WEBVTT - Trade deadline guide now that the Cubs have started buying 0:00:06.160 --> 0:00:09.799 Welcome into Northside Territory File Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. I'm 0:00:09.800 --> 0:00:12.639 Sadam Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are your 0:00:12.760 --> 0:00:17.239 Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic Patrick. It is 0:00:17.800 --> 0:00:22.440 trade season. The Cubs made their move, made a move. 0:00:22.680 --> 0:00:24.400 It's not their move. It's not going to be the 0:00:24.440 --> 0:00:27.880 big move. I think they you know, they've traded for 0:00:27.960 --> 0:00:31.440 David Peterson. It was out of necessity. It's a move 0:00:31.480 --> 0:00:37.280 that they had to make, but I think it should 0:00:37.640 --> 0:00:40.760 it should be an indication of what this team sees. 0:00:41.280 --> 0:00:43.680 They are in the playoff hunt. They if the playoffs 0:00:43.680 --> 0:00:48.280 started today, they would be in. They are, like you know, 0:00:48.320 --> 0:00:55.000 we're recording on Thursday morning. If they're currently tied for 0:00:55.080 --> 0:00:57.400 the second wild card spot. Is the division the long 0:00:57.440 --> 0:00:59.840 shot right now? Yeah, there's seven games back as we record. 0:01:00.200 --> 0:01:03.400 That's gonna be tough to make up. Obviously a big 0:01:03.400 --> 0:01:09.959 weekend against the Brewers. But they are competitive. And maybe 0:01:09.959 --> 0:01:13.080 it's not the World Series odds shooting those up and 0:01:13.480 --> 0:01:16.280 getting all the like, you know, the finishing touches of 0:01:16.319 --> 0:01:20.240 a team, but this team has a shot. So they're 0:01:20.280 --> 0:01:24.840 going to be adding. And this was the first if 0:01:24.880 --> 0:01:27.840 a small ads it's the first one that we probably 0:01:27.840 --> 0:01:28.680 expect of a few. 0:01:30.480 --> 0:01:33.560 Yeah, the front office has to do their part. And 0:01:33.640 --> 0:01:36.319 I think we've known Jed Hoyer long enough to know 0:01:36.400 --> 0:01:38.959 that if his team has a shot, he's going to 0:01:40.040 --> 0:01:43.560 do stuff. Now, maybe it's not always the degree to 0:01:43.640 --> 0:01:48.880 which fans hope for, but this is someone who, you know, 0:01:48.880 --> 0:01:50.840 a couple of years ago, had Cody Bellinger, maybe the 0:01:50.880 --> 0:01:54.480 best hitter on the trade market. They get hot, not 0:01:54.520 --> 0:01:56.080 only do they hold on to them, but they go 0:01:56.160 --> 0:01:58.000 out and trade for maybe the best hitter who moved 0:01:58.040 --> 0:02:02.360 during that cycle, Jamie Kendall, Larry and so looking at 0:02:02.600 --> 0:02:05.760 the rest of the National League, I get it if 0:02:05.800 --> 0:02:08.760 you're underwhelmed by this Cups team or sort of frustrated 0:02:08.760 --> 0:02:11.120 by the ups and downs, or you thought they would 0:02:11.120 --> 0:02:14.280 be better. I think the Cubs thought they would be better. 0:02:16.320 --> 0:02:21.440 Injuries are a factor. They can't be the ultimate excuse here, 0:02:21.480 --> 0:02:25.679 Like I get all that, but just look at their competition, 0:02:25.919 --> 0:02:31.400 like who scares you? Like who's gonna run away in 0:02:31.480 --> 0:02:35.600 this wildcard ice? Obviously the Brewers are kind of in 0:02:35.639 --> 0:02:39.200 the Cubs head and we'll see what happens this weekend. 0:02:39.520 --> 0:02:43.000 Up in Milwaukee, the Dodgers are the Dodgers. The Braves 0:02:43.000 --> 0:02:46.440 have bounced back in a big way. The Phillies, you know, 0:02:46.480 --> 0:02:49.120 don't resemble the team that got swept out of Wrigley Field. 