Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show
Where do Cubs stand in NL Central now that Brewers traded Freddy Peralta?
22 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What impact does Freddy Peralta's trade have on the Cubs' chances in the NL Central?
the Rahimi Harrison Grody Show, middays 10 to 2, on Chicago Sports Radio 670 The Score. The Score.
If I get one or two runs in the first inning, it don't matter. I have probably like 90 more pitches for the game. And that's what I was able to do today. Just keep competing and try to make it now. Because I know the team that I was facing, the line that I was facing, they are really good. And like I said before, they know me really well. And it's just a battle and a competition for both sides.
That was Freddy Peralta, and that was after the first game in the NLDS. You just had to go to the DS, Tyler. You couldn't go with the CS. You just had to do that, huh?
It was a group effort by Ray and I. See what happens when he officially becomes the full-time guy on the show?
What about the game they lost to the Dodgers? You just wanted to go back to the Cubs series so badly?
I appreciate the shared accountability, or otherwise known as throwing Ray under the bus.
Why does Ray hate the Cubs?
It was really Cubs fan trauma bonding in the control room.
You guys have an agenda, is what it is. No, I'm kidding.
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Chapter 2: How significant was Freddy Peralta to the Brewers' success?
Hey, man, I thought that once upon a time, Freddy Peralta was, what, the third guy in that rotation? Because they had Corbin Burns and they had Brandon Woodruff, who were just a couple of
badass aces and freddie peralta was terrific as well but they recovered from not having corbin burns they recovered from essentially not having brandon woodruff last year they just didn't i mean he did his first pitching what in july and then he was hurt again and ineffective so i'm having a i'm having a hard time over here in my corner of the world trusting that this is actually going to de-elevate the milwaukee brewers
I've been hurt, Layla. You know what this is? This is pretty much our attitude toward whoever the Packers quarterback is.
Oh, wow. Maybe not anymore, though. Bears did win that playoff game.
I know. Yeah, he did beat Matt LeFleur twice in a year.
Bears have a quarterback.
No, that's not even the issue. It's just the fact that somebody leaves, you cut off the head, and then another one grows back.
I see what you're saying. Yes, of course.
It's like a starfish that just keeps regenerating.
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Chapter 3: What are the implications of Brandon Woodruff's injury for the Brewers?
Having three aces effectively is kind of a pricey thing, even when you develop them. So you knew that they were going to have to reload, similar to what a Cleveland does, where you're going to have to deal one of them and get something in return. But I didn't realize how motivated the Mets would be because the Dodgers are equally motivated because we just saw the Mets trade for Louise Robert.
They realized they weren't getting the guys in free agency that they perhaps wanted. They did get Boba Shett. The Blue Jays are very motivated. And then it results in sustainable success, regeneration for that farm system in Milwaukee. It's good. It's a temporary reprieve as you try to figure out how they're shuffling that rotation.
But you just respect the organization too much to wonder how much of a hit this really is for them. And Peralta was damn good last year. Had one of his best years in his eight years of career.
The Brewers have had sustained success. Got you. And they've done it with now a couple of different managers, right? The guy that you had to go poach in Craig Council and now Pat Murphy. And you're wondering if the Cubs just didn't wait a little too long to ignore the whole luxury tax thing. Because next thing you know, we'll have a salary floor and a salary cap.
And then the Brewers will have all those prospects and be on more equal footing than they've ever been before.
And by the way, by the way, did you guys see, speaking of, you know, I was talking about Ibraflus and Matt LaFleur at the Marquette game. Well, guess who was in the crowd at the Marquette game?
Go on.
The main of Craig Council, attached to the rest of his head. He was sitting there.
Was he sitting next to Matt Eberfest?
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Chapter 4: How do the Cubs' prospects compare to the Brewers' after the trade?
Here's the issue. They've realized now that that's a one-time hit for them, or you're just going back for reference and stuff. So instead of revealing the team Zips projection, they did the expected player war Zips. And when you add it up, and they did tease, it indicates that it would be in the neighborhood of lower 90 winds. But here's the issue.
For the Cubs.
For the Cubs. Okay. But here's the issue. Similar to the Brewers? Like, that's the issue you have with this. And they admitted, they were like, our Brewers' prediction was lower than it should have been, and then they had that ridiculous wind streak that nobody saw coming.
Yeah.
Except for us and our cynical natures.
Yeah, I mean, the thing about the Brewers is they have, I guess, the, quote, luxury of just having their identity, having an identity. The Cubs and other big market teams, their identity is based on how much money they can spend and what free agents they can bring in, and then they form an identity and a philosophy. I know I'm oversimplifying.
Of course, there's some philosophy that Jed Hoyer has, but for the big market teams, the identity is who can we pay for and get? How can we make this team bigger and better?
I don't know. I feel like the identity is shifting here for the Cubs, maybe based on what you're saying in terms of how much money they can spend. But to me right now, it's just more arms. It's their identity.
Pitching is the identity.
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Chapter 5: What are the Cubs' current strengths in pitching depth?
I don't think Wicks. I don't know if Wicks is long for the Cubs in terms of finding a place for him.
Well, that's why I was like, well, who are you really going to disdain here in the bullpen? It's probably the person who you might think is the least consistent.
Maybe, maybe.
I also saw this come across a couple days ago. It was during the Bears playoff, so that's why I didn't see it immediately. Ryan Presley announced his retirement. Oh, okay. Closing a chapter.
All right. All right.
I saw some hitters announce his retirement during the 2020-25 season.
I just wanted to point that out. Yeah, that definitely did take place.
They say the hitters will let you know. They let him know. I was very excited about Ryan Presley at first.
I was, too.
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