Best Torontostar Podcasts (2025)

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Roundtable: The Blue Jays start the second half in first place. Now what? 53:49

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7d ago53:49

53:49

Guests: Paul Sun-Hyung Lee of Kim's Convenience and The Mandalorian, Second City Veteran/TV Writer Pat Smith This week in Deep Left FIeld, we get you set for the unofficial second half of the baseball season which, for the first time in over three decades, will begin with the Blue Jays in first place. We present a round table (maybe triangle) w…

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Blue Jays end 10-game win streak still in first place, plus the upcoming amateur draft and how Alejandro Kirk became baseball's best defensive catcher 1:07:18

14d ago1:07:18

1:07:18

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4 games, 36 runs, +13 run differential, 1st place: The Blue Jays sweep the New York Yankees 25:32

20d ago25:32

25:32

Guest: Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes The Blue Jays have swept their way into first place by beating the New York Yankees four straight – the first time that has ever happened in Toronto. The Jays scored 36 runs over the four-game sweep, coming from behind twice and rebounding from blowing an eight-run lead once, in four intense games in an incr…

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The Blue Jays are in first place after beating the Yankees 11-9 and Davis Schneider, Myles Straw and Chad Green join Deep Left Field 1:02:07

21d ago1:02:07

1:02:07

Guests: Blue Jays reliever Chad Green, outfielders Davis Schneider and Myles Straw This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to three of your first-place Toronto Blue Jays. Davis Schneider, who homered twice in Wednesday's win and is hitting .400 in the Yankees' series through the first three games, talks about the run he's been on, the run the team…

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Blue Jays pitcher Eric Lauer dives deep into his red hot season so far and Rangers manager Jeff Banister talks Jose Bautista's iconic bat flip and more on today's show 1:16:15

28d ago1:16:15

1:16:15

Guests: Blue Jays pitcher Eric Lauer, former Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister This week in Deep Left Field, we present two in-depth, long form, incredible conversations. First, we get to know left-hander Eric Lauer, who emerged seemingly out of nowhere to be arguably the Jays' best pitcher over the past couple of months, and inarguably the one t…

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Blue Jays are two games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East; on the show this week, Diamondback Randal Grichuk and Jay Braydon Fisher 49:34

1M ago49:34

49:34

Guests: Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Randal Grichuk, Blue Jays pitcher Braydon Fisher This week in Deep Left Field, we catch up with an old pal Randal Grichuk, who played four seasons for the Jays, is back in Toronto for the first time since being traded to the Colorado Rockies in spring training of 2022. We look back at his time here, at th…

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Jordan Romano, Don Mattingly and son, Phillies GM Preston Mattingly 55:50

1M ago55:50

55:50

Guests: Phillies closer Jordan Romano, Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly and his son, Phillies general manager Preston Mattingly The Blue Jays chose not to tender a contract to homegrown closer Jordan Romano, who is third on their all-time saves list, this winter, and he was snapped up by Philadelphia pretty quickly. He came back to Toronto and g…

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Inside the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame banquet with Jose Bautista, Greg Hamilton, Larry Walker, Ernie Whitt, Denis Boucher and more 1:07:25

2M ago1:07:25

1:07:25

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Blue Jays associate manager DeMarlo Hale, plus A's outfielder Denzel Clarke 1:00:10

2M ago1:00:10

1:00:10

DeMarlo Hale, Athletics/Baseball Canada outfielder Denzel Clarke This week in Deep Left Field, we sit down with DeMarlo Hale for his thoughts on the Blue Jays season so far. Hale thinks a season is best looked over after each third, so we look back at the first third and forward to what he thinks the team can accomplish over the next couple of mont…

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Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Chair Jeremy Diamond on Jose Bautista and other inductees, plus Padre Tim Leiper and ump Steven Jaschinski 1:18:00

2M ago1:18:00

1:18:00

Guests: Former Blue Jays/current San Diego Padres coach Tim Leiper, major-league umpire Steven Jaschinski, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Board Chair Jeremy Diamond This week in Deep Left Field is all about the true north strong and free! Tim Leiper joins us to reminisce about his Jays days and talk about Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame i…

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It could happen to you 16:45

2M ago16:45

16:45

Kevin Donovan’s conversation with Canada’s Dean of lawyers who advocates for the wrongfully convicted. James Lockyer talks about the new federal plan that could one day free Chris Sheriffe.By Toronto Star