0:02:49.160 --> 0:02:54.080 But like after that, the Marlins and Nationals sort of 0:02:54.160 --> 0:02:58.799 like ahead of schedule in their rebuilds. The Central bunched up. 0:02:59.440 --> 0:03:02.000 The Cardinals weren't really trying to win this year. The 0:03:02.000 --> 0:03:06.960 Pirates are always trying with limited resources to take the 0:03:07.040 --> 0:03:10.119 next step. They haven't yet. Reds five gave them under 0:03:10.200 --> 0:03:14.760 five hundred at the moment. The Padres will probably do 0:03:14.800 --> 0:03:19.000 something crazy at the deadline, because that's what aj Peller does. 0:03:19.040 --> 0:03:22.760 But at the Diamondbacks still, you know, hovering slightly over 0:03:23.720 --> 0:03:29.520 five hundred. So you know, you're looking at you know, Giants, Rockies, Mets, 0:03:29.720 --> 0:03:32.639 you know as kind of your you know, likely sellers, 0:03:33.560 --> 0:03:35.840 teams that could match up with the Cubs on some deals. 0:03:35.840 --> 0:03:38.520 And obviously the Cubs and Mets have already lined up 0:03:39.560 --> 0:03:44.520 for at least one obvious trade like something. You just 0:03:45.200 --> 0:03:49.200 they had to do something. You need capable pitchers, warm 0:03:49.240 --> 0:03:50.720 bodies to throw out there. 0:03:51.280 --> 0:03:55.000 Absolutely, and I think Peterson could be a solid pitcher 0:03:55.040 --> 0:03:57.320 for this team. Yeah, we talked about the last episode, 0:03:57.320 --> 0:03:58.880 but you know he puts the ball on the ground, 0:03:58.880 --> 0:04:02.160 you have an elite defense behind him. There are three 0:04:02.400 --> 0:04:05.240 really good teams in the NL record wise. I think 0:04:05.320 --> 0:04:07.520 Cubs fans would have hoped that the Cubs would be 0:04:07.520 --> 0:04:11.520 in that trio right now it's the Brewers, Braves, and Dodgers, 0:04:11.680 --> 0:04:13.960 or that the Cubs would be up there with them, 0:04:14.720 --> 0:04:16.360 And it certainly looked like they were going to be 0:04:16.480 --> 0:04:20.120 a month ago. But that doesn't that doesn't mean that 0:04:21.200 --> 0:04:26.000 they should be sellers. This is Cubs fans should be 0:04:26.160 --> 0:04:29.839 heartened slightly at least by the series that they just 0:04:29.960 --> 0:04:34.560 watched against the Mets. That is a team that is 0:04:34.600 --> 0:04:37.760 in disarray. That is a team who has a lot 0:04:37.800 --> 0:04:40.640 of questions that have a lot of questions facing them. 0:04:42.279 --> 0:04:49.320 They have spent a lot of money, their system hasn't developed. 0:04:49.400 --> 0:04:51.680 I think the way they had hoped. I think they 0:04:51.720 --> 0:04:54.120 had a lot of hype with some pitchers coming into 0:04:54.120 --> 0:04:57.920 the season. McLean looks good. He's a really good pitcher. 0:05:00.080 --> 0:05:03.360 Some of the other youngsters haven't really popped as hope. 0:05:03.440 --> 0:05:06.000 That doesn't mean that they won't. Sometimes pitching takes a 0:05:06.040 --> 0:05:08.440 little while. We just saw it with Ben Brown, right, 0:05:09.480 --> 0:05:11.560 It can take a little while to figure things out. 0:05:11.839 --> 0:05:16.120 But that's a team that where the fans should be 0:05:16.400 --> 0:05:18.599 booing them and not saying you can't boot the Cubs. 0:05:18.760 --> 0:05:21.360 If they stink in and they're playing poorly and you're frustrated, 0:05:21.400 --> 0:05:23.839 go boot them if you want. My point is like 0:05:23.920 --> 0:05:27.440 that that's a team that, Yeah, like talking about them 0:05:27.480 --> 0:05:30.920 as contenders or buyers would be silly right now. They 0:05:31.120 --> 0:05:33.960 have a lot of work to change that narrative. The 0:05:34.040 --> 0:05:36.240 Cubs don't have a lot of work to change the narrative. 