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Sportsnet

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker talk all things Blue Jays and MLB. Airing live on Sportsnet 590 The FAN weekdays from 4-6 PM ET during the baseball season.

Blair & Barker

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return with another offseason edition of the show! They start with the Andrés Giménez acquisition and what it means for the Blue Jays and the rest of their winter plans. Jeff & Kevin then get into Juan Soto's contract with the Mets and where Toronto finished in the bidding. Next, the guys are joined by MLB Radio analyst Jensen Lewis for his thoughts on Giménez. Finally, former Miami Marlins President and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson joins the show. The guys get into how the offseason works from a front office perspective. What are some of the red lines in contract negations and what was David surprised by in the Juan Soto deal?

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

What Will Giménez Bring + David Samson on the Art of the Offseason

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker close out the calendar year with one last episode! The guys open with their thoughts on the Blue Jays' offseason so far and if they expect to see more activity before the new year. Sportsnet Blue Jays writer Shi Davidi (11:33) joins the guys to share what he is hearing around the team including which free agents they are in on, the state of extension talks with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and if Bo Bichette will finish the 2025 season playing shortstop. Next up, newly acquired Phillies relief pitcher, Jordan Romano stops by (43:12)! He looks back on his exit from Toronto and how he felt last season with the Blue Jays, before discussing why he chose to sign with Philadelphia. Blair and Barker wrap up this episode with a chat about the direction of the Jays' bullpen heading into 2025.

 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jordan Romano on Signing With the Phillies + Shi Davidi on Jays' Offseason

Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker return for their first podcast of 2025 with plenty to discuss. First, they comment on the Blue Jays bolstering their bullpen with Jeff Hoffman after he agreed to a three-year contract and the reports that his medicals raised red flags with other teams before agreeing to terms with Toronto. Later, they turn their attention to the Blue Jays’ interest in Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki after it was reported they hosted him for a visit in Toronto. MLB Network Radio Host & former GM Jim Bowden (18:35) discusses assessing problematic medical reports before signing a player, Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s lack of a long-term deal, the remaining bats on the FA market, and why Sasaki makes sense for the Jays.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jays Land Hoffman + The FA Market & Roki Sasaki with Jim Bowden

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker host a special edition of Blair and Barker reacting to the news of the Toronto Blue Jays agreeing to a 5-year deal with outfielder Anthony Santander, his track record with the Baltimore Orioles, what he adds to the Jays' offence, before diving into the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes and trading for centrefielder Myles Straw. Then, Roch Kubatko, Orioles reporter for MASN Sports, jumps on to give the scouting report on Santander on and off the field, if he's able to translate to an analytics-heavy organization, the potential for him to play in the infield, and if Rogers Centre will be a challenge for Anthony (30:10).

 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Anthony Santander is a Blue Jay

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker wonder what else could be in-store for the Toronto Blue Jays (Max Scherzer?) after signing Anthony Santander before sharing their thoughts on this year’s Hall of Fame Class, and which players got snubbed. With Toronto’s reported interest in free-agent slugger Pete Alonso, the guys call up ex-Mets GM and SportsNet New York Contributor Zack Scott (22:32) to discuss the Alonso sweepstakes, Mets’ owner Steve Cohen making public comments about the team’s offers to Alonso, what its like to negotiate with super-agent Scott Boras, and how he grades Santander’s contract with the Blue Jays.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

All About Alonso

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick things off with reactions to the Blue Jays' signing of future hall-of-fame pitcher Max Scherzer to a one-year deal, and how this addition affects Toronto's starting pitching rotation. The duo then welcome in Blue Jays Centrals' Caleb Joseph to weigh in on what the veteran righty brings to the lineup, if the Jays have any other moves on the horizon in free agency, and how the recently acquired Anthony Santander can bolster the team's power. Later, Dallas Morning News' (33:22) Evan Grant joins to chat what Scherzer has left in the tank, and how his veteran presence along with pitching coach Pete Walker will elevate this Jays squad. 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Scherzer Shores Up The Jays Pitching

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays’ starter Kevin Gausman before he takes off for Spring Training. Gausman shares his thoughts on the team’s offseason so far, his time as a free agent before signing with Toronto, making adjustments on the fly when pitching, and what three-time Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer will bring to the team’s rotation. Blair and Barker end the show with a discussion on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as he remains unsigned to a long-term contract.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Kevin Gausman Looks Ahead to the 2025 Season

With pitchers and catchers beginning to report at Spring Training, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to Ross Atkins' comments on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. negotiations as the slugger's self-imposed extension deadline nears. ESPN insider Jeff Passan (9:27) discusses how Blue Jays management approaches Vladdy's deadline and what he'd be worth after an offseason of mega-deals around MLB. Then, Jeff weighs in on the Red Sox outlook this season after signing Alex Bregman, teams with the most surprising offseasons and the biggest Spring Training storylines. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss uncertainties for the Blue Jays at Spring Training and take calls on the Back Leg Line!

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Vladdy's Deadline + Sprinting into Spring with Jeff Passan

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back with daily episodes of Blair & Barker! The guys open with thoughts on today's breaking news that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays were unable to come to terms on an extension by the slugger's self-imposed deadline. They dive into what this means for Vlad's future in Toronto, if the door is still open for an extension after the 2025 season, and the organization's level of trust in the player long-term. Jeff and Kevin listen back to President and CEO Mark Shapiro's comments from this morning's media availability, before discussing how the team can rebound if the 4x All-Star does not return next season. Later on, Sportsnet MLB Insider Shi Davidi checks in from sunny Dunedin to share his read on the situation with the Blue Jays' first baseman (29:00). He examines the possibility of a deal between the two sides after the season, who's to blame in the failed negotiations, the front office's mentality throughout the process, how the team can stay focused in 2025, and what's next for Bo Bichette.

 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jays Swing & Miss on Vlad Extension + What's Next w/ Shi Davidi

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to John Schneider's comments on the Blue Jays' potential lead-off hitter this season and project the team's ideal lineup order. Then, they discuss the task ahead for John Schneider, what Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is actually worth on the open market and how management views him. Later, they share what they're looking forward to from the Jays' Spring Training before welcoming ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (31:20). The three reflect on the Blue Jays' failure to lock up Vladdy long-term, the front office's flawed approach to talent management, and where the organization goes from this point. Finally, Jeff shares what to expect from Spring Training's trial of the ABS challenge system.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Leading Off at Spring Training + Vladdy's Value with Jeff Passan

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays’ 7-0 win over the Chicago White Sox; particularly José Berríos’ strong start and Danny Jansen’s big game at the plate. Former White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham provides his thoughts on the series so far and what the Blue Jays can expect from Michael Kopech in the finale (26:21). Blue Jays pitcher Erik Swanson talks about his routine, role in the bullpen, and facing his former team this weekend when the Mariners come to town (49:42). White Sox pitcher and author of A Damn Near Perfect Game: Reclaiming America’s Past Time, Joe Kelly discusses why he chose to write a book while still playing, if Rob Manfred is the right person to be the commissioner of MLB, and interacting with Blue Jays’ fans in the new bullpens at Rogers Centre (01:15:48).

 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Bullpens and Penning Books with Erik Swanson & Joe Kelly

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