League Moves Shake the Market, Pitchers & Catchers Near & Cubs Watch Closely | Bleacher Nation Cubs

Brett and Michael are back for the forty-eighth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! With Pitchers and Catchers reporting next week, activity around the league is starting to pick up—and a trio of notable moves sparks a wide-ranging discussion.They react to Eugenio Suárez returning to the NL Central after signing with the Cincinnati Reds, the Boston Red Sox giving real money to Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and the Detroit Tigers making a massive splash by signing Framber Valdez.The Kiner-Falefa deal in particular prompts a deeper conversation. At roughly $6 million plus incentives, it’s more than expected for a utility infielder—and may signal that Boston is less confident in pulling off a major infield trade this spring. That has implications for players like Nico Hoerner or Matt Shaw, and reinforces the Cubs’ decision to hold firm on their trade demands.They also dig into the Tigers’ signing of Valdez and how it intersects with the ongoing arbitration situation involving Tarik Skubal. Whether Detroit feels confident in its arbitration outcome or is positioning itself for a possible Skubal trade, the move could have downstream effects on the starting pitching market—including the Cubs’ pursuit of top-end arms like Zac Gallen.And, as always, more offseason talk as the calendar inches closer to Spring Training.A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!Visit Ankin Law's Website ➡️ ankinlaw.comRead more Cubs coverage ➡️ bleachernation.comPre-order Michael Cerami’s children’s book here:👉 https://amzn.to/3Z0WQQC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.