0:05:36.240 --> 0:05:38.400 They have a lot of work to do because they're 0:05:38.440 --> 0:05:41.960 banged up and there are major concerns with the pitching 0:05:41.960 --> 0:05:45.720 staff and the bullpen. But they're not out of it. 0:05:46.200 --> 0:05:49.400 They're they're in this race. And and I think it's 0:05:49.480 --> 0:05:52.040 it's easy to fall into the trap of seeing what's 0:05:52.279 --> 0:05:55.000 what you're like taking what you just saw, and and 0:05:55.080 --> 0:06:00.760 that's that's the full reality. But Dance beats and stunk 0:06:00.800 --> 0:06:03.599 for a month, and now he's the hottest hitter we've 0:06:03.600 --> 0:06:07.760 ever seen. It feels like these like you just don't 0:06:07.800 --> 0:06:11.560 know how baseball is going to turn, whether it's injuries 0:06:11.560 --> 0:06:14.920 that pop up or hot streaks that pop up. Right now. 0:06:15.040 --> 0:06:17.279 The way I feel when I watch Alex Bregman, I'm like, 0:06:17.400 --> 0:06:18.920 I don't know when this guy is going to hit. 0:06:19.920 --> 0:06:23.360 But like I just said with Dansby Swanson, it can turn. 0:06:24.040 --> 0:06:25.880 We don't know what hit it's going to be. What 0:06:26.000 --> 0:06:29.159 line Drivy hits that makes him feel more confident the play. 0:06:29.279 --> 0:06:32.039 But baseball is weird like that, and this offense is 0:06:32.120 --> 0:06:36.159 built to really, you know, produce at a high level. 0:06:36.200 --> 0:06:39.080 They are statistically one of the best offenses in baseball. 0:06:39.120 --> 0:06:42.839 They take a ton of walks, they they're starting to 0:06:42.880 --> 0:06:46.200 hit for more power. It is a it's a type 0:06:46.200 --> 0:06:48.839 of offense that could carry them for a stretch of play, 0:06:49.080 --> 0:06:51.120 and I think that's what they need and then they'll 0:06:51.120 --> 0:06:55.240 be They will continue to buy as we get closer 0:06:55.279 --> 0:06:56.160 to the deadline. 0:06:58.040 --> 0:07:02.120 Jet Hoyer said it the Cubs were struggling, like pitching 0:07:02.240 --> 0:07:05.000 is going to be our focus at the deadline, even 0:07:05.000 --> 0:07:07.720 though he said the trade deadline is the furthest thing 0:07:07.760 --> 0:07:11.880 from his mind at that moment, But his point was, 0:07:11.880 --> 0:07:15.960 at the backbone of this team is its position players 0:07:16.120 --> 0:07:20.280 that you know, it's the best players on offense have 0:07:20.400 --> 0:07:23.640 to be their best players, period. And they do have 0:07:24.000 --> 0:07:28.760 a lot more optionality on the hitter side. Like, I 0:07:28.760 --> 0:07:32.600 think his general point was, like the offense put him 0:07:32.600 --> 0:07:34.920 in that spot for that ten game losing streak, Like 0:07:34.960 --> 0:07:38.800 everyone just went cold that once, almost everyone. But the 0:07:38.880 --> 0:07:43.760 longer range concern was the pitching staff, and that was 0:07:43.800 --> 0:07:49.360 like maybe five pitching injuries ago, maybe, Like, so what 0:07:49.400 --> 0:07:51.840 the point is being is like, I think if you're 0:07:51.960 --> 0:07:54.320 a Cub's officially you're a Cubs fan, I think you'd 0:07:54.360 --> 0:07:57.800 be okay if like Moisi's biasteris gets called up this 0:07:57.840 --> 0:08:00.560 weekend and then gets like three hundred bats in the 0:08:00.560 --> 0:08:02.400 major leagues. I think you'd be willing to, like see 0:08:02.400 --> 0:08:05.800 what that is. I don't think you're comfortable giving Jordan 0:08:05.880 --> 0:08:09.720 Wicks fifteen starts the rest of the year, and that 0:08:09.920 --> 0:08:13.720 even within that position player group, you have very versatile 0:08:13.760 --> 0:08:16.920 athletic players who can make can play multiple positions. If 0:08:17.120 --> 0:08:20.200 Alex Bregman, like if these injuries happened on the position 0:08:20.240 --> 0:08:24.800 player side, the Cubs could, you know, it wouldn't be comfortable, 0:08:24.800 --> 0:08:28.080 it wouldn't be ideal, But you could play Matt Shot 0:08:28.680 --> 0:08:32.000 at their base. You can. He's already being moved around. 