Patrick Mooney
Verified- Senior Writer, The Athletic
- Host, Wrigleyville Nation's Podcast - Chicago Cubs Discussion, News, & More
- Host, North Side Territory: A Chicago Cubs Podcast (Podcast)
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Articles by Patrick Mooney
Four free agents the Cubs should target to fix their pitching
Money alone won’t fix the broken chain of pitching development within the Chicago Cubs’ organization. But those big-market resources will be central to the Cubs’ efforts to catch the Milwaukee Brewers, the National League pennant winner that finished 14 games ahead of the Cubs in the division. Amid waves of pitching injuries, the Cubs also managed to finish with 89 wins and secure a playoff spot as a wild card, a credit to their solid defense and game-planning system.
Cubs adding Rays official to international scouting as front office reshuffles
In the absence of playoff baseball at Wrigley Field this October, the Chicago Cubs are making changes behind the scenes. Although the full extent of the shake-up is not yet clear — this hiring cycle and the internal deliberations remain ongoing — the club is going in a new direction with international scouting.
Phillies’ Sam Fuld, Cubs’ Jared Banner among candidates for A’s top executive job
As the Athletics establish Las Vegas as their new headquarters, the search for their next top executive includes Philadelphia Phillies president of business operations Sam Fuld and Chicago Cubs assistant general manager Jared Banner, according to sources who were not authorized to speak publicly at this stage of the hiring process. It’s also possible other candidates are in play for the A’s, an itinerant franchise with an indoor stadium scheduled to open on the Las Vegas Strip in 2028.
Sudden Sam McDowell, strikeout artist who struggled with addiction, dies at 84
Sam McDowell, a six-time All-Star for Cleveland whose battles with alcoholism led to another calling as a trusted counselor for professional athletes, has died at the age of 84. Nicknamed “Sudden Sam” for his velocity, McDowell led the American League in strikeouts five times during a six-year period between 1965 and 1970. In his finest individual season, the 6-foot-5 lefty won 20 games, threw 305 innings and finished third in the 1970 AL Cy Young Award voting.
Former Dodgers GM Fred Claire, whose team won 1988 World Series, dies at 91 Original
Fred Claire, a longtime executive for the Los Angeles Dodgers and an architect of their 1988 World Series-winning team, died Monday, on his 91st birthday, the club announced Tuesday morning. Claire, who once worked as a sports journalist in Southern California, brought those communication skills to the Dodgers’ front office, first in public relations and eventually as the general manager of an organization historically known for its robust scouting and player development.
Why Alex Bregman sees the Cubs’ season as a ‘failure’
Alex Bregman sustained at least eight fractures across multiple areas of his face, the result of a freak foul-ball accident that made routine activities such as sleeping and traveling in an airplane uncomfortable. Beginning the final week of the regular season that way — hoping and praying that Bregman hadn’t suffered an even more serious injury — foreshadowed the Chicago Cubs’ disjointed playoff appearance. Bregman, however, offered no such excuses.
‘Everything’s on the table’ for Cubs and Ian Happ heading into a pivotal offseason
Ian Happ spent 12 seasons in the Chicago Cubs’ organization, including extensive time as the team’s union representative, a wide range of experiences that taught him how this business works. Happ has tracked enough changes, beginning as a top-10 pick in the 2015 draft through an abrupt exit from a Wild Card Series this fall, to know that nothing in the baseball industry is permanent.
The Cubs thought Clay Holmes was a ‘perfect fit.’ What happened?
CHICAGO — Despite a disappointing end to the season, the Chicago Cubs are expected to have interest in retaining Clay Holmes, a starting pitcher who holds a $12 million player option for 2027. Assuming Holmes declines that option and becomes a free agent, the Cubs will be dealing with a set of circumstances similar to what led them to acquire him from the New York Mets at the trade deadline.
Rise of the Brewers and wasted opportunities will gnaw at Jed Hoyer all offseason
CHICAGO — Within the Wrigleyville empire, the rise of the Milwaukee Brewers remains a touchy subject for those who run the Chicago Cubs, the baseball team at the center of those satellite businesses. That small-market franchise in Wisconsin hastened the demise of the post-2016 Cubs, the club’s only World Series-winning group in more than a century.
Seiya Suzuki is about to become one of MLB’s most coveted free agents. Will the Cubs bring him back?
