Podcast appearances and mentions of alejandro kirk

JD reacts to the departure of Brendan Shanahan from the Maple Leafs organization (00:00). Dan Shulman, Blue Jays play-by-play voice, joins JD to discuss how the Jays can stay afloat above a .500 win percentage, what feels sustainable so far, Daulton Varsho and Alejandro Kirk stepping up, the concern level about Jeff Hoffman, playing at the Tampa Bay Rays temporary stadium, and problem-solving the fifth rotation spot (9:00). JD touches on why the end of the Shanahan era of Leafs hockey was so frustrating (46:00). The views and opnions 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 dive into the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Tigers, discussing Bowden Francis' ongoing struggles, positive signs from Alejandro Kirk and Bo Bichette, and what might help Anthony Santander turn things around. In the bottom half, Yahoo! Sports Jordan Schusterman joins the show (27:51) to discuss MLB's Rivalry Weekend, Brandon Hyde's firing, rapid managerial turnover, and the buzz around the NCAA Softball Tournament.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.

Sho Alli and Jesse Rubinoff break down the Blue Jays' 2-1 walk-off win over the Tigers at the Rogers Centre! They take your calls and texts, and get to big moments from both Ernie Clement and Alejandro Kirk - did AJ Hinch make a key mistake in walking Anthony Santander to get to Clement? How hard was it for Alejandro Kirk to come off the bench to deliver his game-tying pinch-hit RBI single? They also get into Nathan Lukes throwing out Gleyber Torres at second base, the piggyback start from Eric Lauer and Yariel Rodríguez, and the bullpen at-large holding it down long enough for the bats to deliver a 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.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's pregame episode with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. They dive into Alejandro Kirk's clutch go-ahead home run and Anthony Santander's continued struggles catching up to fastballs, before setting up Kevin Gausman's start in this afternoon's rubber match. Ben Shulman (25:14), radio play-by-play voice of the Blue Jays, continues the conversation on Gausman and Santander. Ben also checks in on what's different with Kirk at the plate in 2025, Ernie Clement's offensive approach, Yimi Garcia's lights-out performance in the ninth, Yariel Rodriguez trending up, and Addison Barger's growth as a big leaguer.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 win over the Rays to even the series at one game apiece! They get into the three-run bomb from Alejandro Kirk - after continuing his success from the Mariners series, has he found a different level of consistency this season? They get into Chris Bassitt's 5.2 IP of one-run ball, Ernie Clement's defensive play to keep a runner off the board, and the bullpen performances from Yariel Rodríguez and Yimi García to close out the game. 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 break down Alejandro Kirk's home run last night, the bullpen making quick work of the Rays, and Vladimir Guerrero's recent damage rate. Afterwards, Abby Labar (24:52) discusses the NL West, Juan Soto and the New York Mets and more!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.