0:08:32.160 --> 0:08:35.600 You know, we saw Nico spell Dansby for a bit 0:08:35.640 --> 0:08:40.440 of a reset here recently, like they're just isn't that 0:08:41.040 --> 0:08:44.800 on the pitching side, particularly when you're talking about you know, 0:08:45.440 --> 0:08:48.160 all these depth starters who are now like front of 0:08:48.200 --> 0:08:53.880 the rotation starters, and you see all these names on 0:08:53.920 --> 0:08:55.040 the injured list. 0:08:55.679 --> 0:08:57.720 Yeah, let's let's take a quick break and talk about 0:08:57.760 --> 0:08:59.920 one of those guys that the Cubs had hoped to 0:09:00.160 --> 0:09:02.240 be back by now, and then we'll see if he's 0:09:02.280 --> 0:09:03.240 back at all this season. 0:09:04.040 --> 0:09:07.920 A sa Geek is MLB's official ticket marketplace, and in 0:09:07.920 --> 0:09:12.080 addition to finding every single game on the MLB calendar, 0:09:12.120 --> 0:09:14.160 there are big events coming up very soon. 0:09:14.640 --> 0:09:16.720 There's an All Star game. There's a home run derby. 0:09:16.760 --> 0:09:18.600 And if you think you're perfect and you can pick 0:09:18.640 --> 0:09:20.440 the right seat at the home run derby to get 0:09:20.480 --> 0:09:22.800 the most home run balls, you can get the little 0:09:22.800 --> 0:09:25.080 green dot and that might be your lucky seat. Don't 0:09:25.080 --> 0:09:27.160 go red dot, though, because you might not get any balls. 0:09:27.400 --> 0:09:30.480 But go redgreen dot and get as many home run 0:09:30.520 --> 0:09:31.920 balls as you think you can catch. 0:09:32.000 --> 0:09:33.800 Yep, you click the seat, you check out what your 0:09:33.880 --> 0:09:36.000 view is. Each ticket's rated on a scale of one 0:09:36.040 --> 0:09:37.839 to ten, so you know you're getting a good deal. 0:09:38.080 --> 0:09:41.000 And that's what AJ's talking about. Green, Good, Red Bad 0:09:41.200 --> 0:09:44.199 with those dots and the code for you Territory one 0:09:44.320 --> 0:09:46.640 zero for ten percent off your next set of tickets 0:09:46.679 --> 0:09:50.120 at Sea Geek. That's ten percent off any MLB tickets 0:09:50.360 --> 0:09:53.720 with promo code Territory ten. Make sure you click the 0:09:53.720 --> 0:09:56.320 link in the description of this episode that'll help you 0:09:56.360 --> 0:09:59.600 download the app and then get the code automatically added 0:09:59.640 --> 0:10:01.560 to your count so that you can use it later. 0:10:01.920 --> 0:10:03.599 Thank you to Zeki. 0:10:05.080 --> 0:10:09.360 Okay Patrick, Justin Steele, we've talked about this quite a bit. 0:10:10.600 --> 0:10:18.040 Who knows when he's coming back, But Jed Hoyer went 0:10:18.080 --> 0:10:22.640 on the radio on Tuesday, I believe it was when 0:10:22.679 --> 0:10:24.880 on The Score. Our friends at the Score talked to 0:10:24.920 --> 0:10:29.480 him and he basically said, you know, it's a long 0:10:29.520 --> 0:10:33.280 shot for Steele to help this team as a starter, 0:10:33.960 --> 0:10:35.840 for him to get lengthened out and rarely help this 0:10:35.880 --> 0:10:38.120 team as a starter. He could give them some innings, 0:10:38.160 --> 0:10:41.520 possibly out of the bullpen, but the timeline just doesn't 0:10:41.640 --> 0:10:43.800 you know, it's not realistic for him to do that. 0:10:44.120 --> 0:10:46.439 I think we've kind of been if we haven't flat 0:10:46.480 --> 0:10:49.600 out said that, I think we've been kind of hinting 0:10:49.679 --> 0:10:53.200 at that. It didn't make sense. The timeline just didn't 0:10:53.240 --> 0:10:55.920 make a lot of sense. But Hoyer's come out and 0:10:55.960 --> 0:11:01.280 said it plainly now there. I think he said some 0:11:01.320 --> 0:11:03.880 things about like let's hope for a healthy twenty twenty 0:11:03.960 --> 0:11:08.240 seven season, things like that. But we're supposed