Seiya Suzuki, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer believed, would be part of the “Next Great Cubs Team.” Following a staggering sell-off at the 2021 trade deadline, Hoyer’s front office targeted Suzuki as a powerful right-handed hitter with a selective offensive approach, a strong work ethic and the athleticism to be a plus defender in right field.
After wild-card sweep, Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong says he did not ‘show up when it matters’
SAN DIEGO — Inside Petco Park’s visitors’ clubhouse late Wednesday night, Pete Crow-Armstrong took a deep breath and shook his head, still processing the jarring ending to the Chicago Cubs’ up-and-down season. The San Diego Padres secured the final out of this Wild Card Series at 10 p.m. on the West Coast, or the exact moment when the calendar flipped to October at Wrigley Field, which can keep the lights turned off for baseball indefinitely.
Cubs’ offseason: 3 big questions for a second-place team still chasing the Brewers
The entire baseball industry is bracing for a long winter of labor versus management, another round of historically bitter negotiations toward a new collective bargaining agreement and a potentially different economic system. Whether those changes wind up being radical or incremental, the Cubs must work from the baseline that this product simply wasn’t good enough.
Red-hot Padres keep rolling, send the Cubs packing in wild-card sweep
SAN DIEGO — A year after losing a decisive Game 3 at Wrigley Field, the San Diego Padres achieved revenge by sweeping the Chicago Cubs out of Petco Park. Wednesday’s 4-1 victory completed a dominant Wild Card Series by the home team. Xander Bogaerts drove in a run and scored another and Gavin Sheets delivered a pinch hit home run for baseball’s hottest team, which advances to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series.
Cubs deliver a dud on the playoff stage: ‘We did everything wrong’
SAN DIEGO — For anyone who could not stay up late enough to watch the playoff action on the West Coast, this is all you need to know: The Chicago Cubs played their worst game of the year at the worst possible time. And now their season could be over by Wednesday night, before the calendar even turns to October.
Padres seized the spotlight in Game 1. Can the resilient Cubs bounce back?
SAN DIEGO — The Chicago Cubs are on the brink of playoff elimination after the San Diego Padres secured a commanding 8-0 victory in Tuesday’s Game 1 of this National League Wild Card Series at Petco Park. In front of a raucous sellout crowd of 47,084, the Padres executed their game plan almost flawlessly, getting 6 1/3 no-hit innings from Michael King while watching Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts launch home runs.
Matthew Boyd will start Game 1 for the Cubs. Everything else is TBD.
SAN DIEGO — With Kevin Gausman dealing with a lingering shoulder issue, the Chicago Cubs will start Matthew Boyd in Game 1 of their best-of-three Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday at Petco Park. Boyd will match up against Padres starter Michael King. Although it has been an up-and-down, injury-plagued year for Boyd, he still finished strong (10-5, 3.91 ERA in 22 starts) and carries big-game experience.
Cubs’ wild-card roster projection: Alex Bregman is ready to go. What about Kevin Gausman?
While crisscrossing the country during a hectic four-day closing of the regular season — from Wrigley Field to Fenway Park to Florida to the West Coast — the Chicago Cubs were still gathering information on their players and their opponents. Barring any last-minute changes, there shouldn’t be any surprise additions or subtractions with Chicago’s 26-man roster for its best-of-three National League Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres.
Cubs-Padres wild-card preview: It’s Pete Crow-Armstrong vs. Fernando Tatis Jr. in the playoff spotlight
In a rematch of last year’s Wild Card Series, the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs will engage in a best-of-three battle, with the winner advancing to face the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Brewers. During the 2025 playoffs, the Cubs poured so many pitching resources into beating the Padres at Wrigley Field that they were running on fumes by the time they got to Milwaukee.
Weather threatens Cubs-Red Sox series, with move to Florida the contingency plan
CHICAGO — Roller suitcases and equipment bags littered the floor of Wrigley Field’s home clubhouse Thursday morning. The Chicago Cubs’ magic number to clinch a spot in the National League playoffs had been stuck at one for 90-plus hours. Team personnel could complain about the sketchy travel details, lament the missed opportunities or embrace the end-of-season chaos.