After an episode last week that felt about as grim as any show we've recorded in-season for this podcast, the Jays brought us—and themselves—back to life. They've won five of six since we last spoke, and if not for three ugly bullpen blow-ups could be on an eight-game winning streak. Alejandro Kirk and Daulton Varsho have been especially aggressive at the plate, and it's paying dividends as the club has averaged 6.5 runs per game over that span. But can the good times keep rolling? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sho Alli breaks down the Blue Jays' 6-3 win over the Mariners to take the series in Seattle in their third straight win! He takes your texts, and gets right to the offence: is Bo Bichette on the verge of something after hitting his first oppo-taco HR in well over a year? Plus, Addison Barger comes through with some timely hits alongside four hits from Alejandro Kirk - what are expectations for these two going forward? Afterwards, he gets to Bowden Francis overcoming a shaky start to complete 6.2 IP, and Mason Fluharty looking absolutely dominant against the top of the Mariners order - is Fluharty now in the circle of trust? 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 Nick Ashbourne break down the Blue Jays' 9-1 win over the Mariners to complete the sweep on Mother's Day! They take your texts, and get right to the offensive explosion by the Jays' bats, including a three-run Springer Dinger to blow the game open - what is different about Springer's approach so far this year? They also get into big moments for Addison Barger, the bottom of the order (including Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes), and Alejandro Kirk ripping another huge double. Plus, both José Ureña and Eric Lauer got a fair bit of run in holding down the Mariners offence - what should expectations look like for them going forward? 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 breaks down the Blue Jays' 5-4 walk-off loss vs. the Angels in Anaheim to lose both the game and the series. He takes your texts, and gets to the bottom of the ninth inning - how much blame should Jeff Hoffman wear after his performance vs. Alejandro Kirk when it comes to the pitch calling? He also discusses a wasted start from José Berríos, and gets into the need for change - where should change come? Is it the batting order and players, or does it extend to the manager and/or the general manager and team president? 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' 5-3 win over the Guardians to open the series! They take your calls and texts, and get to Nathan Lukes coming through with the late two-run single - with Daulton Varsho back, what is his role going forward? They discuss Alejandro Kirk continuing to stay hot, George Springer smashing his third home run of the season, and get into Chris Bassitt's latest outing. 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 rejoice following the Blue Jays' 7-6 walk-off win over the Red Sox in extra innings! The boys recap the marquee moments from the game including Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s clutch tag-up to move to third base, Anthony Santander's three-run blast, and Alejandro Kirk's heroics on his own bobblehead night. Jeff and Kevin also take some time to discuss Yariel Rodriguez' rough start to the game and where he fits in the pitching staff, before debating if Aroldis Chapman's career deserves Hall of Fame recognition. Chris Rose (27:15), host of Dugout Discussions and Baseball Today with Jomboy Media, chats about Lucas Giolito's first start of the season, the cream of the crop in the American League, and the state of the Mariners through April. Chris wraps up with his thoughts on the Blue Jays, Orioles, and Mike Trout's injury troubles resurfacing.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' 7-6 extra-innings walk-off win over the Red Sox to even the series in Toronto! They take your calls and texts, and get to the bats breaking through - can this be contagious for the offence going forward? They discuss Anthony Santander's game-tying three-run bomb, and also chat about Alejandro Kirk hitting a home run and getting the game-winner in extras. 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 break down George Springer's tough at-bat vs. Lucas Giolito in the 6th that proved to be a pivotal point in the game, the home runs that followed, Alejandro Kirk's big day and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s clutch base running play in extras. Afterwards, former Blue Jay Shawn Green (24:54) joins the show to discuss his time with the team, the impact of his book on athletes and reflects on the totality of his MLB career. 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.

The NBA Playoffs are delivering surprises! In Part Two of today's Couch Potato Diary, Peter Klein analyzes the Lakers' first-round elimination, the Rockets' surge, the Knicks' Game 5 loss, and the Bucks' stunning defeat. Plus, we celebrate Alejandro Kirk's clutch performance leading the Blue Jays to victory.In This Episode:Intro (0:00)Lakers Eliminated (1:19)Rockets vs. Warriors (15:14)Knicks vs. Pistons (21:46)Clippers vs. Nuggets (28:32)Bucks vs. Pacers (32:49)Blue Jays Walk Off Win (38:04) Outro (44:57) 

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 4-2 win vs. the Yankees. They take your calls and texts, and discuss José Berríos battling through 5 1/3 scoreless innings, Alejandro Kirk's big night both at the plate and behind it, and take a closer look at John Schneider's late-game bullpen decisions.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.