to talk 0:11:08.280 --> 0:11:11.240 to him on Thursday. We're recording on a Thursday right now. 0:11:11.280 --> 0:11:14.440 So maybe when this comes out fans will have more 0:11:14.480 --> 0:11:17.480 reaction from Hoyer and see if he regrets saying that 0:11:17.559 --> 0:11:20.080 on the radio or anything like that. But I think 0:11:20.080 --> 0:11:24.840 he's just stating the facts and not trying to like 0:11:25.440 --> 0:11:28.720 put a spin on on what's realistic here. 0:11:30.360 --> 0:11:33.280 Yeah, it was still just odd timing of like Steel 0:11:34.120 --> 0:11:41.440 restarts his throwing program, and Jed sort of just sounded 0:11:41.480 --> 0:11:45.280 a little, I don't know, annoyed by the topic or 0:11:45.360 --> 0:11:52.320 just it just seems like, you know, he's been very 0:11:52.400 --> 0:11:57.320 much like take it's low, we can't over promise, like 0:11:57.440 --> 0:12:05.959 let's maintain or temper expectations. And Steele obviously wishes he 0:12:06.240 --> 0:12:08.360 could have been pitching weeks ago, like he was shooting 0:12:08.400 --> 0:12:12.480 for late May early June, had the setback with the 0:12:12.559 --> 0:12:18.600 flexer strain, and you could see how you know, enthusiastic 0:12:18.679 --> 0:12:21.839 he is, like this happened as sort of happened in 0:12:21.880 --> 0:12:24.280 spring training when he saw doctor Meister and is like, oh, 0:12:24.280 --> 0:12:26.960 I'm cleared now, and it was there there was some 0:12:27.000 --> 0:12:30.040 confusion because he was so excited to share that news 0:12:30.080 --> 0:12:32.960 on social media, and he talked to us subsequent to 0:12:33.000 --> 0:12:35.760 that of like, you know, the ideas we're gonna be 0:12:35.800 --> 0:12:38.160 pitching in the biggest games of the year, and this 0:12:38.280 --> 0:12:41.480 was reassuring, and the Cubs were just kind of like, 0:12:42.480 --> 0:12:46.280 you know, comes officials were like, well, nothing's really changed. 0:12:46.280 --> 0:12:48.600 It was like good to hear it was positive reinforcement, 0:12:48.640 --> 0:12:51.240 but this doesn't really change the timeline. And I think 0:12:51.240 --> 0:12:54.920 some of this is natural, Like I think that tension 0:12:55.000 --> 0:12:58.439 is like the player feels a certain way, and obviously 0:12:58.520 --> 0:13:01.120 the guys in khakis and polls have to look at 0:13:01.160 --> 0:13:04.440 a different way. If you're a Craig Counsel in the dugout, 0:13:04.600 --> 0:13:09.400 you're kind of balancing both of those viewpoints all the time. 0:13:09.679 --> 0:13:10.079 And so. 0:13:11.960 --> 0:13:13.880 I'd ask Stele a version of this question during the 0:13:13.920 --> 0:13:16.000 last home stand and he said, I'm building up to 0:13:16.000 --> 0:13:19.160 be a starter, and you know, he thinks there's time. 0:13:20.640 --> 0:13:23.000 We know how Counsel likes using his outgetters, like he 0:13:23.040 --> 0:13:28.280 can get creative with that and you know, still also 0:13:28.360 --> 0:13:34.960 re emphasize that his goal is to be pitching well 0:13:35.720 --> 0:13:38.840 and feeling strong for the biggest games of the year, 0:13:39.320 --> 0:13:43.439 and I think that's still in play. I don't think 0:13:43.440 --> 0:13:46.240 there was some sort of like setback that made Jed said. 0:13:46.320 --> 0:13:48.839 I think, you know, we've known him a long time. 0:13:49.920 --> 0:13:53.120 It feels like if he finds a certain topic or 0:13:53.440 --> 0:13:58.839 questions somewhat repetitive, sometimes he will just be a little 0:13:58.840 --> 0:14:02.280 more candid and you know, maybe a little more frustrated, 0:14:02.600 --> 0:14:06.600 just like you know, and again it's all these injuries 0:14:06.600 --> 0:14:08.960 piling up to you know what I mean. It's just 0:14:09.040 --> 0:14:12.840 like if Steele has a setback, but everyone's healthy and 0:14:12.920 --> 0:14:17.720 things are going well, maybe he's I don't know, maybe 0:14:17.760 --> 0:14:20.960 his messaging is a little bit different. Like Jed's very composed, 0:14:21.440 --> 0:14:23.920 He's been doing this a long time. He's very savvy 0:14:24.320 --> 0:14:27.200 with the media. To his credit, he is very available 0:14:27.680 --> 0:14:31.200 as an executive. It's not like that in certain sports 0:14:31.480 --> 0:14:37.320 or certain organizations within baseball like it is much appreciated. 