: sort of It was something along those lines, just very 183 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 4: dead pan council. And then there was something about like 184 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 4: looking back on last year, he just flat out said 185 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 4: they were wrong about their bullpen. They got their bullpen 186 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 4: to a good place. But reading between the lines, I'm 187 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 4: assuming that's what like Ryan Presley thinking Porter Hodge could 188 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 4: be a leverage guy again, stuff like that. 189 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I mean you have to keep that in mind. 190 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: You just don't you can feel confident about your bullpen 191 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: coming in or confident about who you know will be 192 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 1: the contributors. And Council knows this council, you know, he 193 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 1: he knows that the bullpen's morph over the course of 194 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 1: a season. 195 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:46,320 Speaker 2: He kind of. I think it's almost preferred in. 196 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: A way, because you don't want to overuse certain guys 197 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 1: and then come September and October their gas because it's 198 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: the same three guys that you've been leaning on. You 199 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: almost need it to like kind of go come in 200 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 1: waves and go up and down certain guys. 201 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 2: Uh, it's really or or. 202 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: I guess you'd love to have six guys that just 203 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: are dominant all season long. But it's a it's a 204 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:12,680 Speaker 1: it's a puzzle that they're constantly trying to figure out 205 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: offensively position player wise. I feel like we've come away 206 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: from the winter meetings. Uh, you know pitching was the priority. 207 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: It remains the priority. 208 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 2: Uh. 209 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 1: I do wonder that there's we've heard enough rumblings like 210 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 1: are they going to adjust this offense right now? It's 211 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:38,959 Speaker 1: the Moyses, bias Teris and Owen Casey have runway. 212 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 2: Ah. 213 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 1: I find that, you know, to be interesting in one 214 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 1: sense because they're they're tantalizing players. Uh, and council seems 215 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: very comfortable with giving them a ton of runway. 216 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 4: Uh. 217 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: But also, you know you're in this win now mode. 218 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: You're trying to balance player development with winning now. It 219 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 1: seems like a risk, but I thought Biasteros gave you 220 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 1: a few weeks to say, like this is what this 221 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:09,680 Speaker 1: guy can be. Casey now, we didn't see that. The 222 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 1: concussion really impacted that and kept us from maybe seeing 223 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:18,559 Speaker 1: him get a runway there, But I'm curious to see 224 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 1: what those guys are. I also think if you're trying 225 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 1: to win ninety two plus again, it's just a risk. 226 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: It doesn't mean it won't happen, and that they won't 227 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: break out. I think you'd like a little more certainty 228 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 1: in some way. With Kyle Tucker on his way out. 229 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think they realize they have to do something 230 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 4: with Biasteros and Casey. 231 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 3: They can't just like have. 232 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:46,960 Speaker 4: Them sort of rotten Iowa for another year, like there's 233 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 4: not a whole lot left for them to prove. I 234 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 4: think having two of them helps. I believe they both 235 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:57,079 Speaker 4: have options as well, that you can kind of play matchups, 236 00:12:57,120 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 4: maybe play the hot hand, you know, kind of reading 237 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 4: and react the way they did with matt Yaw. Like 238 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 4: maybe one of those guys would need a reset back 239 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 4: in Iowa at some point next year. But Counsel beliefs 240 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 4: in young players. He's shown that he's willing to give 241 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:20,559 Speaker 4: them the runway and be patient, whether it was Petekow 242 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 4: Armstrong's year over year over year development, what we saw 243 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 4: out of Shaw after the All Star break, even he's 244 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 4: a little older, but Michael Bush really earned every day 245 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:36,359 Speaker 4: first base opportunities. 246 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 3: It wasn't handed to him. 247 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 4: He showed what he can do and obviously did it, 248 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 4: you know, at a really high level in the playoffs, 249 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 4: which was certainly impressive, and so A don't know, we 250 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 4: keep hearing the Cubs in trade rumors and all sorts 251 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 4: of kind of vague scenarios. It was really hard to 252 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 4: pin down, as we talked about earlier this week. 253 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 2: I guess it's. 254 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:06,679 Speaker 4: Not out of the question, you know, to think that 255 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:10,200 Speaker 4: they would consider moving either by. 256 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 3: A Steros or Casey, you know, in a deal for pitching. 