Brett and Michael are back for the seventy-seventh episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! With the trade deadline additions getting settled in, the guys share their early impressions of the Cubs' newest pieces, including Clay Holmes, whose extreme groundball profile has been on full display since joining the rotation.

From there, it's time for a much-needed health check on a roster that still has plenty of important players working their way back. Daniel Palencia is nearing his return, although he may not immediately jump back into the closer role, while Dansby Swanson continues to rest and recover.

There's also encouraging progress for Ben Brown, who is scheduled to face hitters in live batting practice as he takes another significant step toward a potential rehab assignment. Meanwhile, the outlook isn't as encouraging for Hunter Harvey, whose recovery has hit another snag.

A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!

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