John Schneider, Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker live from Yankee Stadium. Skip shares an update on Daulton Varsho, Nick Sandlin and Erik Swanson as they work back from injury, before getting into where Varsho would likely slot into the lineup when he returns and what went wrong for his team in Houston. John also weighs in Anthony Santander's slow offensive start, Alejandro Kirk at the plate, Paul Goldschmidt's impact in the Bronx, how to contain Aaron Judge, the state of Kevin Gausman's splitter, and the idea of George Springer returning to the leadoff spot. After the break, former MLB pitcher and current YES analyst, Jeff Nelson (28:48), chats about Judge's incredible start to 2025, the early returns on the Yankees' off-season moves, and what to expect from Carlos Carrasco on the mound tonight. Jeff and Kevin wrap up the week with thoughts on how the Jays' bats can wake up this weekend and beyond.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.

Joe Siddall, former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to help diagnose Toronto's offensive issues following yesterday's 7-0 shelling. Joe shares his view on potential lineup changes to come, before sifting through the performances of Anthony Santander, George Springer, Alan Roden, and Alejandro Kirk. Later on, Astros analyst Steve Sparks (28:22) previews Ronel Blanco's start in Houston tonight. The trio also chat about what's changed in Josh Hader's approach in 2025, the aftermath of Alex Bregman's departure, what's behind Jose Altuve's move to the outfield, Jeremy Peña's development, and much more! 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 Julia Kreuz break down the Blue Jays' 7-6 extra-innings win over the Orioles in Baltimore! They take your texts on this podcast-only edition of the show, and get to the play of Jeff Hoffman's 4 Ks in two innings of work - how important has his addition been to the back-end of the bullpen? They discuss Bo Bichette coming through to tie the game in the eighth inning, Alejandro Kirk with a pair of RBI including his first home run of the season, and George Springer being removed from this game with left wrist discomfort. Plus, the team still endured a few sloppy mistakes on defence and on the base paths - can that be cleaned up going forward? 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 open today's show sorting through the Blue Jays' lineup ahead of this afternoon's series finale against the Red Sox. The guys look back on Kevin Gausman's elite performance in last night's win in Boston, with a focus on his adjustments game to game. They also zero in on Alejandro Kirk's night to forget on both sides of the ball, Jeff Hoffman's dominant two innings of work, and state of Toronto's offence early on this season. David Samson (25:20), former MLB executive and current host of Nothing Personal, joins the program to share his view on the structuring of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s 14-year contract extension. He breaks down how the $325 million signing bonus could impact relations with the Major League Baseball Players Association, the process of getting a deal of this magnitude done, what's ahead for Bo Bichette, and the rationale of having team captains in baseball. 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 kick off today's show with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 5-2 victory over the Nationals to move above .500 for the first time in 2025. The guys break down Andrés Giménez' third home run in his first five games, Bowden Francis' first outing of the season, and George Springer's promising start to the year. Dan Shulman (24:50), play-by-play of the Blue Jays on Sportsnet, shares his view on Brendon Little's work out of the bullpen, how José Berríos can rebound from his rough Opening Day start, and the sustainability of Springer's hot start. Dan also weighs in on Will Wagner and Alan Roden's expectations in 2025, Davis Schneider's stats that matter, what's behind Anthony Santander's slow start, early returns of Alejandro Kirk hitting behind Giménez, and more! 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.

JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, break down a disappointing Opening Day for the Toronto Blue Jays (0:00). They discuss their experience attending the game, the importance of avoiding a slow start, how Alan Roden factors into the Blue Jays' path to success, and what George Springer can contribute in year four with Toronto. Then, they debate how much Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s performance in 2025 will influence the fanbase's eagerness to re-sign the star slugger. Afterwards, Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez joins JD (50:15) to share his perspective on fan pressure, Andrés Giménez and Roden flashing some offence in their Blue Jays debuts, and why he's confident in Alejandro Kirk taking on a heavier load behind the plate. Later, JD turns his attention to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Joseph Woll's worrisome start in San Jose, before closing out the show with What We Missed (1:13:30). 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 begin Friday's show finding some positives from the Blue Jays' 12-2 loss to open the regular season. The conversation shifts to the underlying concerns that Opening Day exposed including José Berríos' ugly debut and the lack of offensive power, before looking into how the team can regroup ahead of tonight's game. Later on, Manager John Schneider (21:34) joins the guys to share his view on his club's disappointing start to 2025 and how to combat the volume of home runs given up by the pitching staff. Skip also weighs in on Alan Roden's first major league hit, the challenge Charlie Morton poses tonight, the highs and lows of Alejandro Kirk's first game, Yariel Rodriguez' appearance out of the bullpen, what to expect from Kevin Gausman, George Springer's progress, and Daulton Varsho's timeline. 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 Big Show w/ Rusic & Rose is On Demand! On hour 2, George Rusic and Matt Rose share their thoughts on the breaking news of John Tortorella getting fired by the Philadelphia Flyers. The guys analyze some of the moves Flyers GM Daniel Briere made lately like the Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost trade to the Flames. They then discuss new details on the Flames' new arena, like new hybrid washrooms, two concourses, 28 rows in the lower bowl, and more!(18:28) Later on, Blair and Barker Co-Host Kevin barker joins The Big Show to discuss key storylines ahead of the Blue Jays Opening Day game. Kevin talks about Jose Berrios getting the ball to open the season and the rotation and bullpen's expectations this year. He also shares his thoughts on the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. contract situation. Kevin shares who should hit clean up in the Jays lineup, Alejandro Kirk's new contract, and more!The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with Blue Jays' play-by-play announcer Ben Shulman, discussing the Opening Day lineup, game expectations, Alejandro Kirk's season outlook, Jose Berrios' start, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract situation. Later, former MLB Manager Fredi Gonzalez (25:43) joins to share insights on Anthony Santander, strategies against Berrios, and his expectations for Adley Rutschman.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.

The 2025 MLB season is nearly upon us, and the Blue Jays have a fighting chance in an ultra-tight American League in which every team still has the same record. But merely meeting their projections won't be good enough, and succeeding will rely on some good stories from a group of position player prospects older than Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and health from a starting rotation with an average age of 34. This week we talk about what it will take for the Jays to have a successful season and how an unsuccessful one might play out, why the team chose Roden over Barger and parted ways with Ryan Yarbrough, the reasons to really like Alejandro Kirk's contract—plus predictions for the season and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (1:15) to share his impressions of the team ahead of Opening Day on Thursday. They discuss Alan Roden's early opportunity, Alejandro Kirk's importance, expectations for Max Scherzer, and the hierarchy in the bullpen. Later, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins (35:26) joins the show to discuss the latest in the organization's negotiations with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., his evaluation of the team's offseason, takeaways from Spring Training and much more! 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.

JD discusses Scott Laughton before the Maple Leafs face-off against his former team (00:00). Blue Jays analyst, Joe Siddall, talks about if Alejandro Kirk will be able to handle a bigger offensive load, expectations for the Jays' lineup, where the Jays stand in among American East teams, and Bo Bichette being poised for a comeback season (8:00). JD then lays out the lost feeling(s) around this version of the Toronto Raptors (40:00). Kevin Woodley, goaltending expert from InGoal Magazine, analyzes the drama-filled Vancouver Canucks season, the pressure on the Leafs' goaltenders, and what the underlying numbers on Jospeh Woll and Anthony Stolarz may signal (50:00). The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (1:29:00)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 are joined by Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (5:51) to chat about his expectations for Will Wagner and Alan Roden, the buildup to 'Opening Day' each year, whether Kevin Gausman can return to form, what classifies a good year for Max Scherzer, bullpen depth, Alejandro Kirk's workload behind the plate and on offence, and whether Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can find some comfort alongside Andrés Giménez in the infield. Then, MASN's Roch Kubatko (27:10) stops by to discuss the impact moving the left field wall closer to home plate will have for hitters at Camden Yards, who are the Orioles heading into the 2025 season, projections for Zach Eflin, not signing Corbin Burnes, if the team will look into calling up prospect catcher Samuel Basallo, and concerns for the aging pitching staff.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 kick off Tuesday's episode zeroing in on the Blue Jays roster. They share their expectations for Alan Roden, Will Wagner and Leo Jimenez heading into the season, before looking into Toronto's clean-up options for Opening Day. Producer Mark Boffo joins the guys to pose some Jays over/under bets including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. home runs, Bo Bichette hits, Anthony Santander RBIs, and much more! Later on, David Samson (29:13), former MLB executive and host of the Nothing Personal podcast, stops by! He offers his view on Alejandro Kirk's contract extension, the value of winning in April, which teams will surprise in 2025, what it will take to strike a deal with Vladdy, and how to manage George Springer in his age 35 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.

