Blue Jays Talk

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 5-4 extra innings loss vs. the White Sox to start the three-game series in Chicago. They take your calls and texts, and get right to the thumb injury that drove Alejandro Kirk out of the game in extra innings - after Tyler Heineman, what does the catching depth look like? Should Heineman have held onto that ball on the bunt single in extras? They also discuss Dylan Cease allowing two earned runs over 4.1 IP, Jeff Hoffman being on the hook at the end of the game, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s quiet start to the season. 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.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 2-1 extra innings loss vs. the Rockies to drop the series in Toronto. They take your calls and texts, and discuss the offence going ice cold - through six games, can any conclusions be drawn? Does the team need more from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the team's stars? They get into Brendon Little, who did allow the Rockies' game-winning run - despite the result, did the process look better? Plus, Kevin Gausman carves up the Rockies for another 10 Ks - what could his season look like if this keeps up? 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.

The 2026 MLB season has officially begun, and with it comes the inaugural edition of Field Access, a collection of one-on-one conversations with both players and coaches with the Toronto Blue Jays. To start the year, Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman chats with Andrés Giménez (1:30), Braydon Fisher (4:35), and David Popkins (7:26). 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.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 5-1 win over the Rockies down at the Rogers Centre! They take your calls and texts, and get right to six innings of one-run ball from Max Scherzer - how needed is this with the rotation depth getting tested early in the season? They discuss Tyler Heineman both behind the plate and calling the game for Scherzer, the offence breaking through in the seventh, and also get to the usage of the bullpen. Plus, who is the long man for the Jays right now? 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.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 14-5 loss vs. the Rockies in the series opener at the Rogers Centre. They take your calls and texts, and get right to Cody Ponce departing the game early with an injury. Can the rotation weather another big injury if Ponce is forced to miss time? They discuss the struggles of Brendon Little - with one more minor league option remaining, is it time to send him down? Who could the team replace him with? Plus, Kazuma Okamoto rocked another home run - how has his play looked both offensively and defensively? 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.

Sho Alli and Jesse Rubinoff break down the Blue Jays' 5-2 win over the Athletics to open the season with a sweep at the Rogers Centre! They take your calls and texts, and get right to Eric Lauer's nine strikeouts over 5.1 IP - if the rotation is truly a meritocracy, could he force John Schneider's hand if he continues his strong start? They discuss the relief pitchers, including 1.2 IP from Braydon Fisher, and a save from Jeff Hoffman - should there be less angst about the bullpen? Plus, Jesús Sánchez and Kazuma Okamoto both clobbered their first Blue Jay home runs today, while George Springer added a solo shot as well - what could the rest of the season hold for Sánchez and Okamoto with their new teams? 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.

Sho Alli and Jesse Rubinoff break down the Blue Jays' 8-7 walk-off win over the Athletics down at the Rogers Centre! They take your calls and texts, and get to Dylan Cease notching 12 strikeouts over 5.1 IP - what's the ceiling for Cease as the season continues? They discuss the bullpen, including some bad luck for Mason Fluharty, an uneven outing for Brendon Little, and on the flipside, an electric debut for Spencer Miles. Plus, they get into the offence, including the decision to intentionally walk Daulton Varsho to bring up Ernie Clement in extra innings, Alejandro Kirk blasting a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth, and Andrés Giménez adding four hits as he stays hot to start the year. 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.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 3-2 walk-off win over the Athletics to open the 2026 MLB season with a win! They take your calls and texts, and get right to Andrés Giménez delivering all three runs, including the game-winning RBI single - what could his production look like this season? They discuss Kevin Gausman fanning 11 batters over six innings of work - should he have stayed in for a seventh inning, or was it no sweat considering the early nature of the season? Plus, they discuss Jeff Hoffman giving up a home run in the ninth inning, and get into a good start for Ernie Clement. 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.

Blake Murphy is joined by MLB Insider & Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith (2:24) to talk Dylan Cease’s potential, Kevin Gausman, Addison Barger’s upcoming season and much more. Afterwards, Jon Morosi comes in-studio (23:22) to talk Blue Jays, his World Baseball Classic experience, and the MLB season. 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.

