Both of these things can be true: The Cubs significantly improved their roster and missed a great opportunity. Time will tell whether the Cubs made the right moves at the trade deadline, but Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are here to give you their instant analysis. The Athletic writers break down each deal, relay what Jed Hoyer’s front office was thinking and explain why the Cubs didn’t acquire that top-of-the-rotation starter for Game 1 of a potential playoff series at Wrigley Field.Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL to get $150 in bonus bets with a $5 bet! #DKPartnerGet 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOUL

With the trade deadline looming, the Cubs took one potential distraction off the table, finalizing a deal with president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer. What does this mean? And where do the Cubs go from here? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain the timing, assess the Hoyer era thus far and describe the clubhouse reactions. While this rebuilding project now looks promising, the job is still incomplete. Go to Superpower.com and use code FOUL to get $50 off your annual Superpower subscription. Live up to your 100-Year potential. #superpowerpod Go to Surfshark.com/foul or use code FOUL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!

The death of “Ryno” hit people hard. The Hall of Famer bonded generations of Cubs fans who watched him perform at Wrigley Field and on the WGN superstation. More than that, though, Ryne Dee Sandberg carried himself with grace and humility, playing the game the right way, as he so eloquently described in a memorable Cooperstown speech. For perspective, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney describe a somber scene in the postgame clubhouse and the connection felt by the current group of Cubs. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL to get $150 in bonus bets with a $5 bet! #DKPartner Go to Surfshark.com/foul or use code FOUL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!

As the baseball industry heats up in late July, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are back to answer more questions from listeners. The trade deadline, of course, remains the big topic. Why have things been relatively quiet so far? What would it take to move Owen Caissie in a deal? Could the Cubs put some major-league players on the block? Plus more on the new-and-improved atmosphere in the clubhouse and the genius of Shota Imanaga. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL to get $150 in bonus bets with a $5 bet! #DKPartner Try Huel with 15% OFF for New Customers today using code FOUL at https://huel.com/foul. Fuel your best performance with Huel today!

It’s no secret that the Cubs are actively searching for more pitching and trying to make deals within this final week before the trade deadline. Between injuries, organizational pressure and a neck-and-neck race with the Brewers, it’s inevitable that the Cubs will make additions to their rotation and bullpen. Who is on their radar? Virtually every player who might get traded this summer. But The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney narrow it down to 22 names through their reporting and institutional knowledge. Get 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOUL Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL to get $150 in bonus bets with a $5 bet! #DKPartner

The Brewers will not let up, forcing the Cubs to stay on top of their game and turning this into a true division race. With the July 31 trade deadline fast approaching, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney empty their notebooks and share what they’re hearing about the situation at third base, some new pitching names on the radar and how the bullpen could be reorganized for the playoff push. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL to get $150 in bonus bets with a $5 bet! #DKPartner Try Huel with 15% OFF for New Customers today using code FOUL at https://huel.com/foul. Fuel your best performance with Huel today!

Looking ahead to the second half, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain what Kyle Tucker has brought to the Cubs and the expectations that both sides have at this point. With Tucker being the potential No. 1 free agent this offseason, the Cubs have to maximize their time with the All-Star outfielder. What sort of trade chips will team president Jed Hoyer bring to the table? Listen and find out. Start paying rent through Bilt and take advantage of your Neighborhood Benefits™ by going to joinbilt.com/FOULDownload the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL to get $150 in bonus bets with a $5 bet! #DKPartner

With the All-Star break almost over, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney answer questions from listeners about the Cubs’ plans for the trade deadline and whether president of president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has already earned a contract extension. Plus a few more updates on what to expect in the second half. Get 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOUL Start paying rent through Bilt and take advantage of your Neighborhood Benefits™ by going to joinbilt.com/FOUL

The Cubs should enjoy their All-Star break, because they will be immediately tested. From a Brewers team that won’t go away to a pressure-packed trade deadline to the playoffs-or-bust expectations, there won’t be many dull moments. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney identify the major storylines that will determine whether this season is a success or a failure. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL to get $150 in bonus bets with a $5 bet! #DKPartner TAP IN to get 20% off Nex Playground, a $50 savings! Play over 45 games including Fruit Ninja, Starri, and Homerun Heroes: Starstrikers!

Through their reporting, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney have some on the names on Chicago’s radar as the baseball industry approaches the July 31 trade deadline. Besides specific targets, the two beat writers from The Athletic also explain the broader thinking in the front office and the clubhouse, how the Cubs are looking at both this year and next season while evaluating talent and all sorts of possibilities. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL to get $150 in bonus bets with a $5 bet! #DKPartner Try Huel with 15% OFF for New Customers today using code FOUL at https://huel.com/foul. Fuel your best performance with Huel today!

