Cubs Talk Podcast

Cubs sign Joc Pederson with newfound payroll flexibility

The Cubs finally made a significant offseason addition by signing outfielder Joc Pederson. According to David Kaplan, the Ricketts family expanded the Cubs' 2021 budget enough for Jed Hoyer to make the move. They're also looking to bring in more pitching and are scouting Jake Arrieta and Jeff Samardzija. Are the Cubs officially announcing they are going for the division? Can they win the division with their current roster? David Kaplan, Maddie Lee, Tim Stebbins, and Gordon Wittenmyer discuss the signing and what it does for the Cubs, and which free agent pitcher should the Cubs sign?(1:40) - Is Joc Pederson an upgrade over Kyle Schwarber?(5:34) - Did the Cubs get another Schwarber in Pederson?(10:10) - Jed Hoyer has scouts looking at Jake Arrieta, Jeff Samardzija and Carlos Rodón.(14:20) - Should the Cubs sign more than one of the pitchers they're looking at?(18:05) - Is Arrieta healthy enough to be a starter still?

Women in baseball: roundtable on sports media in wake of Jared Porter scandal

Now former Mets GM Jared Porter was recently implicated in a sexual harassment scandal, sending a number of lewd and explicit pictures and text messages to a foreign reporter in 2016 — when he was working in the Cubs front office. The Mets fired Porter soon after ESPN reported the scandal, and the Cubs are conducting an investigation. But is that enough, and why is the sports media environment historically conducive to this behavior? NBCS Cubs reporter Maddie Lee is joined by a panel of veteran women sports journalists in Hall of Fame baseball writer Claire Smith, ABC7 Chicago’s Dionne Miller, WBEZ’s Cheryl Raye-Stout, and FOX 10 Phoenix’s Siera Santos. The group discusses the Porter scandal and share stories of their experiences in a male-dominated field.(3:10) - Reactions to Jared Porter's actions with the Cubs in 2016(8:30) - Progression in locker rooms today. Player behavior has improved over the years from where it was in the early days of women sports reporting(15:00) - Examples of players/management misbehaving in locker rooms and on the beat towards women journalists(22:00) - Advice to young women about sports journalism and how they might be unfairly perceived compared to their male counterparts(29:50) - Personal stories of media members and teams backing women who were scared or didn't know what to do.(33:20) - What will come from the MLB and Cubs Porter investigations and how can the sports industry improve its work environment?

No one elected to Baseball Hall of Fame in 2021

The Baseball Hall of Fame voting is in, and no one will be elected in the class of 2021 as controversy still surrounds several of the steroid era players, along with Curt Schilling. David Kaplan, Tim Stebbins, and Hall of Fame voter Gordon Wittenmyer discuss the hotly debated topic of who should and shouldn't get into the Hall and the voting process. Later in the podcast, the crew discusses whether spring training will be delayed.(1:40) - Nobody elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame for class of 2021(6:08) - Which steroid era player should be considered and which ones should not?(14:10) - Has Hall of Fame voting become generational, where younger baseball writers/voters want Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and others associated with PEDs in the Hall, while more veteran writers do not?(20:00) - Will the Baseball Hall of Fame have to create special rules for the steroid era?(30:45) - Will spring training be delayed this year?

Steve Wilkos breaks down the state of the Cubs

The Cubs have a never-ending list of celebrity fans, including TV host and personality Steve Wilkos. Wilkos joins David Kaplan and Gordon Wittenmyer to discuss his lifelong fandom of the Cubs. The crew dives into the Cubs' 2021 offseason, the origin of Wilkos' famous bald head look, his favorite Cub players and Cubs moments, and how he was sitting close to Steve Bartman during that infamous playoff game.(1:40) - Steve Wilkos discusses his passion for the Cubs and the disappointment of the rebuild(6:00) - Did the Cubs get enough for Yu Darvish?(10:30) - Was Theo leaving the right move for the Cubs?(12:10) - How Wilkos joined The Jerry Springer Show and his craziest stories from the show(15:00) - The history of the bald head look(21:50) - Wilkos discusses his days as a Chicago police officer(26:40) - Wilkos sat in the same row as Steve Bartman during Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS(31:30) - Wilkos discusses what he would say to the Ricketts family about the Cubs

Mets fire former Cubs executive Jared Porter for explicit text messages

In 2016, Jared Porter — then a member of the Cubs front office — sent a number of unsolicited, explicit text messages to a female reporter. The Mets fired Porter for his actions on Tuesday. The Cubs Talk crew of David Kaplan, Maddie Lee, and Gordon Wittenmyer discuss Porter's Cubs tenure, how much the Cubs knew about this incident, and the Cubs' investigation into the situation. The crew also dives into the issues in sports culture that make it unwelcoming for women and how it must improve.(2:35) - Maddie Lee: "Glad the Mets did it and did it quickly. Pretty much any woman in the industry has had some sort of similar experience."(7:00) - This incident pushed a woman out of this industry. And Porter was comfortable sending 62 explicit messages. The reason he was comfortable was because so many others have gotten away with it.(11:40) - Is sports culture changing for the better at all?(16:15) - The difference in men and women in sports reporting and things women have to consider that men don't(21:30) - What should women know before entering sports journalism?(26:50) - Cubs are investigating the situation but have stated they didn't know about Porter's actions in 2016

