Cubs Talk Podcast

How will Cubs fill the roster and what is the vision for this season?

Now that the season is set to go, the Cubs need to address some issues with the roster. Who should they go after? What positions need to be filled on the main roster? And the big question, is this another rebuilding season or can they go big for the division? David Kaplan returns with Tim Stebbins and Gordon Wittenmyer to discuss the upcoming season and Jed Hoyer's vision for this season.(2:04) -Cubs are projected for 70 wins this season, will they be better than that?(7:40) - Should the Cubs look to add to the roster in trades or continue to fill the farm system?(18:00) - Free agents on the market the Cubs could pursue(26:00) - What is Jed's vision for this team this year?

Play ball: Baseball is back

It's finally here! Baseball is back after the owners and players union agree to a deal now the Cubs can start making moves. Gordon Wittenmyer and Tim Stebbins react to the news, including the terms of the new labor deal, what they mean for the Cubs, and what's next for the Cubs with the season right around the corner.(2:20) - Reaction to MLB lockout being officially over(10:25) - What will the Cubs look like with the DH for the first time ever(16:20) - New arbitration rules allow more money to younger players(23:20) - Where will the top free agents go?

MLB delivers another blow to Wrigleyville businesses

The baseball lockout is hurting the players and fans, but there hasn't been more real-life impact than Wrigleyville, where dozens of businesses rely on the baseball season for most of their annual revenues. Gordon Wittenmyer talks with Sluggers bar, Murphy's Bleachers, Nisei Lounge, and Obvious Shirts to discuss how the lockout has impacted their business.

Cubs VP of Player Development Jared Banner on the new Cubs talent

As the Cubs rebuild for the next era of winning, a key component is developing talent that will contribute to winning baseball in-house, and the person overseeing that for the Cubs is Jared Banner. Jared joins Davis Kaplan and Gordon Wittenmyer to discuss his philosophy on growing talent, the specifics of finding and coaching a young pitcher and hitter, and where he sees the Cubs in the next couple of seasons.

MLB cancels first week of regular season games

Commissioner Rob Manfred announced after a back and forth between the players and owners over the weekend and into Tuesday that an agreement has not yet been made and the first two series of the season will be canceled. Are they close? Will more games be canceled? How will this impact the fans? David Kaplan, Gordon Wittenmyer, and Tim Stebbins discuss the canceled games and where the owners and players stand at this point in negotiations. (2:00) - First reactions to Rob Manfred canceling regular-season games(10:00) - Tony Clark responds to the cancelation of games(18:20) - Additional rules being discussed in negotiations (23:30) - The impact another stoppage can have on the fans

MLB lockout debate with Ryan McGuffey

For a different perspective on the lockout, the crew grabs Ryan McGuffey from the White Sox Talk Podcast to discuss the ongoing lockout. Guff joins David Kaplan, Gordon Wittenmyer, and Tim Stebbins to break down what can change in negotiations to get the season started, what could baseball lose if the lockout continues, and a lot more.

MLB Network’s Dan Plesac on the MLB lockout

Former player and MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac joins David Kaplan and Gordon Wittenmyer to discuss the MLB lockout and what needs to be done in the next week for the season to start on time. Later in the pod, Dan talks about his time as a Cub and what his thoughts were after the Cubs won the World Series.(3:00) - Comparing the strike of 1994 and this year's lockout(10:00) - Owners wanted to lockout the players before the players had a chance to strike(19:00) - How can baseball be fixed?(26:00) - Plesac on playing for the Cubs

Will there be another shortened season or will this season be canceled?

Time is clicking for the owners and players and with them meeting only 15 minutes at a time once a week, it doesn't look promising. Spring Training is already delayed, but is the season at risk? David Kaplan, Tim Stebbins, and Gordon Wittenmyer provide updates and discuss the CBA meetings and if things stay the same, are we headed to another shortened season or will the season be canceled entirely? The guys also talk about the breaking news in the Tyler Skags case, and also they rank the best Cubs acquisitions by Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer.

Professor of labor Gerry Golden on why the owners chose to lockout the players

The MLB lockout continues as the normal offseason activities get moved back. We talked with Eugene Freedman on what the players' side of this is on an early edition of the pod, now we discuss the owners' side with lawyer and professor of labor at the University of Depaul, Gerry Golden. Gerry joins Tim Stebbins and Gordon Wittenmyer to break down why the owners chose to lockout out the players, what does it mean to lock out labor, and what will end the lockout.(2:40) - How does a lockout work for MLB owners(8:00) - Are the owners willing to lose games?(18:40) - What is the legal advantage for the owners to lock out the players?(24:00) - Have the players lost power over the years?

How important is Saturday’s MLB-MLBPA meeting?

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said the league will make a counterproposal to the players union in a scheduled labor negotiation Saturday. How important is it for the offer to assure progress in labor negotiations? Tim Stebbins, David Kaplan, and Gordon Wittenmyer discuss Manfred's comments and if they made things worse or better for an agreement to be made.