It’s that time of year. Cubs officials are simultaneously preparing for the 2025 MLB Draft and the July 31 trade deadline. For insights and perspective on what’s going on behind the scenes at Wrigley Field, pay attention to Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, who sits down for a wide-ranging Q&A with The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney. It’s a must-listen interview that gets into the dynamics within the trade market, what the Cubs are looking for right now, the calculus around Kyle Tucker, Craig Counsell’s influence and much more.

The Cubs put on a great show over the holiday weekend, dominating the Cardinals on the Fourth of July and “Sunday Night Baseball.” The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney compare their notes from Wrigley Field, sharing the latest on the club’s ideas for the trade deadline and beyond. Plus more on how the Cubs will navigate Jameson Taillon’s injury and why Matthew Boyd is such a deserving All-Star. Go to GreenChef.com/50TERRITORY and use code 50TERRITORY to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping.

As a first-place team on the Fourth of July, the Cubs already know what direction they’re heading, planning to make big moves at the trade deadline at the end of the month. For an overview of what the front office is thinking at this moment, listen to The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney, who go over the club’s needs, the other teams to watch and the players who could be on the move by July 31. Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com and enter the promo code FOUL.

With two-thirds of the National League’s starting outfield, the Cubs will be well-represented at Major League Baseball’s showcase event. But Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker aren’t the only Cubs who deserve to make the trip to Atlanta. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain Crow-Armstrong’s journey to this moment and Tucker’s unflappable nature during a contract year. Their presence has allowed Seiya Suzuki to flourish. This first-place team also features several pitchers who should be in the conversation. Get 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOUL.

At the beginning of July, the Cubs are in a prime position to add at the trade deadline. Jed Hoyer, the club’s president of baseball operations, confirmed his front office is fully confident the resources will be there for significant midseason acquisitions. The Kyle Tucker situation is a little more complicated, which adds to the sense of urgency this season. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney break it all down with the latest insights from Wrigley Field. Go to harrys.com/FOUL for a $6 Trial Set. Get an edge on your shave with Harry’s. Buy or sell your next car today at CarGurus.com and make sure your big deal is the best deal.

After 81 games, the Cubs are leading their division and fueling hopes for October baseball at Wrigley Field. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney break down the major surprises, developments and disappointments in the first half, from Kyle Tucker’s huge impact to Pete Crow-Armstrong’s breakthrough to the setbacks that rearranged the pitching staff. Now what? Keep listening for the coming attractions and what to anticipate ahead of the trade deadline. 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. Try Huel with 15% OFF for New Customers today using code FOUL at https://huel.com/foul. Fuel your best performance with Huel today!

During this high-flying season, Pete Crow-Armstrong has established himself as a legitimate MVP candidate who does so many things the right way for a first-place team. But the mental mistakes during a rivalry game in St. Louis cannot be ignored. Especially when the rotation looks shaky, the lineup doesn’t seem as deep and the division race has become much tighter. Try Huel with 15% OFF for New Customers today using code FOUL at https://huel.com/foul. Fuel your best performance with Huel today! Get 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOUL.

With a four-game series unfolding at Busch Stadium, The Athletic’s Katie Woo, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney get together for a crossover episode of North Side Territory/Cardinal Territory. The discussion revolves around how these two clubs will approach the trade deadline, the succession plan in the St. Louis front office and Willson Contreras’ attitude during this transition period. The division is still up for grabs, and the Cardinals are still lurking. Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/hap8idx8 #CashAppPod *Referral Reward Disclaimer: As a Cash App partner, I may earn a commission when you sign up for a Cash App account. Go to SpotandTango.com/foul and use code foul to get 50% off your first order.

A blockbuster deal between the Red Sox and Giants doesn’t necessarily mean that the trade market is about to heat up, but it does reframe certain things for the Cubs, an organization that once saw Rafael Devers as a potential fit. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain what this trade means on the North Side, where Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow used to work closely with Cubs president Jed Hoyer. The Cubs are very familiar with these dramas, but the vibes right now are very calm. How long will that last? Get 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOUL. Schedule your PXG golf club fitting today at PXG.com/foul to save up to 20% on your entire order. Restrictions apply, see site for details.

Though Pete Crow-Armstrong says he’s not interested in participating in the Home Run Derby this summer, it’s clear that people want to see “PCA” running around the All-Star Game. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney describe what it’s like to cover one of the biggest personalities in baseball right now. Plus, with the Brewers visiting Wrigley Field, a look at how Craig Counsell is pushing all the right buttons, showing why the Cubs made such a big investment in their manager. 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. Buy or sell your next car today at CarGurus.com and make sure your big deal is the best deal.