A new season means hope for the Blue Jays (01:17) and a newly finalized roster (07:50). Plus, Arden and Ben break down the Alejandro Kirk deal (31:00) and revisit the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. discussion (43:56).Additional audio from MLB.com.Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.caThis podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling.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 are joined by Ben Nicholson-Smith to analyze Addison Barger's future, Alan Roden earning a roster spot & Alejandro Kirk's contract extension. Afterwards, Blake and Julia discuss Toronto's early season schedule and questions surrounding AL East 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 affiliate.

Ben & Brent discuss TML GM Brad Treliving's recent trade reaction, assessing its current impact and future implications. They also express concerns about its long-term viability. Later, they preview the upcoming MLB season and the Blue Jays, talking with former Big League catcher Erik Kratz (25:55) about Alejandro Kirk's extension, potential for Vlad Jr., and managing a veteran pitching staff.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.

Eno and DVR discuss a trio of March contract extensions including Tanner Bibee, Alejandro Kirk, and Justin Martinez -- all of whom received new five-year deals with their respective clubs. Plus, they catch up on other late spring news including a scare for Shane McClanahan, a trade that sent Nolan Jones back to Cleveland, a closer role up for grabs in Cincinnati, and a few takeaways from the first run of weekly pickups in 'Where the Money Went' as Opening Day approaches. Rundown 2:42 Tanner Bibee's Extension with Guardians 6:18 Alejandro Kirk: Signs Five-Year Deal with Blue Jays 13:04 Justin Martinez: Gets Long-Term Guarantee with D-backs 16:29 News Updates: Shane McClanahan, Zack Gelof, Freddie Freeman & Mookie Betts 24:48 Nolan Jones Traded *Back* to Cleveland for Tyler Freeman 34:08 News Updates: Vinnie Pasquantino, Alexis Díaz, Gunnar Henderson, Félix Bautista & Yu Darvish 38:47 A Sleeper in San Diego? Stephen Kolek's Opportunity 46:32 Kristian Campbell: Makes Opening Day Roster for Red Sox 52:13 Fifth Starter Battle Winner: AJSS, Matthew Liberatore & Logan Allen 1:00:37 An Attempt to Understand & Explain the Pirates' Initial Rotation Choices 1:05:38 Where the Money Went -- Week 1 Pickups Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social Follow DVR on Bluesky: @dvr.bsky.social e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Producer: Brian Smith Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno and DVR discuss a trio of March contract extensions including Tanner Bibee, Alejandro Kirk, and Justin Martinez -- all of whom received new five-year deals with their respective clubs. Plus, they catch up on other late spring news including a scare for Shane McClanahan, a trade that sent Nolan Jones back to Cleveland, a closer role up for grabs in Cincinnati, and a few takeaways from the first run of weekly pickups in 'Where the Money Went' as Opening Day approaches.Please participate in our listener survey! theathletic.com/athletic/survey25 (Three lucky entries will receive £/$100 worth of Amazon vouchers!)Rundown2:42 Tanner Bibee's Extension with Guardians6:18 Alejandro Kirk: Signs Five-Year Deal with Blue Jays13:04 Justin Martinez: Gets Long-Term Guarantee with D-backs16:29 News Updates: Shane McClanahan, Zack Gelof, Freddie Freeman & Mookie Betts24:48 Nolan Jones Traded *Back* to Cleveland for Tyler Freeman34:08 News Updates: Vinnie Pasquantino, Alexis Díaz, Gunnar Henderson, Félix Bautista & Yu Darvish38:47 A Sleeper in San Diego? Stephen Kolek's Opportunity46:32 Kristian Campbell: Makes Opening Day Roster for Red Sox52:13 Fifth Starter Battle Winner: AJSS, Matthew Liberatore & Logan Allen1:00:37 An Attempt to Understand & Explain the Pirates' Initial Rotation Choices1:05:38 Where the Money Went -- Week 1 PickupsFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @dvr.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisProducer: Brian SmithExecutive Producer: Derek VanRiper Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GriffsThePitch.com and Former Toronto Star Columnist Richard Griffin joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the Blue Jays, the Opening Day roster for the team, Mark Shapiro's perspective of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and his impending deal, Alejandro Kirk's extension in Toronto, George Springer and Max Scherzer looking for a bounce back season and more.