257 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:17,199 Speaker 5: But they're also at this point now where they're they're 258 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 5: very firmly in the major league mix, and it's hard 259 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 5: to trade those guys, particularly when they're cost controlled, when 260 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 5: they can't hit free agency for a very long time. 261 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 4: And you know, they were clearly, uh, you know, willing 262 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 4: to move. I think our understanding his own Casey was 263 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 4: kind of the guy that Marlins were looking at last 264 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 4: offseason and the. 265 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 3: Lozardo deal was spiked. 266 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 4: You know, now he has a whole nother year, he's older, 267 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 4: he's gotten a taste of the majors. Like it's it's 268 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 4: harder to to kind of move that for another major 269 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 4: league piece. And so I think the other part of 270 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 4: it is you wrote it the other day of we've 271 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 4: been saying all along, we don't think Kyle Tucker is 272 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 4: going to come back, and Craig Counsel basically said that 273 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 4: we have our group minus Tucker, and. 274 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 3: You know, there's no way to know. 275 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 2: What's going to happen. 276 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: You kind of reset there. I just want to make 277 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 1: sure that the that the listeners didn't lose us. 278 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 2: But do you you you said, Craig Counsel kind of said, 279 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 2: and then and then what were you saying? 280 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 3: Patrick, basically saying Kyle Tucker is gone? 281 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 2: Yeah? 282 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 3: Right, It's not something. 283 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 4: That normally club officials are a little more cagey about that. 284 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 4: And I think Counsel was just being very plain spoken 285 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 4: of just saying out loud what everyone sort of understands here. 286 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 1: Yes, yeah, I mean we know we haven't you know, 287 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 1: the feeling that Tucker's felt that for a while, like 288 00:15:56,920 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 1: Tucker's not coming back. I think the other value of 289 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 1: these young guys and having them under control. I mean, 290 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 1: we know how much the front office values them. But 291 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: then there's the idea that you have Saya Suzuki Ian Hap, 292 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 1: Carson Kelly, and Nico Horner all coming up. That's four 293 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:21,160 Speaker 1: starters on the position player side with one year remaining. 294 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: How do you there's two sides to this, right, do 295 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:29,400 Speaker 1: you want to replace them all with young players? Or 296 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 1: do you need to add a veteran pat that's like 297 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 1: you're gonna have. I guess you could just say, like, hey, 298 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 1: Michael Bush, if he does this for a third year, 299 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: that's your anchor of the lineup. If Pete crow Armstrong 300 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 1: can show that he can be a little bit more consistent, 301 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:52,560 Speaker 1: if Biasteros is what he was for September or close 302 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: to that, you know, if he was what he was 303 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 1: for September, he's the best DCH in baseball or one 304 00:16:57,520 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 1: of the best dhs in baseball. 305 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 2: So it's it's just a risk. 306 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: To not have anybody beyond twenty six and your position 307 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 1: player side that is firmly established veteran. 308 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:13,640 Speaker 2: You know that can that can hit. 309 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 1: Like I'm not saying Dansby Swanson is an affirmily he's 310 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 1: obviously a firmly established veteran, but he's a league average bat, 311 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:20,959 Speaker 1: he's a he's a great clubhouse guy, and he's an 312 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:23,439 Speaker 1: elite defender. We know that, but we know what he 313 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 1: is as far as the offense, I'm saying an anchor 314 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 1: of your someone that can you can really trust to 315 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:32,920 Speaker 1: hit and say has become that. I know we don't 316 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:36,200 Speaker 1: need to dive into ian Hap, but he's a very 317 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: consistent offensive player. You know what you're going to get 318 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 1: from him. So how do you how do you kind 319 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 1: of maneuver that. I think we should address something that 320 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 1: we wrote Patrick, because I think people can take it 321 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: to extremes. I think most people actually took this the 322 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:54,920 Speaker 1: right way, and I was glad to see that because 323 