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Blue Jays centerfielder Daulton Varsho, third baseman Addison Barger, Buffalo Bisons manager Casey Candaele and more 1:01:05

2M ago1:01:05

1:01:05

Guests: Blue Jays centerfielder Daulton Varsho, third baseman Addison Barger, Buffalo Bisons manager Casey Candaele This week, we talk to two of the players most consequential to the Jays' recent turnaround that has seen them win eight out of 12 games going into their May 22 series finale against the San Diego Padres. Daulton Varsho leads the team …

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Smokescreen 23:47

2M ago23:47

23:47

There can be problems when using confidential informants and hearsay evidence, especially when a man’s freedom is at stake. Lawyer Dean Embry’s conversation with Kevin Donovan provides a back story for our Murder on Mount Olive investigation.

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Rookie left-hander Mason Fluharty, pitching coach Pete Walker and our very own Gregor Chisholm 1:09:32

2M ago1:09:32

1:09:32

Guests: Blue Jays reliever Mason Fluharty, pitching coach Pete Walker, Toronto Star baseball columnist Gregor Chisholm This week in Deep Left Field, we introduce you to rookie left-hander Mason Fluharty, who came within six outs of throwing a "perfect game" out of the bullpen. As the Jays hit the one-quarter mark of the season, we catch up with pit…

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Colour Blinded 36:49

3M ago36:49

36:49

In this bonus episode, we hear a top cop’s story of being Black and on the job in one of Canada’s biggest police forces. Listen to Keith Merith’s conversation with Kevin Donovan, providing a back story for our Murder on Mount Olive investigation.By Toronto Star

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Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, Director of Position Player Development Eric Duncan, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt and more 58:11

3M ago58:11

58:11

Guests: Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, Director of Position Player Development Eric Duncan, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt The Jays might be in freefall, but we’ve put together a tremendous show for you regardless! Kevin Gausman joins us to talk about the aftermath of his 53-pitch inning in New York, his dominant outing against Cleveland and his …

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Choices 30:42

3M ago30:42

30:42

It’s now been 13 years. Chris reflects on decisions he made. The friends he had. Staying out that hot night in August instead of going home. And on what he would do if he is ever released. In the final episode of the series, we offer him a potential lifeline. Tell us what really happened between you and Awet, what he said, what he was planning to d…

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Blue Jays home run leader Anthony Santander, reliever Brendon Little, 1B/OF coach Mark Budzinski and more 1:01:55

3M ago1:01:55

1:01:55

Guests: Blue Jays home run leader Anthony Santander, reliever Brendon Little, 1B/OF coach Mark Budzinski The Blue Jays miserable April is over and it ended with a massive comeback win against the Boston Red Sox. No one might be happier to turn the page to May than Anthony Santander, who is hitting just .175 as the calendar flips. The switch-hitter …

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Trial and Error 53:23

3M ago53:23

53:23

A trial scheduled for one month becomes two. The Judge is not pleased. It’s now down to 12 jurors to determine Chris and Awet’s fate – but the lone Black juror gets sick so now it’s 11. Among the evidence the jury hears: false DNA evidence that’s not corrected; a transcription of Chris’s own words that is incorrect and not corrected; and the recoll…

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Blue Jays outfielders George Springer and Nathan Lukes, pitcher Easton Lucas and more 1:11:56

3M ago1:11:56

1:11:56

Guests: Blue Jays outfielders George Springer and Nathan Lukes, pitcher Easton Lucas Coming off a sweep in Houston where Blue Jays hitters were almost completely shut down for three games, we go over an agonizing “week that was,” one in which the Jays only won once and one that finished on a tear-your-hair-out frustrating five-game losing streak. O…

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The Third Man Theory Rocks Trial 39:29

3M ago39:29

39:29

The day of the murder from all sides. Chris, Awet Asfaha, two young women — each give a different perspective on the events leading up to Kim Golaub’s brutal murder. What they did. What was said. You’ve heard Chris’s story before, but now at trial Awet comes out with a stunning story. There was someone else that day. A mysterious third man who was …

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Blue Jays reliever Yimi Garcia, catcher Tyler Heineman, Atlanta 3B coach Matt Tuiasosopo and more 58:46

3M ago58:46

58:46

Guests: Blue Jays reliever Yimi Garcia, catcher Tyler Heineman, Atlanta 3B coach Matt Tuiasosopo We celebrate the 250th episode of the podcast with the first-ever 1-on-1 interview with Yimi Garcia in English. The big, scary set-up man with the 0.00 ERA turns out to be a gentle giant off the mound! We also check in with back-up catcher Tyler Heinema…