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Bruce Boudreau joins to discuss the coaching perspective around the NHL, Craig Berube's line philosophy and the Maple Leafs' team mentality. GriffsThePitch.com Columnist Richard Griffin joins to discuss the Blue Jays' roster set for Opening Day, Mark Shapiro's contract negotiations with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk's extension with the team.

On this week's episode, we begin by making our division, playoff, World Series, and award picks for the 2025 season. From there, we discuss extensions for Alejandro Kirk, Tanner Biebe, Justin Martinez, and Jose Trevino, new homes for Kyle Gibson, Patrick Corbin, Craig Kimbrel, and Alex Verdugo, trades involving Nolan Jones, Ian Anderson, and Mark Cahna, and early injuries to Gunnar Henderson, Royce Lewis, Shane McClanahan, and Clark Schimdt. To wrap up, we discuss Joey Gallo's transition to pitching, the National TV schedule, the Marlins running into issues with the MLBPA, and the sale of Paul Skenes' debut patch card.

Yasiel Puig sigue luchando por regresar a MLB y demostrar que aún tiene talento para jugar al más alto nivel. Mientras tanto, Alejandro Kirk firma una millonaria extensión con los Blue Jays, los Braves y Angels concretan un cambio, y varios jugadores son colocados en waivers. ¡Toda la actualidad de la MLB en Baseball News! #MLB #YasielPuig #Beisbol #MLBNoticias #SpringTraining #OpeningDay #Baseball #GrandesLigasConviértete en un seguidor de este podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/con-las-bases-llenas-podcast-de-beisbol--2742086/support.

Justin and Patrick bring you the annual BFMD season preview! The guys discuss the 26-man roster to start the year, Alejandro Kirk's extension, and injuries to some key players.Patrick leads the lightning round of questions with the guys giving their individual player predictions and spicy takes. Who is most likely to be traded? Will John Schneider lose his job? Which rookie will be the biggest contributor? Stay tuned for our next episode previewing the Baltimore Orioles with a special guest!

JD reacts to the action-packed weekend of sports, including Canada's men's soccer team victory over the Americans (00:00). JD then moves onto the Maple Leafs' lowly loss to the Nashville Predators (9:00) and brings on James Mirtle, senior NHL writer at The Athletic, to analyze Joseph Woll against Anthony Stolarz, why Craig Berube is demoting Scott Laughton, Morgan Reilly's free-market value, and Matthew Knies' contract extension numbers. JD then touches on some of the potential lottery picks he watched in college basketball over the weekend (46:30). Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith gets into Alejandro Kirk's contract extension, Mark Shapiro's optimism about extending Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the biggest surprises from the final roster decisions, Alan Roden's opportunity and Max Scherzer's thumb injury (54:00). The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (1:20:00)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 are sick of spring training... bring on the regular season! The guys dive into the Blue Jays 26-man roster to debate those who made the cut and Alejandro Kirk's five-year extension with the club, before sharing their preseason picks for MLB division winners and Wild Card spots. Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (28:02) joins the guys to chat about Toronto's roster decisions including Alan Roden's promotion, Ryan Yarbrough's release, and Yariel Rodriguez' outlook for 2025. Shi also shares his view on Kirk's freshly inked contract, what's next for Orelvis Martínez, and who will start in centerfield on Opening Day.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.

Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning discuss the team's recent trend of three-game splits and whether they missed an opportunity to take the division lead. They analyze the team's killer instinct, compare it to past Leafs performances, and evaluate Joseph Woll's play. John Tavares' post-game comments are also highlighted. In the later segment, they share insights on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster, Alejandro Kirk's extension, and Canada's win over the U.S. in the Conacaf Nations League third-place match (27:35).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.

Guests: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jordan Romano, Blue Jays pitcher Nick Sandlin Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro held his annual spring training session with the media and we take you through what he had to say in painstaking detail. His confidence that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would re-sign with the Jays, despite their failure to make a deal all winter, the state of the farm system, whether players like Daulton Varsho, Andres Gimenez and Alejandro Kirk need to hit better for the Jays to succeed and much more. Also, we head over to Phillies camp to check in with “the one who they let get away.” Jordan Romano is thriving in his new digs. And meet the new guy – Nick Sandlin!

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the episode by discussing Gerrit Cole's season-ending injury, whether George Springer deserves to continue as a lead-off hitter, and whether Myles Straw should be the everyday center fielder in Daulton Varsho's absence. Later, former MLB catcher and MLB Network analyst Alex Avila (23:35) joins the show to discuss what it's like to catch Max Scherzer, how Alejandro Kirk should catch him, and how other veteran players like Gausman and Bassitt can still learn from Scherzer. Finally, Alex tells one of his favourite stories about Max while playing a game.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 are joined by Blue Jays Manager John Schneider, who spoke about Kevin Gausman's Spring debut, the use and impact of his slider, Alejandro Kirk catching Max Scherzer, how he views the team's batting order, slotting Anthony Santander behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr, and his impressions of top prospect Arjun Nimmala. MLB Insider Jeff Passan discusses a variety of topics around the sport notably the Rays and A's both playing in minor-league ballparks in 2025, if Pete Rose will be re-instated, and former Mariner Justin Turner criticizing Seattle and their unwillingness to improve their roster during the offseason (30:27). 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 begin the show by discussing Kevin Gausman's 2025 spring training debut today, his expectations for the season, and the importance of a hot start. Next, Blue Jays Central Analyst, Joe Siddall (26:49) joins the show to discuss Gauman's pitching adjustments this spring, they debate what are the Blue Jays' plans with Yariel Rodriguez, Alejandro Kirk's longevity for the season and whether the Jays need to trade for a lead-off man.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.

