Watch: AJ Pierzynski Laughs at Sahadev Sharma Saying Cubs Doing Better Job Engaging Top Players

He may have been on the wrong side of the most famous punch thrown in Cubs/White Sox history, but AJ Pierzynski is just like Cubs fans when it comes to hearing about their attempts in free agency. While interviewing Sahadev Sharma at the Winter Meetings, the former catcher guffawed at the notion that Jed Hoyer and Co. are doing a better job of trying.

“I am getting more feedback that, look, the Cubs are doing a better job of at least engaging on the top of the market than they were in previous years,” Sharma said, finishing through the laughter. “They were just skipping that part of free agency, outside of being ‘in’ — and I’m using quotes here — on Shohei Ohtani, which seemed like fait accompli, right?

The Cubs are doing a better job of at least engaging on the top of the market than they were in previous years, says @SahadevSharma. pic.twitter.com/S2k4YV95xj

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) December 9, 2025

“They just haven’t been there since really they signed Darvish. And I should give them credit for getting Dansby Swanson, but that was a crazy shortstop offseason. They’re not the Mets, they’re not the Yankees, they’re not the Dodgers.”

Maybe this year, Hoyer will show up to spring training with something much more impressive than an “At Least You Tried” cake.