BREAKING: Former Cub Jon Lester agrees to terms with the Washington Nationals

On this emergency Cubs Pod, Jon Lester, one of the greatest free-agent signings in Chicago sports history seemingly goes to finish his career with the Washington Nationals with teammate Kyle Schwarber. But, according to David Kaplan on this podcast, Jon Lester made it clear he wanted to stay a Cub. Did the Cubs not want Jon Lester? Kaplan is joined by Gordon Wittenmyer as they discuss what happened that Jon Lester went east, what money was Lester looking for, and what are the Cubs thinking in not wanting Lester to return?(1:45) - Gordon Wittenmyer "First word that comes to mind on this is EMBARRASSING. You can’t match $4 million?!? You can’t spare that for Jon Lester?"(5:37) - Four-Fifths of the rotation we all agreed wasn’t good enough as it was. Can they realistically compete with what they have?(9:23) - Lester indicated that he wanted to retire as a Cub. Didn’t want to go anywhere else. Wanted 200 wins as a Cub(15:54) - Lester signaled the culture change when he got here. It’s almost unconscionable. (21:00) - If the Cubs are 4 games up in the division, a player goes down. Do they go out and add on or do they start selling off pieces? (24:30) - Cubs culture change

MLB hires former Cubs president Theo Epstein as consultant

Well, that didn't take long. Theo Epstein, the former Cubs president, now sets his sights on larger pursuits, joining MLB as a consultant to the commissioner's office. Epstein will help evaluate potential rule changes to improve the game's entertainment value, which he takes some responsibility for hurting. The Cubs Talk crew of David Kaplan, Gordon Wittenmyer, Maddie Lee, and Tim Stebbins discuss Theo's move and what could be in store for the former Cubs president in the future.(1:40) - First impressions of MLB hiring Theo Epstein(5:05) - What will Theo be doing exactly?(10:20) - Can analytics in baseball be fixed?(14:00) - What is Theo ultimately trying to achieve? Owner? MLB commissioner?(17:40) - Predictions on Theo's future

What would you ask the Ricketts family?

Due to the pandemic, there will be no Cubs Convention this year. But after all the changes the Cubs have made, what would be your one question to the Ricketts family at the annual fan festival? We shot that question to Cubs fans and they responded. David Kaplan, Maddie Lee, Gordon Wittenmyer, and Tim Stebbins discuss and try and answer those questions and statements while discussing what impact the White Sox signing Liam Hendriks has on the Cubs.(2:45) - Comparing the White Sox offseason to the Cubs offseason with the Liam Hendricks signing(8:35) - Will some Cubs fans root for the White Sox this year?(14:30) - Will the Ricketts family be able to be honest with fans about the rebuild?(21:10) - Are the Cubs held to the same standard as the Yankees?(29:10) - Yankees vs. Cubs comparisons(33:46) - Why has the Ricketts family spent money everywhere else but the players?

Trevor Bauer’s agent Rachel Luba discusses Bauer’s free agency

Without a doubt, the top free agent in baseball this offseason just so happens to also be the most polarizing and interesting in Trevor Bauer. To discuss his free agency and the person that is Trevor Bauer, the Cubs Talk podcast is joined by his agent Rachel Luba. Maddie Lee and Gordon Wittenmyer have a deep and interesting conversation about the state of free agency for not just Bauer, but for the rest of the players during a pandemic, what Bauer is looking for in a team to sign him, his social media presence, and how he's viewed around the league and by fans, and if the Cubs have a shot at Bauer. All of that and more on the Cubs Talk podcast.(4:40) - Rachel Luba joins the podcast(5:15) - The odd offseasons for free agency the last few years(12:10) - Are the Cubs in the running for Trevor Bauer?(18:05) - Trevor Bauer pushing boundaries with his outspoken-ness and his use of social media(26:30) - Can Bauer's strategy of using social media to talk directly to fans be a model for future players?(35:45) - The battle between agents and the media(46:50) - How players like Javy Baez and Kris Bryant should handle being under arbitration for multiple years

2021 BOLD Cubs predictions

Happy New Year, Cubs fans! In the first episode of 2021, the Cubs Talk crew of David Kaplan, Gordon Wittenmyer, Maddie Lee, and Tim Stebbins make some bold predictions for the upcoming season. Will the Cubs win the division? Which Cubs will have the breakout year? Which Cubs will perform better than Yu Darvish? Theo freakin' Epstein will save baseball?!! With all the fiery takes this episode produces, you are not going to want to miss it.(1:40) - The Cubs will win the NL Central(6:00) - The Padres will not make the postseason?!(10:35) - Kris Bryant will be a Cub the entire year(16:45) - Ian Happ will sign an extension with the Cubs(24:10) - Jason Heyward will be the best offensive player for the Cubs in 2021(35:48) - Theo Epstein will save baseball