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Two Down, One To Go 34:19

3M ago34:19

34:19

Chris is out on bail leading up to the trial. Toronto Police show up at his house one night. They end up assaulting his father, arresting his brother, and not long after Chris’s bail is revoked when a new charge is laid against him. Marjorie, Chris’s mom, overhears police officers give an ominous warning about the men in her family and she goes int…

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Forever in Blue Jays history: Pat Hentgen and Vernon Wells discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and their time in Toronto 1:01:36

3M ago1:01:36

1:01:36

Guests: Blue Jays icons Pat Hentgen and Vernon Wells With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. putting pen to paper on the second-largest contract in baseball history, one that will keep him with the team until 2039, when he’s forty years old, and could very well make him the first “Forever Blue Jay,” we are joined by two of the greatest players in club history. …

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Why did Kevin Donovan investigate this case? 4:25

3M ago4:25

4:25

Kevin Donovan talks about why he decided to look at Chris Sheriffe's case. Hear from him, and catch up on the series so far, while getting a glimpse of the weeks ahead. Subscribers get access to episodes one week early.By Toronto Star

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Happy birthday Jays, and nice $500-million gift: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a forever Blue Jay 26:36

4M ago26:36

26:36

Overnight, the news broke that the Jays and their superstar slugger have agreed to the second-largest contract in baseball history. Guerrero will be a Blue Jay through his age-40 season with a 14-year, $500 million (U.S.) deal that kicks in beginning next season. We threw down a special bonus episode of Deep Left Field for you, sharing our thoughts…

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Bodies To His Name 36:06

4M ago36:06

36:06

Bombshell. On the eve of the murder trial, a young Toronto police officer emerges with two confidential sources, one of them purporting to be a gang member, who tell a very different story about Chris Sheriffe. It throws Chris’s defence team for a loop. And here’s the problem. The judge won’t let the lawyers attack this new information. Audio: NBC’…

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Blue Jays second baseman Andres Gimenez, outfielder Alan Roden and more 1:09:00

4M ago1:09:00

1:09:00

Guests: Blue Jays second baseman Andres Gimenez, outfielder Alan Roden, pitcher Jacob Barnes, Orioles/Baseball Canada outfielder Tyler O’Neill This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to the clean-up man, record-setting slugger Andres Gimenez, who has 60% of the Jays’ home runs so far. Rookie sensation Alan Roden catches us up on his first week in the…

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The Story So Far... 3:04

4M ago3:04

3:04

This Friday, April 4, the second half of Murder on Mount Olive's season starts with episode 6, Bodies To His Name, as well as episode 7, one week early for subscribers. If you haven't heard the first five episodes to date, get caught up with the stories and main players so far, with this short trailer. Or listen to the first half of the season in y…

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Playing For Your Country 24:36

4M ago24:36

24:36

Who is Chris Sheriffe? Elite soccer player. Aspiring carpenter. Good family. We hear from the people who knew him best, mother, sister, coach. We also learn about his experience growing up as a young Black teen in Toronto – the frequent police stops and his complaint about the most egregious one. He’s in his Catholic school uniform, heading home fr…

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Blue Jays Opening Day Extravaganza 1:08:48

4M ago1:08:48

1:08:48

Guests: Blue Jays 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., closer Jeff Hoffman, OF Anthony Santander, starters Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman, manager John Schneider The 2025 season is finally upon us and so we bring you the Opening Day Extravaganza! The fifth season of Deep Left Field begins with a star-studded roster of guests to get you ready for the season. …

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Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis, hitting coach David Popkins and more 55:35

4M ago55:35

55:35

Guests: Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis, hitting coach David Popkins, Vancouver Canadians 1B Peyton Williams Spring training is over and the Blue Jays are back home in Toronto, coming off their Grapefruit League title, getting set to open their season on March 27 against the Baltimore Orioles. We go over the season-opening 26-man roster for you, w…

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Jordan Romano, Jays' pitcher Nick Sandlin, plus going through Mark Shapiro's spring training media session 56:19

4M ago56:19

56:19

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 …

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Where's The Gun? 41:41

4M ago41:41

41:41

The forensics. How three bullets killed a man. The gun shot residue. Where it landed and where it didn’t land gives homicide detectives some help, but not much. It turns out the case against Chris Sheriffe and Awet Asfaha is weak. Plus, the police screwed up the evidence collection. Things come to a head at the preliminary hearing, where a judge mu…

