Patrick Mooney

Senior Writer, Chicago

Patrick Mooney is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. He spent eight seasons covering the Cubs across multiple platforms for NBC Sports Chicago/Comcast SportsNet, beginning in 2010. He has been a frequent contributor to MLB Network, Baseball America, MLB.com and the Chicago Sun-Times News Group.

MLB trade deadline watch: Rays may have arms to move; which teams are eyeing struggling Cubs

Could Cody Bellinger’s name be popular at the deadline? Are the Mets leaning buyer or seller?

The Athletic MLB Staff30

Cubs takeaways from the West Coast: Trade deadline, Shota Imanaga's All-Star bid and more

Patrick Mooney105

Halfway through season, Cubs are a last-place team

Patrick Mooney174

Are the Cubs a ‘flat’ team? Or simply not good enough?

Patrick Mooney354

Cubs keep finding ways to lose, wasting Justin Steele’s follow-up season

Patrick Mooney271

MLB trade deadline watch: White Sox scout contenders, Mason Miller's value and more

Three starting pitching targets just hit the injured list. And would Padres GM A.J. Preller deal even more prospects at the deadline?

The Athletic MLB Staff62

Kyle Hendricks keeps showing why he's the last man standing from Cubs' 2016 title team

Despite lower velocity than most major-league pitchers, Hendricks' guile and ability to adjust have kept him in Chicago since 2014.

Patrick Mooney66

Dansby Swanson’s view of where the Cubs are right now: 'We just got to keep going'

“With this group and the resiliency that we have,” Swanson said, “we know that it’s going to continue to sharpen us for what’s to come."

Patrick Mooney88

Four Chicago Cubs takeaways: The non-controversy at closer, Kyle Hendricks’ reset and more

Ben Brown might be a lot closer to returning; catcher Miguel Amaya still has a lot to prove.

Patrick Mooney170

MLB trade deadline watch: The industry’s read on Luis Robert Jr., the crowded NL and more

The Mariners are well positioned to bolster their lineup. The Orioles are content to wait out the market.

The Athletic MLB Staff144

Cubs DFA Yan Gomes, sign Tomás Nido in attempt to address catching problems

Nido, who was released by the New York Mets this week, should be an upgrade.

Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma117

Four Cubs takeaways as the losing continues to mount

During what’s supposed to be a softer spot in the schedule, the Cubs have fallen into last place in the NL Central.

Patrick Mooney332

MLB trade deadline watch: Yankees’ ‘gold coins,’ sneaky big moves, Marlins ready to move

What it's like to be a Yankees prospect, knowing that you're going to be moved at the trade deadline: 'You’re waiting for that call’

Patrick Mooney and Will Sammon73

Cubs are spiraling: 'When you’re losing, it looks like you’re doing nothing right'

The Cubs have lost six of their past eight games and now they'll have to weather extended absences for Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown.

Patrick Mooney256

Chicago Cubs add Jorge López on minor-league deal after meltdown with New York Mets

López will try to work his way back to the majors with the Cubs after his meltdown with the Mets led to his release.

Will Sammon and Patrick Mooney49

Chicago Cubs trade deadline primer: 3 early storylines to watch

The lineup is clearly in need of a game changer. The catching situation is becoming untenable. Will the Cubs respond to pressure to act?

Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney393

Cubs haven't run out of time yet but should be better by now

The Cubs are still in the wild-card hunt, but they're two games below .500. How can they turn things around?

Patrick Mooney249

Chicago Cubs' next level requires more from Seiya Suzuki, core players

Suzuki has shown an ability to carry the Cubs offense but has dealt with injuries and hasn't produced quite like they'd hoped.

Patrick Mooney259

Mark Leiter Jr., Shota Imanaga and the stuff Cubs can’t measure in building team

Leiter considered playing in Japan or South Korea after spending 2021 in the minors. Now he's one of the Cubs' best relievers.

Patrick Mooney227

Christopher Morel’s defense is becoming an issue the Chicago Cubs can’t ignore

The Cubs have "discussed a lot" when it comes to third base but it seems Morel will still be the primary fielder there amid his struggles.

Patrick Mooney267

Cubs rule out selling at the trade deadline: 'Expect us to play better'

Jed Hoyer believes in the team that started the season hot and hopes that the Cubs offense will rebound.

Patrick Mooney159

Shota Imanaga is becoming a star. How did baseball not see this coming?

“We’re all kind of astonished at how good he’s been,” said one official from a National League club.

The Athletic MLB Staff114

Chicago Cubs have a lot of work to do in 2 months before trade deadline

Two months into the season, the Cubs can depend on their starting rotation and not much else.

Patrick Mooney241

Chicago Cubs going through rough stretch, keep finding ways to lose

Despite the Cubs' prolonged stretch of poor play, manager Craig Counsell isn't pushing the panic button.

Patrick Mooney204

Shota Imanaga's unbelievable start for Cubs gets reality check in Milwaukee

After giving up seven runs Wednesday, Imanaga's ERA increased from 0.84 to 1.86. "I guess the historic start is over," Craig Counsell said.

Patrick Mooney165