Cubs, resilient and resourceful in a roller coaster regular season, clinch playoff berth Original
CHICAGO — It takes only a passing familiarity with the Chicago Cubs’ long, colorful history to know that things never go according to plan. Major League Baseball’s grueling 162-game schedule always bends the computer projections and offseason narratives to a certain degree. The idea is to not break.
Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong joins MLB’s 40-40 club, putting exclamation point on MVP campaign
CHICAGO — On a September night at Wrigley Field, Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell took a moment to appreciate Pete Crow-Armstrong’s astonishing performance. Amid the constant flow of in-game decisions, Counsell paused to share an observation with Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman, seeing Crow-Armstrong’s 43rd and 44th home runs from a wide-angle perspective. “You’re shaking your head in amazement,” Counsell said after Crow-Armstrong powered the Cubs to a Sept.
Cubs must wait to clinch postseason berth — and for Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 40-40 season
CHICAGO — With four games remaining in the regular season, the Chicago Cubs’ magic number to clinch a spot in the National League playoffs remains stuck at one. Backing into the postseason via an Arizona Diamondbacks loss is also a possibility. But this isn’t exactly where the Cubs, boasting the highest-scoring offense and best defense in baseball, expected to be in late September.
Cubs’ Alex Bregman says he’s in a ‘good spot’ with signs pointing to return before playoffs
CHICAGO — After narrowly avoiding a worst-case, season-ending, career-threatening injury, Alex Bregman continues to ramp up his activities in the hopes of rejoining the Chicago Cubs’ lineup before the start of the playoffs.
Cubs considering activating Justin Steele for final regular-season series
CHICAGO — Rather than shut down Justin Steele, the Chicago Cubs are considering activating the lefty pitcher for the final series of the regular season. “He’s an option, I guess, is the best way to say it,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday at Wrigley Field. “He’s going to throw a bullpen tomorrow. The plan is for him to be an option this weekend, possibly.
Alex Bregman avoids the injured list for now as Cubs remain hopeful for a recovery
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are optimistic that Alex Bregman will be able to play again this year — maybe even during the final week of the regular season. Bregman walked through Wrigley Field’s clubhouse before Tuesday’s game, in the direction of the batting cage, while wearing a helmet with a full face guard. Counsell indicated that Bregman has already been cleared to track pitches off the Trajekt machine and go through lighter activities.
Cubs’ Alex Bregman suffered facial fractures in foul ball incident: Sources
The secondary considerations — when Bregman could be able to play again, how effective he would be upon his return and what long-term risks might come with another incident — are moving toward the forefront. Bregman suffered facial fractures and his left eye remained so swollen that the Cubs were still determining next steps on Monday, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke anonymously so as to discuss a fluid situation.
Alex Bregman Taken To Hospital After Freak Injury To Face
Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman was taken to a local hospital Sunday after being struck in the face by a foul ball during the fourth inning of a 9-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds. The ball ricocheted off Michael Busch's check swing and struck Bregman near the on-deck circle, sending him rushing off the field toward the dugout.
Cubs’ Alex Bregman exits early after taking a foul ball to the face
CINCINNATI — While the Chicago Cubs began Sunday on the cusp of clinching a playoff berth, and considering where and when to celebrate that accomplishment, a jarring moment interrupted those plans as soon as a foul ball struck All-Star Alex Bregman in the face. Bregman was standing near the on-deck circle at Great American Ball Park, with the Cubs already leading the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 in the fourth inning.
On verge of clinching, Cubs win playoff-style game and continue home-field push
CINCINNATI — When the Chicago Cubs showed up for work Friday at Great American Ball Park, cases of Budweiser and prosecco were stacked outside the visiting clubhouse. The black leather furniture that’s usually stationed in the middle of the locker room had been relocated to that same corridor. The stickiness of the clubhouse carpet left reporters checking the bottom of their shoes to see if they just stepped on gum.