With the 2026 Blue Jays season right around the corner, Sho Alli and Daniele Franceschi convene for one last off-season edition of Jays Talk! They discuss the feeling around the team as the season begins - with all attention on the Jays (and not the Leafs or Raptors, at least in Toronto), is there added pressure? Sho gets into the 50th season installations down at the Rogers Centre ballpark tour (9:06), and they discuss the news that the final bullpen spot has gone to Spencer Miles, while Leo Jiménez has been DFA'd (16:48) to finalize the 26-man active roster for Opening Day. Plus, they break down the team via some 2026 bold predictions (31:36), and also hear the predictions of Blake Murphy (57:47), Ben Shulman (1:04:24), and Ben Nicholson-Smith (1:09:46). 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.

Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith joins Sho Alli and Daniele Franceschi to help break down the Blue Jays' trade for Jesús Sánchez. He discusses what the Jays are getting in the former Houston Astro and where he fits in the lineup. Then, BNS highlights the biggest storylines heading into Spring Training, including potential other trades to come, Anthony Santander's surgery, José Berríos rejoining the squad, and what Shane Bieber's status means for his regular-season outlook. Finally, he shares how the expectations have changed after a World Series run.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 will reportedly miss the first 5-6 months of the season, while Shane Bieber is dealing with forearm fatigue - what's the fallout for the Blue Jays as Spring Training begins? Sho Alli and Daniele Franceschi discuss what's next for the team without Santander (1:50) and get into what role José Berríos might play with Bieber on the shelf to start the year (29:11). Plus, Kevin Barker (44:30) stops by to share his take on the injuries to start the spring, and how the Jays will need to meet lofty expectations in 2026. 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.

After a legendary career as a broadcaster, manager, and player, Sportsnet's Buck Martinez has officially announced his retirement. To celebrate and look back on a phenomenal career, Sho Alli and Zack Bodenstein were joined on Sportsnet Today by both Hazel Mae (1:11) and Jeff Blair (10:51). They share their memories of Buck both on and off the field, why he is so beloved by fans around the country, and what made him a presence in our living rooms for decades. 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.

As the offseason continues, Davis Schneider (1:10) joins Daniele Franceschi and Sho Alli on Sportsnet Today to discuss the end of the 2025 season and to look towards 2026. They get into his leadoff home run to kickstart Game 5 of the World Series, how team chemistry was so special this past year, the departure of Bo Bichette, what it's like to play for John Schneider, and just what exactly 'nasty soup' is and how it came to be. Kristina Rutherford's Davis Schneider Piece for Sportsnet.ca: https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/why-regular-dude-davis-schneider-will-take-on-any-job-to-help-the-blue-jays-win/ 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.

Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker are in for an offseason edition to react to Kyle Tucker signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets signing Bo Bichette, and what it means for the Blue Jays. They start with Bo and what the Jays' lineup will look like without their long-time shortstop and his fit at third base with the Mets. Then, they discuss where the Jays may turn for an impact bat, how aggressively they should approach Cody Bellinger's market, and whether adding to the bullpen is a higher priority at this point. Finally, Blake and Kevin look at Cardinals' infielder Brendan Donovan as a potential trade target, and where the Jays stand in an improved AL East if their offseason work is now complete.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.

Kyle Tucker has reportedly signed with the Dodgers for a four-year, $240-million deal - after going down to the wire (again) with LA, what does Toronto do next? Sho Alli and Daniele Franceschi debate whether or not the Jays truly missed out on the services of the four-time All-Star or if they dodged a bullet with the monster price tag. They also read listener texts (25:07) on what the next move should be for the Jays - is it time for a pivot to Cody Bellinger, or should the Jays more seriously consider bringing back Bo Bichette? Plus, MLB Network's Adnan Virk (39:43) stops by to discuss the mega-deal, weighs in on Bo vs. Bellinger, and chats the Dodgers' status as the new 'evil empire'. 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 can we expect from the newest member of the Blue Jays in Kazuma Okamoto? Former Yomiuri Giant - and former Blue Jays first baseman - Justin Smoak (1:14) stops by to chat with Sho Alli and Jesse Rubinoff on his one-time teammate, playing in Japan, and how he viewed a terrific run for the Jays in 2025. Afterwards, Sho and Jesse are joined by SiriusXM MLB Radio analyst and former MLB GM Jim Duquette (12:54) to discuss his recent X post regarding the pursuit of Kyle Tucker, what could be next for Bo Bichette, and where he sees next year's offseason going as well. 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.