Toronto Blue Jays Spring Training & AL East OutlookToronto Blue Jays Front Office Do You Miss Alex Anthopoulos? -  "Every freaking day."Anthopoulos and Beeston were more transparent & connected with fansAtkins is more of a spokesperson, while Shapiro makes the decisions.Blue Jays' High Payroll & Poor Roster ManagementPayroll is around $271M, making them the 5th highest-spending team.Despite spending, the team lacks major offseason upgrades.Concerns over failing to extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.Luxury Tax & Future Uncertainty & Aging playersFuture of MLB's luxury tax and potential salary cap/floor in 2027.Rogers invested $300M in stadium renovations,Leadership shakeup could be imminent Pitching staff (e.g., Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt) is among oldest in MLB.George Springer and other key veterans are aging.Farm System Ranked around 23rd-24th in MLBThe team could face a major decline in 2026-2027 iTrade & Deadline ImplicationsIf Jays struggle by midseason, major trades (Guerrero, Bichette) could happen."It feels like a one-year prove-it-or-lose-it situation." Jays seemingly pursued top players like Shohei Ohtani & Juan Soto but didn't land them.Fanbase is already fed up with Shapiro & Atkins, especially after the 2023 playoff controversy (José Berríos decision).Bright Spots in Spring Training - Alan Roden (OF, Triple-A prospect)Discussion on Tampa Bay Rays Attendance and Team DevelopmentsExpects Better Attendance in 2025 in Tampa - highlighted the limited stadium capacity of around 15,000-16,000.Attendance fluctuates, it often spikes when teams like the Yankees come to town. Rays should take over George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa rather than remain in St. Petersburg or move to Ybor City.Blue Jays Roster Outlook newly acquired second baseman Andrés Giménez and veteran pitcher Max Scherzer, including Jeff Hoffman and Chad Green and the re-signing of Ryan Yarbrough.Brent Cardy expects a strong season from Bichette if he remains healthy.Bichette has a history of leading the league in hits and could do so again.Defensive ability at shortstop, though he may have some DH days.Bichette's bat speed decline in 2024, potentially linked to concussion issuesBichette is still a tough out and a crucial piece of the Blue Jays' success.Farm System ranked 24th - Notable prospects include:Jonatan Clase (expected to start in Buffalo).Addison Barger & Davis Schneider (potential minor league assignments).Kendry Rojas (high swing-and-miss potential, could be a future impact arm).Josh KasevichChad Dallas, Ricky Tiedemann, & Alek Manoah (injury setbacks affecting pitching depth).Jays' pitching has been depleted, requiring improvements in drafting and scouting.Catching Depth & Alejandro KirkExpected to play around 115-120 games.Backup options include Heineman, Bethancourt, and Phil Clarke.Kirk could be a 3 WAR player, with Guerrero Jr. potentially at 7-8 WAR, & Bichette at 4 WAR if healthy.Overall Blue Jays Expectations -  Cardy predicts 83-84 winsFollow Mat on Blue Sky at https://bsky.app/profile/matgermain.bsky.social, Mark on Blue Sky at https://bsky.app/profile/baseballbizondeck.bsky.socialSpecial thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Buck Martinez, who discusses Max Scherzer's first spring training start today, what fans can expect from him, how his new relationship with Alejandro Kirk will play out, forecasting Yariel Rodriguez's bullpen season, and the Blue Jays' biggest questions and new additions. In the second half of the hour, Jon Morosi (28:26) of the MLB Network joins the show to discuss Nolan Arenado's trade scenario with the St. Louis Cardinals, how the team needs to get back to winning, and how the Boston Red Sox can be a major threat in the American League East.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.

Sean Murphy and Ivan Herrera are sleeper catchers this season. Scott thinks Alejandro Kirk can take a step forward. Willson Contreras is a cheat code in Fantasy. Why are we fading Logan O'Hoppe? Fantasy Baseball Today Express is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever else you listen to podcasts.  Get Fantasy Baseball Today merch here: http://bit.ly/3y8dUqi Follow FBT on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fbtpod?_t=8WyMkPdKOJ1&_r=1 Follow our FBT team on Twitter: @FBTPod, @CTowersCBS, @CBSScottWhite, @Roto_Frank Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/fantasybaseballtoday Sign up for the FBT Newsletter at https://www.cbssports.com/newsletters/fantasy-baseball-today/ For more fantasy baseball coverage from CBS Sports, visit https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/ To hear more from the CBS Sports Podcast Network, visit https://www.cbssports.com/podcasts/ You can listen to Fantasy Baseball Today Express on your smart speakers! Simply say "Alexa, play the latest episode of the Fantasy Baseball Today in 5 podcast" or "Hey Google, play the latest episode of the Fantasy Baseball Today in 5 podcast." To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices