Its A Family Thing Talking Cubs Baseball

#226: End Of The Cubs Season

October 14, 2025·53 min·5 clips

The Cubs rank 11th in payroll despite being in a large market, sparking frustration over their spending restraint.

This episode is a post-season analysis of the Chicago Cubs' playoff exit and a look ahead to the team's future. Hosts Logan and his father, both dedicated Cubs fans, dissect the recent series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs lost the National League Division Series three games to two, with the home team winning every contest. Offensive struggles were a recurring issue, highlighted by a 3-1 series loss to the San Diego Padres where the Cubs scored only two total runs. In the decisive Game 5 against Milwaukee, the Cubs managed only four solo home runs and failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position. The hosts project a 2026 starting rotation featuring Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Hayden Wesneski, Javier Assad, and Jordan Wicks, with Steele potentially returning from injury by June. They examine the Cubs' current payroll, citing figures around $166 million for committed contracts and roughly $187 million including arbitration estimates. The conversation turns to the potential free agency of Kyle Tucker, with speculation about a contract possibly reaching $300-400 million. Internal outfield options for 2026 are identified as Pete Crow-Armstrong, Owen Caissie, and Kevin Alcántara, though a trade of Alcántara is suggested. The hosts also discuss the possibility of trading right fielder Seiya Suzuki before his contract expires after the 2026 season. Extending the contracts of infielders Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ is presented as a key offseason priority for the front office. The episode concludes with playoff predictions, as both hosts select the Los Angeles Dodgers to advance past Milwaukee in the National League. Logan chooses the Seattle Mariners to represent the American League, citing their historic lack of a World Series appearance, while his father picks the Toronto Blue Jays due to their home-field advantage. A memorable aside describes Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto effortlessly throwing a baseball 350 feet during a casual warm-up. The hosts express a desire for the Cubs to more aggressively utilize their financial resources as a large-market team to supplement the roster. They note the value of veteran presence, like that of Justin Turner, for mentoring young players such as Pete Crow-Armstrong. The tone is conversational and analytical, blending fan passion with a detailed breakdown of roster construction and finances. This episode will appeal to Cubs fans seeking a thorough autopsy of the playoff loss and a forward-looking roster discussion. Listeners preferring game-by-game recaps or interviews with players might find the speculative, front-office-focused content less engaging.

As heard by us

A blunt Cubs wrap that turns a 3-2 Brewers loss into real questions about the lineup, Tucker, and the bullpen.

The episode centers on the Cubs' 3-2 loss to Milwaukee, and its main strength is the way it contrasts what happens at Wrigley with what unfolds on the road while sorting through why the offense went quiet at the wrong moment.

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Why you'd press play

If you want a calm Cubs postmortem, this one sticks with the Brewers series and what comes next.

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