Jeff Blair and Sho Alli listen in on the Toronto Blue Jays' newest addition, Kazumo Okamoto's press conference. They follow up with their thoughts on the move, a discussion on what the six-time NPB All-Star brings to the lineup, and a projection of what comes next in the Blue Jays' offseason, including where the team stands in Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker's market.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.

The Blue Jays have officially announced their signing of six-time NPB All-Star Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million deal! Jeff Blair (3:30) stops by Sportsnet Today with Sho Alli and Zack Bodenstein to break down the signing, and what it means for the Blue Jays going forward from an alignment perspective and in free agency. Plus, what is the landscape of MLB as the off-season continues? Afterwards, Yahoo Sports' Jordan Shusterman (17:52) joins for a deeper dive on Okamoto's play in NPB and how that will transition to MLB, and what it means for the Jays now that they have made a big splash in the international signing market. Jordan's piece on Okamoto: https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/blue-jays-finally-land-a-japanese-star-with-kazuma-okamoto--but-where-does-he-fit-on-the-roster-235314924.html 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.

The Blue Jays have reportedly reached a three-year, $30 million deal with right-hander Cody Ponce, who was named KBO MVP last season - what does this mean for the starting rotation? MLB Network's Jon Morosi (1:49) stops by the FAN Morning Show with Brent Gunning and Sho Alli to break down why fans should be excited and what this means for people like José Berríos or Trey Yesavage when the regular season arrives, and gets into the evolving closer market around baseball as well. Afterwards, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (21:31) discusses Ponce's stuff and whether or not it will play when he returns to MLB, and what this means for other pieces of business as the Jays off-season rolls on. 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.

Dylan Cease has reportedly signed a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Blue Jays! Sho Alli and Daniele Franceschi take your calls and texts, and get into what this means for the team's rotation both next season and in the long-term - what it could look like with Cease pitching in front of a stellar Jays defence? Plus, they discuss what this means for the rest of the offseason - could more big money deals still be in the cards moving forward, whether that's Bo Bichette or someone else? 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.

The MLB GM Meetings are well underway in Las Vegas, and with a lot of offseason shopping to be done, where do the Blue Jays stand with the biggest free agents? Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson Smith joins Sho Alli and Daniele Franceschi from the lobby of the Cosmopolitan Hotel to discuss the Jays and how they are perceived with other teams around the league (1:25). Afterwards, Sho and Daniele discuss the prospects of bringing back Bo Bichette, and where the Jays could dabble with the free agent market for starting pitchers. Plus, John Schneider finished second in voting for AL Manager of the Year - was it a snub (31:19)? Ben and Shi's Article: https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/blue-jays-drawing-early-attention-at-gm-meetings-theyre-in-every-market/ Ben on starting pitching: https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/pitching-appears-to-be-emerging-as-blue-jays-winter-priority/ 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.

With the news that Shane Bieber has exercised his $16-million player option for 2026, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (1:14) stops by to chat with Sho Alli and Zack Bodenstein. They get into reasons why he might opt in, what it says about his own abilities, whether or not the strong clubhouse culture played a role in the decision, and what it means for the starting rotation going forward into the off-season. 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.

On a special Monday afternoon edition of Jays Talk, Sho Alli takes a final look back at Game 7 of the World Series, and takes your texts on the ending for the 2025 Blue Jays. He chats with Daniele Franceschi (6:02), Jesse Rubinoff (27:24), Zach Worden (52:33), and Ian Harrison (1:19:21) to get their thoughts on the final game of the season, and to look ahead at what's next. They get into the future of Bo Bichette, whether or not Isiah Kiner-Falefa or Chris Bassitt (among others) will return, and what the starting rotation could look like in 2026, including specific free agents that could make an impact in Toronto. Plus, if there is a lockout looming in 2027, could the Jays spend more cash this coming offseason with the future of the sport a little more uncertain than usual? 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.

