The FAN Morning Show

Ben & Brent kick off the hour discussing the potential shape of the Toronto Blue Jays' pitching staff in September if Shane Bieber and Alek Manoah successfully return from Tommy John surgery. They are joined by Adnan Virk of MLB Network to explore Bieber’s postseason potential and his competition among AL aces, as well as the NL West rivalry between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers. The hour wraps up with an analysis of the benefits of acquiring Bieber early on MLB Deadline Day (23:21). 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 and Brent debate whether there’s any holes left in the Toronto Blue Jays roster following their deadline additions of Shane Bieber, Louis Varland, Seranthony Domínguez, and Ty France. They acknowledge that a right-handed threat at the plate and another bullpen arm would have took Ross Atkins’ deadline from good to great. The duo then break down the expectations for Shane Bieber in Toronto, and question whether exiting Blue Jays, Alan Roden and Will Wagner, will be missed. Later, the hosts are joined by Chris “Mad Dog” Russo (24:43), of Mad Dog Sports Radio on Sirius XM. Chris provides his perspective on the Jays’ additions relative to those made by the New York Yankees, compares the quality of contenders in the American League and National League, and highlights the New York Mets as a team set up for long term success. 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 and Brent open Friday's show reacting to the Toronto Blue Jays adding Shane Bieber, Louis Varland and Ty France before yesterday’s MLB Trade Deadline came to pass. They weigh the potential upside and risks that comes with acquiring Bieber, the 2020 Cy Young winner, from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for pitching prospect Khal Stephen. Then, they move onto Ross Atkins’ deal with the Minnesota Twins which saw reliever Louis Varland and first basemen Ty France head to Toronto, while sending back Alan Roden and Kendrys Rojas. The duo discusses what Varland brings to the bullpen, the importance of having him under control through 2030, and whether France’s track record makes him an enticing depth bat addition. Afterwards, B&B turn their attention to other moves made across MLB. They begin in the AL East, where the New York Yankees beefed up their bullpen with David Bednar and Camilo Doval, meanwhile the Boston Red Sox came up short in their pursuit of Twins ace Joe Ryan, one of few names that weren’t sold off by Minnesota. They conclude the hour touching on the San Diego Padres and General Manager A.J. Preller, who loaded up his roster with five deals involving 22 players. 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 & Brent dive into the MLB trade deadline, discussing its potential impact on teams this year with a focus on who may buy or sell. They invite Robert Flores from MLB Network to share his insights on World Series contenders and the Blue Jays’ season. The conversation also touches on key players who could help the Blue Jays and their competitive landscape. To wrap up, baseball Hall of Famer Tim Kurkjian (23:06) reflects on the evolution of trade deadlines and unexpected moves, while assessing the surprising performance of the Blue Jays in the American League. 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 and Brent get back into Major League Baseball on trade deadline day with some expectations for the Blue Jays. The hosts ask how fans would reacts if Toronto's only move was adding Seranthony Domínguez. Does that undo any of the good will that the front office has built up this season? They debate if this is the season to go “all-in”, before taking a look at who the Jays could face in the postseason. Should that impact the decisions they’re making today? B&B also discuss the cutoff point in the standings this year between buyers and sellers. Sportsnet’s MLB insider, Shi Davidi (23:50), joins the guys to share his view on what the Blue Jays might do today, some specific targets they could have in their sights, and some under the radar moves that could make the difference. 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 and Brent start today's show with thoughts on the Blue Jays, who got back to winning last night in a tight game in Baltimore, before an off-day that happens to fall on the MLB Trade Deadline. The hosts first dive into the 9-8 win where Toronto overcame an early deficit and the bullpen delivered down the stretch. They discuss how good newest addition Seranthony Domínguez has been and if he’s putting pressure on Jeff Hoffman as the closer. B&B then turn their attention to some trades made around the majors, including the Phillies landing Jhoan Duran in a deal for a pair of top 100 prospects. In the back end of the hour, the guys share an update from an Edmonton executive regarding a Connor McDavid extension with the Oilers, before looking into the rumours of a LIV-like basketball league starting 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.

Ben & Brent wrap up Wednesday discussing the Blue Jays' current losing streak and the urgency of a win against the Orioles to avoid a sweep. They welcome Dan Shulman, the TV voice of the Jays on Sportsnet, to analyze the team's struggles, missing players, and a strained bullpen. They also explore potential reinforcements ahead of Thursday’s deadline. Finally, they check in with Team Canada’s World Junior camp in Minneapolis, speaking with head coach Dale Hunter (26:50) about bouncing back from last year’s loss and insights on Leafs prospect Easton Cowan. 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 and Brent continue the Blue Jays talk and reset on their first deal ahead of the trade deadline; acquiring Seranthony Domínguez from the Baltimore Orioles. The hosts discuss making an inner-division trade and what else could be on the table for Toronto. The duo dive into some of the reports out there, which teams will be busy, and who the big fish are within the market. They focus on the Blue Jays' front office tendencies and how much they should be “all in” this year. Jon Morosi (23:05) of MLB Network shares what working the deadline is like for him, if trading inside your own division is less taboo today, and what he believes the Jays will do in the next 36 hours. The trio then look around the league and what teams could make the most impact if they decide to sell. 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 start the show with thoughts on the Blue Jays, who got swept in their double-header in Baltimore yesterday against the Orioles. The hosts break down the games and discuss how much the team is missing Alejandro Kirk and George Springer, along with the importance on Eric Lauer's five-inning start. The duo dive into Toronto’s first trade of this deadline and the oddities that come from swapping players with the team you’re playing in a double-header. To close the hour, the pair revisit Scottie Scheffler’s comments before his recent U.S. Open win and how Tom Brady reacted to it (33:08). 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 and Brent wrap up their Jays discussion in the final hour, joined by former MLB player Kevin Barker. They dive into the Bo Bichette extension debate, analyze the team's recent performance, and discuss key contributions needed for the stretch run. The trio also considers the impact of injuries on trade decisions and team chemistry. To close, they chat with Joon Lee (28:43)—a former ESPN reporter now on YouTube—about the Blue Jays' legitimacy, the A.L. East landscape, and concerns around recent MLB gambling investigations. 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.