Alex Bregman takes Cubs on wild ride at Churchill Downs ahead of playoffs
CINCINNATI — The Chicago Cubs are a businesslike club that focuses on daily routines, data-driven decisions and defensive fundamentals, structures that have put the organization on the verge of back-to-back playoff appearances. The new team photo also includes a rookie infielder dressed up as a jockey, pretending to ride a lefty reliever in a horse costume. It’s a long season, and the Cubs hope to be playing until the end of October.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is on the verge of a rare MLB feat. His hitting coach explains the leap
CHICAGO — Visibly irritated, Pete Crow-Armstrong tossed up his bat and snatched it midair with his right hand Wednesday night, beginning the slow walk from home plate back toward Wrigley Field’s home dugout. The crowd of 35,779 had just chanted “M-V-P, M-V-P!” In that fleeting moment, it didn’t matter that the Chicago Cubs held a six-run lead over the Atlanta Braves in the eighth inning. Or that Crow-Armstrong already launched his 43rd and 44th home runs during a game the Cubs would win handily.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, in an MVP season that can’t be wasted, keeps pushing Cubs toward playoffs
CHICAGO — The question isn’t whether Pete Crow-Armstrong will win the National League MVP Award anymore. It’s whether the Chicago Cubs’ superstar will complete a 40/40 season and earn a rare unanimous vote from the 30 members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Shota Imanaga has earned a spot on a potential playoff roster, and the Japanese lefty might be the club’s best pitcher right now.
Cubs at make-or-break point of season as Brewers clinch another division title
CHICAGO — With 10 games remaining, the Chicago Cubs are at the make-or-break point of their season. In two weeks, Wrigley Field could be shaking with the energy from 40,000 fans. The club might be on the road preparing to face Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, or Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. The worst outcome for this big-market franchise — failing to make the playoffs — also can’t be ruled out yet.
Cubs shut down Shelby Miller’s comeback, taking him out of potential playoff bullpen mix
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are shutting down Shelby Miller, manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday at Wrigley Field, taking the right-handed reliever out of the mix for a spot on a potential playoff roster. One year after his second Tommy John surgery, Miller attacked his rehab process with an intensity that impressed club officials, putting him in the conversation for a possible promotion from Triple-A Iowa.
Dell Recognized as a Leader by IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Hardware Support Services
Key takeaways 5 min read Dell Technologies has been recognized as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Hardware Support Services 2025 Vendor Assessment, reflecting the strength of its current capabilities and long-term strategic direction. The recognition highlights how Dell uses AI-driven observability and intelligent automation to reduce downtime, accelerate issue resolution and give IT teams greater visibility across their infrastructure environments.
Can Edward Cabrera shore up the Cubs’ bullpen and become the Roki Sasaki of 2026 playoffs?
CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell dislikes “comps,” the baseball lingo for measuring one player against another, a shorthand form of communicating within larger evaluations. Scouts pull snapshots of players they’ve previously evaluated from their mental databases when filing reports. Front offices and agencies use projection models and historical references to assess free agents and arbitration cases. Name-dropping helps reporters hype their stories.
The Cubs have a clear plan for Dansby Swanson’s return
CHICAGO — While considering several ideas to aid a beleaguered pitching staff, the Chicago Cubs are also planning to accelerate Dansby Swanson’s timeline to return, hoping the Gold Glove shortstop can soon help stabilize the entire operation. After getting swept by the Milwaukee Brewers — and with one series win in the last three weeks — Cubs manager Craig Counsell provided a surprising level of detail about Swanson’s program during Friday’s pregame media briefing at Wrigley Field.
In all-but-over race for division title, Cubs simply don’t measure up to Brewers
MILWAUKEE — Right on cue, the Labor Day sellout crowd of 42,368 booed when Craig Counsell’s name was announced during pregame introductions and the headshot of the Chicago Cubs manager appeared on American Family Field’s gigantic video board. Milwaukee Brewers fans get to relish these moments because their team — Counsell’s former employer and hometown club — keeps dominating the National League Central.
Cubs’ Labor Day snapshot: A 2nd-place team that believes it can win the World Series
Pete Crow-Armstrong’s potential MVP-winning, 40-40 season might go down as the best individual year for the Chicago Cubs, a charter National League franchise founded in 1876, around the time of Lake Shore Drive’s original construction and before the creation of the city’s elevated train system.
Why is Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong becoming ‘the face of baseball’? A former coach’s perspective
Pete Crow-Armstrong leaped and angled his body in a way that looked like a version of the iconic Jumpman logo. The Chicago Cubs center fielder made an Air Jordan-style catch during Friday’s 6-1 win over the Miami Marlins, banging into a nook where two walls converge at funky loanDepot park. Throughout a spectacular individual season, however, Crow-Armstrong has tried not to make it about himself.