0:14:37.320 --> 0:14:40.040 I think he benefits from how available he is and 0:14:40.080 --> 0:14:44.720 how he's willing to explain the organization's point of view. 0:14:45.080 --> 0:14:46.600 But yeah, every once in a while he says something, 0:14:46.600 --> 0:14:51.240 you're like, oh really, that seemed, you know, pretty pointed, right. 0:14:52.560 --> 0:14:56.640 I think it's also important to note that as much 0:14:56.640 --> 0:15:01.000 as I don't think players are lying to us, you 0:15:01.160 --> 0:15:03.800 have to take what a player says about their injury 0:15:03.800 --> 0:15:06.040 with a grain of salt. They are they want to 0:15:06.040 --> 0:15:09.080 be more positive, and they should be like the part 0:15:09.120 --> 0:15:11.760 of like rehab is like there's a mental grind. I 0:15:11.800 --> 0:15:17.720 talked to Steel briefly on Tuesday, I think, or no, 0:15:17.840 --> 0:15:21.160 it was it was Monday, because we were in the 0:15:21.160 --> 0:15:24.840 clubhouse Monday before the game got rained out and and 0:15:25.240 --> 0:15:27.040 you know, he was just happy to be back with 0:15:27.120 --> 0:15:33.320 the guys and and and not like siloed off in Arizona. 0:15:33.760 --> 0:15:37.120 Rehabbing it's it's can be depressing, Like frankly, it's it's 0:15:37.160 --> 0:15:41.200 it's like a hard mental grind. Uh. So they have 0:15:41.280 --> 0:15:44.200 to look at it in a positive manner. So if 0:15:44.240 --> 0:15:46.880 we just take their word for it, we're going to 0:15:46.920 --> 0:15:50.320 get the positive spin. You have to be really careful 0:15:50.360 --> 0:15:53.560 listening to players because players will say I'm fine, I'm good, 0:15:54.040 --> 0:15:56.560 and then X rays will come back and and it's 0:15:56.680 --> 0:16:00.560 like you're actually out for three months, uh, you know, 0:16:00.880 --> 0:16:03.480 And that's not to say that what you said is 0:16:03.480 --> 0:16:06.560 absolutely right. There was no step back there, like he's throwing. 0:16:06.640 --> 0:16:12.360 He threw again. I saw him throw again Wednesday. So 0:16:12.920 --> 0:16:16.040 through Monday, he through Wednesday. He's out there. He's trying 0:16:16.080 --> 0:16:19.920 to build back up. We'll see where this goes. I 0:16:19.960 --> 0:16:22.160 still think the math makes it really hard for him 0:16:22.200 --> 0:16:27.480 to be this sixth inning starter for the team this season. 0:16:27.840 --> 0:16:30.000 But you know that doesn't mean he's not going to 0:16:30.120 --> 0:16:33.960 try and get to that and prove the doubters wrong. 0:16:35.040 --> 0:16:38.680 So yeah, I think you're right. Like sometimes Jed, like 0:16:38.760 --> 0:16:42.400 here's this stuff and it's like that's not really like exactly, 0:16:42.520 --> 0:16:45.160 that's a little bit too positive, or you know, I'm 0:16:45.200 --> 0:16:47.120 not sure if that's gonna happen, and he feels the 0:16:47.200 --> 0:16:48.920 need to kind of correct the narrative. 