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:56,679 Speaker 1: I think we were very careful with the way we 324 00:17:57,119 --> 00:18:01,920 Speaker 1: said it. We did hear Nico owners name this week. 325 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: It is not coming from the Cubs are like, this 326 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: guy's got one year left. We got to move on 327 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 1: and sell at a high value. He's incredibly valuable right now. 328 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:13,880 Speaker 1: He had his best offensive season. I think everyone saw 329 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:16,919 Speaker 1: how good he is defensively, and I think it probably 330 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:19,680 Speaker 1: got around the league that this guy is like an 331 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 1: incredible leader as well. The way he goes about business 332 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: is its highly respected around in that Cubs clubhouse, and 333 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:30,439 Speaker 1: I think people around the league are well aware of this, 334 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: Like he's a winner. He's a type of guy that 335 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:35,520 Speaker 1: you you know, if he was on like a team 336 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 1: that's winning championships, like he'd be in I think he'd 337 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 1: be much more like lauded for that type of leadership. 338 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 1: But I think this is also a front office that 339 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 1: has to listen to those things. He's got one year left. 340 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:58,879 Speaker 1: He's incredibly valuable. People are looking for second basement right now. 341 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 1: He can also play shortstop. I think you have to listen. 342 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 1: I would not trade Nico Horner. I think the clubhouse 343 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,120 Speaker 1: would be like even if it's a there's another move 344 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:17,120 Speaker 1: where you're adding a leader like Alex Bregman. He's imperative 345 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:20,120 Speaker 1: to that clubhouse. I think we talk about this when 346 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: I talk to players about this stuff. You know that 347 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 1: they'll say, oh, yeah, that guy's great in the clubhouse, 348 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:28,640 Speaker 1: so and so, Like I think they when they talk 349 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 1: about Nico they say, no, no, this is different. We 350 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: talk about sometimes like, oh, that guy's great, he's a 351 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 1: good dude, Like there is something different about Nico Horner 352 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: in that clubhouse. They value him a ton. I think 353 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 1: it would be very disruptive and and frustrate, to put 354 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:48,680 Speaker 1: it lightly, some people in that clubhouse. I think it's 355 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 1: a very, very big long shot, but I also understand 356 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:52,560 Speaker 1: why they listen. 357 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 2: It's just something that they kind of have to do. 358 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 4: Yeah, and I guess sort of explaining to our readers 359 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:05,359 Speaker 4: and listen ners, like, we certainly don't write everything we hear. 360 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 4: There are lots of stuff that I sort of wind 361 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 4: up on the cutting room floor. In order for us 362 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 4: to write something like that, it has to clear a 363 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 4: pretty high bar in terms of like who we're hearing it, from, 364 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,800 Speaker 4: where we're hearing it, how frequently we're hearing it, and 365 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:28,240 Speaker 4: you know, Nico kind of past that the Nico rumors 366 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 4: did of just like how it was being presented. And 367 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 4: again we did our best to put it in the 368 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 4: context of know, they're not. 369 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 3: Looking to move him. 370 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:44,360 Speaker 4: Yes, theoretically it could be possible that they could try 371 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 4: to extend him beyond his final year of club control. 372 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 3: They've already done one. 373 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:55,760 Speaker 4: But at the same time, this front office is not 374 00:20:55,960 --> 00:21:02,479 Speaker 4: particularly sentimental at all. It makes sense to kind of 375 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 4: gauge value. There's several second basement kind of out there 376 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 4: in trade rumors or trade talks. However you want to 377 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:16,240 Speaker 4: characterize that, and you know, maybe it's not Nico this winter. 378 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:23,880 Speaker 3: But they've shown that they view this sort of. 379 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:30,639 Speaker 4: Calculating heartlessness as an advantage and that one of the 380 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 4: you know, that is a way for a team to. 381 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 3: Essentially be like the Brewers, be like the Guardians. 382 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 4: Like that's it's just yet another example of how the 383 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 4: Cubs are being run that they don't view the answers 384 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:50,639 Speaker 4: as running to the top of the market and doing 385 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:54,359 Speaker 4: deals that get press conferences at the winter meetings. It 386 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:59,119 Speaker 4: is sort of, you know, just trolling free agents, trolling 387 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 4: for free agents, doing some of those trades that are 388 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 4: unpopular in the moment. Not overvaluing intangibles. 