Blake Murphy and Julia Kreuz recap Game 7 and are joined by Dan Shulman (27:07), Shi Davidi (49:49) and Ben Shulman (1:09:26) to reflect on the season, crucial moments of the postseason run and look at tough roster decisions ahead for the front office, including whether Bo Bichette, Chris Bassitt, Shane Bieber, among others, will be back with the franchise.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 affiliate.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Dodgers to end the season in crushing defeat, as the Dodgers win the World Series. They take your calls and texts, and discuss this wild game, including Miguel Rojas' game-tying blast off Jeff Hoffman with two outs remaining in the top of the ninth, Ernie Clement's deep flyout to Andy Pages, Isiah Kiner-Falefa's attempt to run home with the bases loaded, Shane Bieber giving up a solo bomb in extras to Will Smith, and everything in-between. They get into what's next for this ballclub, including the future of Bo Bichette and manager John Schneider - do they both return in 2026? Plus, Kevin Pillar (57:30) stops by the radio booth, and takes your calls and texts as well alongside Jeff and Kevin. 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.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 3-1 loss to the Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series to force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Saturday night. They take your calls and texts, and get right to the bizarre ninth inning, which included a wedged ball in the outfield wall to stop play on what would have been a game-tying hit from Addison Barger, followed by the lineout double play that ended the game seconds later. Had they ever seen the the wedged ball happen at the Rogers Centre, and how much blame does Barger deserve in that situation? They also get into the game at-large, including the missed opportunities against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the start from Kevin Gausman, the performance of the bullpen, and whether or not the team will be able to bounce back for Game 7 in such a short amount of time. 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.

Blake Murphy and Julia Kreuz start the show by recapping the series. 2011 World Series champion Lance Lynn (25:04) joins to discuss Trey Yesavage, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and how pitchers can have good outings but poor luck. Sportsnet’s Madison Shipman (41:11) gives her thoughts on Yamamoto and Kevin Gausman against the Dodgers’ bats again. MLB Network’s Chris Young (1:05:36) joins to break down the versatility of Toronto’s hitting. Lastly, the Athletic Fabian Ardaya provides the latest from the Dodgers ahead of Game 6.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 affiliate.

Julia Kreuz and Sho Alli recap the massive Game 5 win vs. the Dodgers. They touch on Trey Yesavage’s outing, the back-to-back homers from Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., along with the run production late in the game (31:11). They’re joined by former Blue Jay Rance Mulliniks (50:28) to discuss Toronto’s brand of baseball, winning in the postseason and more. Lastly, Fox Sports’ Deesha Thosar (1:16:41) pops in to give her thoughts on the Dodgers being a loss away from the losing the series, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Toronto’s grit.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 affiliate.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 6-1 win over the Dodgers to take a 3-2 World Series lead as they head back to Toronto! They take your calls and texts, and get right to the man of the hour in Trey Yesavage, who carved the Dodgers for 12 Ks and no walks over 7.0 IP - with the context of the World Series, is that one of the best pitching performances in franchise history? They talk about the bats starting the game with back-to-back home runs from Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., get into the terrific play of Addison Barger, and also discuss the job John Schneider did in managing this ballgame. 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.

Blake Murphy and Julia Kreuz recap Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s huge homer off Shohei Ohtani, Shane Bieber getting in done under pressure and the bottom of the order showing up again for Toronto (30:48). The Score’s Jonah Birenbaum (52:19) pops in to talk Mason Fluharty, Chris Bassitt and more. Afterwards, Fangraphs Michael Baumann (1:18:57) previews Game 5 and discusses the Blue Jays’ depth.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 affiliate.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 6-2 win over the Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series to pull even at two games apiece! They take your calls and texts, and discuss the Jays bouncing back after the 18-inning loss earlier in the day - how important is it that the World Series is now a best-of-three, with two of those games potentially coming in Toronto? They chat about the big Shane Bieber start, and get into Chris Bassitt's terrific relief outing - what could his role be moving forward? They also discuss the offence, including a two-run bomb from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a sharp Bo Bichette single off the outfield wall, and another big Blue Jay inning in the seventh. 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.

Blake Murphy and Julia Kreuz recap the incredible 18-inning Game 3, where the Blue Jays’ pinch-hitting left their lineup lacking offensive juice, Eric Lauer was incredible, Shohei Ohtani’s was intentionally walked a lot but potentially not enough and more (25:41). Foul Territory’s Erik Kratz (51:14) discusses the Blue Jays’ locker room after the marathon game, and Yahoo Sports’ Jordan Shusterman (1:16:13) gives his thoughts on Ohtani’s heading to the mound and the likelihood the series will shift back to Toronto. 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 affiliate.