0:16:49.800 --> 0:16:52.440 Well, it was certainly revealing just tying it back to 0:16:52.480 --> 0:16:55.160 the idea of the trade deadline here of like the 0:16:55.200 --> 0:16:56.880 Cubs aren't looking at it like, oh, we have an 0:16:56.920 --> 0:17:00.080 all star pitcher in reserve who's gonna be healthy, like 0:17:00.680 --> 0:17:04.520 fully healthy and operational August Fifth, Like that's not how 0:17:05.600 --> 0:17:10.520 they're viewing it. I know. Sometimes you know, executives like 0:17:10.560 --> 0:17:12.359 to say that, like you know, that's kind of the 0:17:12.520 --> 0:17:16.840 trade deadline cliche of well, once so and so get healthy, 0:17:16.960 --> 0:17:21.280 that'll be like a trade deadline acquisition. And you know, 0:17:21.320 --> 0:17:25.640 maybe that's what still becomes. I think the Cubs could 0:17:25.640 --> 0:17:28.960 deploy him in some big moments and he could pick 0:17:29.480 --> 0:17:34.280 you know, pitch and some really enormous innings and situations 0:17:34.320 --> 0:17:36.960 for them. But I think they're going to be careful. 0:17:37.240 --> 0:17:41.560 I you know, I tend to doubt the Cubs, say, 0:17:41.720 --> 0:17:44.760 trading for a Cy Young Award winner who's about to 0:17:44.840 --> 0:17:46.840 be a free agent like that just doesn't seem like 0:17:47.280 --> 0:17:50.439 kind of in their DNA. That's not the team that 0:17:50.480 --> 0:17:53.119 we're seeing on a field right now. That's certainly not 0:17:53.240 --> 0:17:56.080 what the math says in terms of their odds to 0:17:56.119 --> 0:17:59.240 win the division and secure that first round by that 0:17:59.359 --> 0:18:04.480 Jed has trumpeted as a very important part of their calculus. 0:18:04.520 --> 0:18:09.440 But you know, would not be surprised if at some point, 0:18:09.520 --> 0:18:12.240 you know, in the second half of the season, Steel 0:18:12.680 --> 0:18:17.520 does re emerge and looks pretty good. I mean, that's 0:18:17.680 --> 0:18:21.000 you know, certainly what they're hopeful, hopeful for. But they're 0:18:21.040 --> 0:18:22.840 not banking on It's not like they pass on a 0:18:22.920 --> 0:18:26.720 trade because oh well, we have justin Steel coming back 0:18:26.760 --> 0:18:29.720 by this date. Like, no, it seems like they're just 0:18:30.440 --> 0:18:33.479 hoping for a pleasant surprise rather than like penciling his 0:18:33.560 --> 0:18:37.199 name into any sort of you know, major plans for 0:18:37.280 --> 0:18:37.840 this season. 0:18:38.520 --> 0:18:41.600 Yeah, let's let's talk a little bit about potential I 0:18:41.600 --> 0:18:45.840 guess prospects that you could look at. Let's take to 0:18:45.920 --> 0:18:48.399 the temperature of this system. Essentially, I don't know if 0:18:48.400 --> 0:18:50.080 they're going to trade every single one of these guys 0:18:50.080 --> 0:18:52.000 we talk about. In fact, I think they're going to 0:18:52.000 --> 0:18:54.159 cling to some of them. But let's touch on that. 0:18:54.320 --> 0:18:55.439 Take a quick break first. 0:18:56.359 --> 0:18:59.320 This episode is brought to you by fan Duel Baseball. 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I plan to 0:20:06.400 --> 0:20:10.120 answer some mail bag questions at Cubs. Pictures keep getting injured, 0:20:10.240 --> 0:20:12.520 and I and I you know, I don't have time 0:20:12.600 --> 0:20:15.880 to fully answer these questions. One question I have seen 0:20:16.920 --> 0:20:21.800 kind of repeatedly was why does this farm Why is 0:20:21.800 --> 0:20:25.440 this farm system so bad? Why? Why are they unable 0:20:25.520 --> 0:20:29.840 to develop any talent? If you want to focus on 0:20:29.880 --> 0:20:33.800 the pitching, I think that's fair that they have some 0:20:33.960 --> 0:20:41.280 issues with player development and drafting with pictures, and and 0:20:41.359 --> 0:20:44.240 I think they've they've started to address it. We've talked 0:20:44.240 --> 0:20:46.760 a lot about the changes, but they may they're making 0:20:46.760 --> 0:20:48.960 some changes with player development, they're making some changes with 0:20:49.000 --> 0:20:53.959 the draft. We'll see how quickly. It can impact the system, 0:20:54.359 --> 0:20:58.200 