North Side Territory: A Chicago Cubs Podcast

With the Cubs rolling into the stretch run, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are back to answer your questions. Does this team have enough left in the tank to overtake the Brewers? How will Craig Counsell and his coaches rearrange the pitching staff once Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown are healthy? Who’s closing the first playoff game? How will the front office replace Seiya Suzuki if he walks as a free agent? Listen for reporting and behind-the-scenes insights from Wrigley Field.

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Jon Lester returns to the show for another wide-ranging conversation with The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney. After attending the 10-year reunion for the 2016 World Series team at Wrigley Field, Lester gives his scouting report on the 2026 Cubs, how they match up with the Dodgers and what works in October. Lester also explains the clubhouse dynamics before and after the trade deadline, plus how the Dodgers recruit free agents and run their business. Lester knows from experience.

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While the Cubs are absorbed in the playoff race, this period after the trade deadline is a good time to reassess the organization’s future. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney break down the roster, the upcoming free agents and some internal replacements on the horizon. Could Ian Happ and/or Seiya Suzuki stick around next season? Would the Cubs consider flanking Pete Crow-Armstrong with Pedro Ramírez and Matt Shaw in the outfield? What about the pitching staff? Plus, some intel on Owen Ayers, a top catching prospect the Cubs did not trade at the deadline, with the idea that he might be a September call-up.

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The Cubs are rolling right now, performing at a level that makes you think they might be able to catch the Brewers in the National League Central race and challenge the Dodgers in October. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are back with some post-deadline notes and observations on the club’s major trade acquisitions, as well as some promising updates on key pitchers who are working their way back to Wrigley Field. Plus, a closer look at Pete Crow-Armstrong’s convincing MVP case.
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How do you like the Cubs now? After the players showed exceptional resiliency and cohesiveness throughout the season, the front office rewarded them with a buying spree at the deadline, giving up young talent to trade for playoff-tested pitchers. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney break it all down with reporting and reactions from Wrigley Field.

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