Cubs pitcher Kevin Gausman playing with ‘house money’ as he chases World Series ring
Kevin Gausman still has it. The Chicago Cubs banked on that pitching savvy and big-game experience when the club acquired him from the Toronto Blue Jays at this summer’s trade deadline, believing he could replicate his performance during last year’s World Series run. The Cubs are 5-1 in Gausman’s six starts since the deal that cost them center fielder Brett Bateman and Class-A infielder Ty Southisene, two midrange prospects.
How Pete Crow-Armstrong, on long-term Cubs deal, is exceeding Jed Hoyer’s expectations
CHICAGO — As Chicago Cubs officials and Pete Crow-Armstrong’s CAA representatives engaged in off-and-on discussions about a potential contract extension, each side used different comparisons and pressure points. Mutual respect and understanding of what makes Crow-Armstrong tick eventually led to a six-year, $115 million agreement before opening day.
Why the Cubs are sticking with Shota Imanaga — for now
CHICAGO — While Shota Imanaga’s fading late-season performance is beginning to look all too familiar, Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell continues to back the Japanese lefty, hoping he can recapture some of his All-Star form. When a pitcher is in jeopardy of losing his job, Counsell typically acknowledges that those internal conversations are taking place before the club makes a swift personnel decision.
Even Cubs legends are in awe of Pete Crow-Armstrong’s MVP campaign
CHICAGO — Pete Crow-Armstrong made them pay attention on the suite level of Wrigley Field, where some of the greatest players in franchise history mingled this weekend, watching the Chicago Cubs superstar in awe. Crow-Armstrong’s flair for the dramatic is unquestioned.
This next month is all about the Cubs figuring out who they can trust in their bullpen
PHOENIX — The Chicago Cubs had just absorbed their third walk-off defeat in five days as Daniel Palencia rose from the chair at his locker and turned to face a small group of reporters inside Chase Field’s visiting clubhouse. Palencia, an emotional player, seemed shaken by more than just Tuesday night’s 5-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The high-octane reliever had unleashed a 98.5 mph fastball that drilled Jordan Lawlar’s helmet and knocked him to the ground.
Pete Crow-Armstrong furious after blown balk call in Cubs’ loss to Diamondbacks
PHOENIX — Chicago Cubs superstar Pete Crow-Armstrong had to be restrained by his third-base coach during Wednesday’s game at Chase Field, fuming at a blown balk call that shifted the momentum in an eventual 2-0 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Crow-Armstrong, a National League MVP candidate, led off the sixth inning by lining a double into the right-field corner off Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez, once again putting pressure on the opponent.
Cubs' Ben Brown Suffers Setback In Neck Injury Recovery
Chicago Cubs pitcher Ben Brown experienced a setback in his recovery from a chronic neck injury, putting his availability for the stretch run in question. Brown has been sidelined for more than two months with a stress reaction in his neck, the same injury that limited him for a significant portion of the 2024 season. Manager Craig Counsell said Brown felt symptoms after throwing two innings during a controlled scrimmage Tuesday at the organization's Arizona complex.
Ben Brown’s setback puts his return for Cubs’ playoff drive in doubt
PHOENIX — Chicago Cubs pitcher Ben Brown, who’s attempting to come back from a chronic neck injury, experienced a setback that puts his return for the stretch run in doubt. Brown, one of the club’s most valuable pitchers, has been sidelined for over two months with a stress reaction in his neck, an injury that also wiped out a significant portion of his 2024 season.
Diamondbacks’ Torey Lovullo apologizes to Cubs after sign-relaying spat: ‘I stand corrected’
PHOENIX — In the end, the Chicago Cubs did nothing wrong. Defusing a sign-stealing controversy, Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo reached out to his Chicago counterpart, Craig Counsell, after a screaming match between coaches on both sides Monday night popped up on the TV broadcast and then went viral on social media.
Cubs reset expectations for Justin Steele as they make their playoff push
PHOENIX — Justin Steele “absolutely” expects to pitch for the Chicago Cubs this year, a growing possibility as he continues to make progress at the organization’s Arizona complex. An All-Star starting pitcher in 2023, Steele is ramping up as a lefty reliever in the hopes of having an impact on a club with World Series aspirations. At the same time, Cubs officials have repeatedly expressed caution, emphasizing Steele’s long layoff and the short amount of time left on the baseball calendar.
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