389 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:14,880 Speaker 3: And you. 390 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 4: Very correctly asked Craig Counsel about Nico's intangibles, and I 391 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 4: thought he had a good answer there. 392 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:24,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, I reconize it. 393 00:22:24,760 --> 00:22:28,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean he he said, like he said, 394 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 1: kind of what you hear around the clubhouse. People talk 395 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 1: about these things and a lot of what Nico's what 396 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:38,080 Speaker 1: stands out about Nico is the work he puts it. 397 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 2: I mean, this was something that we saw when. 398 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:42,560 Speaker 1: He was a rookie, when he was first called up right, 399 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 1: it was I think some people thought he was almost 400 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,640 Speaker 1: like a tryhard, like he was teacher's pet. 401 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 2: But it's just who he is. It's just him. 402 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:55,919 Speaker 1: He puts in the work and he the attention to 403 00:22:56,040 --> 00:23:00,679 Speaker 1: detail is is. So it's just to another level with 404 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:04,920 Speaker 1: him and and he the council put it, well, it's 405 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:08,000 Speaker 1: like other people say, like, oh, yeah, I do that. 406 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:10,159 Speaker 1: I do all my work. I get everything done. I 407 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 1: know you don't. You don't actually do it all Nico does. 408 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 1: Like that's Nico who does it. He's the one, and 409 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:22,159 Speaker 1: like it. That's a rare quality. He's a you know, 410 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:26,600 Speaker 1: after covering him, I felt like covering him for so long. 411 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:31,439 Speaker 1: Now I do believe that this year there was something 412 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:33,159 Speaker 1: different about it all. Maybe it's just because it was 413 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: the first time he was on a winning team, like 414 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 1: a playoff team, and it just felt like, oh, this 415 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 1: is what he can bring to a truly good team, 416 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 1: like intangible wise, this is the type of person he is. 417 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:50,919 Speaker 1: It felt like something you can't just give away. I 418 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:54,639 Speaker 1: think they understand that. I think they also like, like, 419 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 1: we've explained why that listen and I and I get it. 420 00:23:58,200 --> 00:23:58,920 Speaker 2: I don't like it. 421 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:03,240 Speaker 1: I get it though, you know, sometimes I feel like 422 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:06,240 Speaker 1: you just have to put the model and numbers out 423 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 1: the window for a moment and realize, like what you 424 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:09,920 Speaker 1: have here. 425 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:12,440 Speaker 2: This is a homegrown guy right. 426 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:16,400 Speaker 1: Who wants to be here and enjoys It was thrilled 427 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:19,119 Speaker 1: to be a part of a Cubs playoff team and 428 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 1: win some games in the postseason, and it really hurt him. 429 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:26,399 Speaker 1: You could see that they didn't continue to advance. You 430 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 1: kind of want that kind of passion. That doesn't mean 431 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:34,440 Speaker 1: that he's going anywhere I'd be I think would both 432 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:37,680 Speaker 1: be shocked by anything really happening there. It's just something that, 433 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:40,960 Speaker 1: like you said, felt important to mention because we heard 434 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: it enough what they do to actually make the team better. 435 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:50,919 Speaker 1: You know, it's been baby steps since since the offseason started, 436 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: so we're still waiting for that big move if it 437 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:56,200 Speaker 1: comes over the weekend. Hey, I do feel like there's 438 00:24:56,280 --> 00:25:02,600 Speaker 1: been big moves every weekend after the winter meetings. I 439 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 1: believe Dansby Swanson happened the saturday after the Winter meetings. 440 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:09,879 Speaker 1: I think Kyle Tucker happened right after we got home 441 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:14,920 Speaker 1: or that weekend after, so we'll see. It didn't feel 442 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:17,919 Speaker 1: like they were on the verge of something. But it 443 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:21,959 Speaker 1: also sometimes trade rumors are hard to to pick up 444 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:24,359 Speaker 1: on and and maybe they're they're gonna knock out a 445 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:29,119 Speaker 1: trade here, but that's it's yet to come, so I 446 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:31,960 Speaker 1: understand if if Cubs fans are getting impatient, but there's 447 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:33,880 Speaker 1: a lot of off season left. We'll cover it all. 448 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 1: We'll have more next week. Hopefully there's more to talk 449 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:40,639 Speaker 1: about Cubs movement wise, otherwise we'll be back at it 450 00:25:40,680 --> 00:25:42,919 Speaker 1: either way. Thanks so much for listening everyone. This is 451 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:46,040 Speaker 1: Northside Territory. Make sure to rate, review, subscribe, subscribe to 452 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:49,159 Speaker 1: the YouTube channel, and subscribe to The Athletic where Patrick. 453 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:50,760 Speaker 2: And I are on top of all things Cubs. Thanks 454 00:25:50,760 --> 00:26:15,639 Speaker 2: to everyone, Take anything I do. 455 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:16,960 Speaker 1: By le