but they are addressing it. I disagree that the system's 0:20:58.280 --> 0:21:02.240 like terrible or that they have no talent, and I 0:21:02.359 --> 0:21:04.480 actually think they're doing a pretty good job with the 0:21:04.560 --> 0:21:09.280 hitting talent. I mean they've traded guys, obviously Cam Smith 0:21:10.720 --> 0:21:14.760 whose other big bads higher hope, and those guys got 0:21:14.880 --> 0:21:17.680 like they got really good players for them. They also 0:21:17.760 --> 0:21:20.760 traded some pitchers. Ty Johnson is with Rays. I think 0:21:20.760 --> 0:21:23.680 he's doing pretty solid in their system. He was part 0:21:23.720 --> 0:21:25.960 of the Esa Paradis trade that ended up getting them 0:21:26.040 --> 0:21:30.840 Kyle Tucker. They traded DJ Hurs, who's gotten hurt a 0:21:30.840 --> 0:21:33.880 lot for the Nationals. I think that was Jamer Candelario. 0:21:36.240 --> 0:21:38.400 Jackson Ferris was part of the Michael Bush trade. There's 0:21:38.440 --> 0:21:42.200 some other pitchers that like. So it's not as dreadful 0:21:42.359 --> 0:21:44.879 as the system actually as some people actually make it 0:21:44.880 --> 0:21:46.880 out to be. And I think the rankings have them 0:21:46.920 --> 0:21:49.440 like in the you know, twenty to twenty five range. 0:21:49.480 --> 0:21:51.720 I think the Cubs would believe they're more mid tier 0:21:51.880 --> 0:21:55.200 like thirteen to sixteen range. And I can see that 0:21:55.320 --> 0:22:00.080 argument before I get to some of the bats. I 0:22:00.080 --> 0:22:05.960 think we can update people on Jackson Wiggins Wiggins pitched. 0:22:06.520 --> 0:22:08.160 I'm going to get the days wrong, but he pitched 0:22:08.160 --> 0:22:11.000 in the Complex League for a start, then made a 0:22:11.040 --> 0:22:14.000 South Bend start, I believe over the weekend last weekend, 0:22:14.040 --> 0:22:17.760 maybe Sunday, and I was told that his next start 0:22:17.800 --> 0:22:21.200 will be with Triple A. We'll see if that's still 0:22:21.200 --> 0:22:24.520 the plan. Sometimes these things change due to weather, due 0:22:24.560 --> 0:22:27.000 to travel plans, due to like, hey, let's just keep 0:22:27.040 --> 0:22:30.040 them with this team, and we want to see something 0:22:30.040 --> 0:22:32.440 else before we move him up. Who knows, but right 0:22:32.440 --> 0:22:34.800 now I believe the next start would be Triple A. 0:22:35.119 --> 0:22:38.720 I don't think he's like next call big leagues. I 0:22:38.720 --> 0:22:41.320 think he needs to build up some innings. And I 0:22:41.359 --> 0:22:42.919 don't want to say it's been a good thing that 0:22:43.080 --> 0:22:46.760 his elbow is barking, but also it limited his innings 0:22:47.280 --> 0:22:48.959 because he wasn't going to be able to pitch one 0:22:49.040 --> 0:22:52.439 hundred and sixty or whatever innings this season after whatever 0:22:52.440 --> 0:22:58.240 he threw last year. So you know, we'll see if 0:22:58.280 --> 0:23:02.240 he's an option. I'd be surprised if he's a trade option, 0:23:02.520 --> 0:23:05.400 but maybe you try and maximize a guy, and if 0:23:05.400 --> 0:23:07.680 there's a big you said they're not going to trade 0:23:07.720 --> 0:23:10.080 for like a rental Cy Young winner, Like I guess 0:23:10.280 --> 0:23:14.680 that would be Schooble. I agree with that, but could 0:23:14.720 --> 0:23:17.679 they Like it's really hard to pull off these deals 0:23:17.680 --> 0:23:19.760 like we saw last year. They just couldn't pull it off. 0:23:19.760 --> 0:23:21.679 But like a guy with a year and a half left, 0:23:21.880 --> 0:23:25.240 that's really good. Maybe I think that would be much 0:23:25.240 --> 0:23:28.080 more interesting for them and something that they'd pursue. It's 0:23:28.280 --> 0:23:31.359 really hard to pull those off a because it costs 0:23:31.359 --> 0:23:34.639