• A chat with Jameson Taillon
    Feb 27 2025

    Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon joined host Andy Martínez on the Cubs Weekly Podcast from the Nike Performance Center in Mesa, Ariz. The righty caught up with Martínez to chat about his offseason and how he prepared for a season that starts earlier than normal because of the Tokyo Series in Japan. Then, Taillon shares how he followed the Cubs’ busy offseason and how much he followed the rumor mill in the winter.

    Later in the pod, Taillon talks about his 2024 season and what he learned about himself in turning in one of his best years. Taillon discusses his role in helping young pitchers and offering mentorship to them. He talks about the Cubs’ goals for 2025 and their desire to be playing in October.

    Before the podcast ends, Taillon offers a peak behind the curtain about the team’s hotly contested video game contests on team flights and the surprising player that is one of the best in those in-air competitions.

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    26 mins
  • Justin Turner signing, camp thoughts
    Feb 20 2025

    Spring training is heating up for the Cubs, with games beginning this week and the Cubs Weekly Podcast breaks it all down. Hosts Andy Martínez and Cole Wright discuss the team’s newest addition, Justin Turner, and what he brings to the team. The duo discusses his role and where he’ll fit on this roster.

    Then, Wright and Martínez assess some of the other additions by Jed Hoyer and the Cubs front office — many of which where players that have plenty of playoff and World Series experience in the past. Later in the podcast, the two discuss Shota Imanaga being the Cubs’ Opening Day starter when they open the season next month in Japan. They break down the impact that the two starting pitchers — Imanaga for the Cubs and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the Dodgers will have on the game of baseball and in that baseball-mad country.

    The pair wrap up the pod by giving their observations from camp — how concerned fans should be about Matt Shaw and what their early impressions of Kyle Tucker have been.

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    26 mins
  • Spring training begins, plus a conversation with Miguel Amaya
    Feb 14 2025

    Alex Bregman will not be joining the Cubs, and the Cubs Weekly Podcast discussed the ramifications. After a few weeks of speculation, the All-Star third baseman reportedly agreed to a 4-year deal with the Red Sox. That paves a path for Matt Shaw to be the team’s everyday third baseman and host Elise Menaker and Andy Martínez broke down the trickle effects. Martínez discussed how the Cubs reacted to the news of Bregman’s deal with Boston and Menaker examined how Shaw could help the team and improve while in the big leagues. The duo also shared some thoughts from camp as full squad workouts get set to begin.

    Later in the podcast, Menaker is joined by Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya. Amaya discusses his offseason, what he focused on to lose weight and build more muscle. Then Amaya, recaps his 2024 campaign, the swing adjustment he made and he hopes to learn from new teammate Carson Kelly. Before they wrapped up, Amaya shares his excitement for Japan and what he’s looking forward to on the opening series next month.

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    26 mins
  • Hall of Famer Andre Dawson
    Feb 6 2025

    Andre Dawson has one of the most unique — and significant — arrivals in Cubs history. The Hall of Fame outfielder stopped by the Cubs Weekly Podcast during Cubs Convention and recapped signing his famous “blank contract” with the Cubs. “The Hawk” joined host Andy Martínez to tell the backstory of that, why he left Montréal and why he felt Chicago was the place for him to be.

    Dawson recalls his 1987 MVP season and the role that fans played in spurring him on that season. He also shares stories of the 1989 team that made the playoffs and had fans optimistic about a World Series run. Dawson shares his memories of the 2016 World Series and what made him so superstitious during Game 7.

    The 21-year big leaguer also talked Ryne Sandberg, what it was like playing for Don Zimmer, the one major league game he had the chance to manage and much more.

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    26 mins
  • A pair of top prospects
    Feb 4 2025

    Kevin Alcántara was sitting in his room in Arizona in late September, waiting to go back home to the Dominican Republic when he got the call of a lifetime from assistant general manager Jared Banner telling him he was going to the big leagues. The Cubs top prospect recalled that special day and much more on a prospect-heavy podcast that features both him and infielder James Triantos. Alcántara joined host Andy Martínez at Cubs Convention to discuss that special day and what it was like to become a major leaguer.

    Then, Alcántara discussed the difficult adjustment of going to the United States for the first time and having to learn a new language, culture and the adjustments that come with that. He discusses the friendships he’s made with other top 100 prospects in the Cubs organization, including Matt Shaw, Triantos and Owen Caissie.

    Later in the podcast, another top-100 prospect Triantos discusses his time in the Cubs system and what it’s like to be a part of such a talent-laden group. He shares his thoughts on some of the most underrated and underlooked prospects the Cubs have, too.

    Alcántara and Triantos have both been in the organization long enough to have seen it rise from one of the game’s weakest to one of the best. They detail what it’s like having seen that and what the players down on the farm share in common as they strive to try and reach Wrigley Field.

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    25 mins
  • Grading the Cubs offseason and a chat with Shawon Dunston
    Jan 30 2025

    The Cubs have been busy in the latter stages of the MLB offseason, including recent moves to acquire veteran reliever Ryan Pressly and infielder Jon Berti.

    Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki analyze all the latest Cubs roster moves and explain how Pressly’s addition impacts the rest of the bullpen. Plus, the podcast duo assesses the Cubs offseason as a whole as Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins have worked to build a playoff team for 2025.

    In the second half of the episode, Cubs Hall of Famer Shawon Dunston joins the podcast. Dunston touches on a variety of topics from Ryne Sandberg to Sammy Sosa to Cubs fans and how they embraced him during his time in Chicago.

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    26 mins
  • Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg
    Jan 23 2025

    In many ways, returning to Cubs Convention was just what Ryne Sandberg needed. As a guest on the Cubs Weekly Podcast, the Hall of Famer and Cubs legend shared what it was like to return to the annual fan fest and see the love and support from the fans.

    Sandberg joined host Andy Martínez, providing an update on his health after announcing late last year that the cancer he had fought in 2024 had returned. Then, the second baseman recalled his statue unveiling day last June, where he was forever immortalized at Wrigley Field.

    Later in the podcast, Sandberg recalled his playing days — sharing the impact that Larry Bowa had on his career, what it was like to be traded to Chicago and where in the world he was when he got the news.

    “Ryno” then remembered June 23, 1984 — the “Sandberg Game” that launched him into stardom. He recalled how excited he and the Cubs were to be named the “Game of the Week” an honor they originally weren’t going to have until a game on the East Coast was rained out. Sandberg’s 2-homer game propelled him to fame and was the highlight of his MVP campaign.

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    26 mins
  • Roki Sasaki sweepstakes and early roster questions
    Jan 16 2025

    Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki has whittled his teams down and the Cubs are reportedly not on it. Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki break down what it means for the Cubs and what comes next.

    Plus, the Cubs were busy late in December and early in January, adding the likes of Vidal Bruján, Colin Rea, Caleb Thielbar and Matt Festa to the team while parting ways with Matt Mervis, Miles Mastrobuoni and Michael Arias.

    The addition of Rea brings about several questions for the Cubs rotation while the bullpen is in a curious spot given the sheer number of players without minor-league options.

    Spring Training is still a month away but there are interesting roster decisions coming for this Cubs team.

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    26 mins