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Max Scherzer, Alan Roden, Trey Yesavage and more 40:32

4M ago40:32

40:32

Guests: Blue Jays outfielder Alan Roden, starter Max Scherzer, top pitching prospect Trey Yesavage Deep Left Field is back in Dunedin as the Blue Jays move into their final week of spring training leading the Grapefruit League with a 14-9-1 record! This week, we talk to the story of the spring – young Alan Roden, who is trying to hit his way onto t…

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Gladiator School 33:17

4M ago33:17

33:17

Twelve years into his life sentence for murder, Chris Sheriffe is a model prisoner. He’s doing all the courses available behind bars, plus weekly meetings of the prison public speaking club. He does conflict resolution, helping guards and prisoners get along. Which is intriguing, given that Toronto Police labelled him a hard knuckled killer. Also, …

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Video: Kevin Donovan talks with Chris Sheriffe behind bars 1:52

4M ago1:52

1:52

Watch or listen to this bonus video footage, where Kevin Donovan sits down with Chris Sheriffe in prison at Collins Bay. Listen to episode 3 of Murder on Mount Olive, Gladiator School, for more from this interview.By Toronto Star

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Deep Left Field opens up the mail bag 1:12:22

4M ago1:12:22

1:12:22

Guests: Toronto Star baseball columnist Gregor Chisholm This week, Gregor and I crack open the mailbag and tackle your Blue Jays questions submitted by email, on Bluesky and here at thestar.com. We touch on the leak of Vladdy’s contract demands, the broken promises of Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins, a Jays’ fan’s existential crises and much more! One…

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The Hunt 49:08

5M ago49:08

49:08

Homicide detectives get lucky. The best witness possible, and he’s talking, and he’s got a partial licence plate from a car that left the scene right after Kim Golaub was shot dead. But homicide cops are struggling for a motive. Did someone have a grudge against the victim? Was he in the wrong place at the wrong time? Just a few hours after the mur…

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The Crime 32:14

5M ago32:14

32:14

On a hot, sunny day in August a man is shot three times. It happens outside a barbecue. Witnesses give different descriptions of the shooter; police flood the area looking for clues. What happens that day will end up putting a young soccer player turned carpenter behind bars for life for a crime he says he didn’t commit. This is the story of Christ…

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Veteran executive Ellen Harrigan shares her baseball journey 48:20

5M ago48:20

48:20

Guest: Ellen Harrigan, current Los Angeles Dodgers VP of baseball administration and Blue Jays front office member from 1981-1995. This week, we’re joined by Ellen Harrigan, who is about to begin her 45th season working in baseball. She started out with the Blue Jays in Exhibition Stadium in 1981, as part of a skeleton-crew front office, and will r…

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A second sneak peak: Suspicion Season 4, Murder on Mount Olive 1:01

5M ago1:01

1:01

Coming Friday, March 7, episodes 1, 2 and 3 (for subscribers) will be available for Suspicion Season 4, Murder on Mount Olive. Toronto Star Chief Investigative Reporter Kevin Donovan, who brought you the Billionaire Murders, investigates a crime the courts closed the book on in 2012. On a sunny day in August, 2009, a man is shot three times at a ba…

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Suspicion returns March 7 with Season 4, Murder on Mount Olive 1:01

5M ago1:01

1:01

Toronto Star Chief Investigative Reporter Kevin Donovan, who brought you the Billionaire Murders, is back with Murder on Mount Olive, an investigation of a crime the courts closed the book on in 2012. On a sunny day in August, 2009, a man is shot three times at a barbecue. What happens that day will put a budding young soccer star turned carpenter …

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Former Blue Jays Communications Director on how teams deal with crises. The Jays have had a few this winter 1:07:15

5M ago1:07:15

1:07:15

Guests: Former Blue Jays Communications Director, current Niagara Ironbacks owner Mal Romanin With spring training games underway, many Blue Jays fans are still having a hard time getting the taste of a rough winter out of their mouths. The failure to lock up Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Roki Sasaki debacle will be the biggest stories of the Jays’…

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Blue Jays columnists discuss the good, the Vlad and the ugly 1:06:18

5M ago1:06:18

1:06:18

Guests: Toronto Star Baseball Columnist Gregor Chisholm Spring training is underway in Dunedin, Florida, and Gregor Chisholm has been there since the first day, which means he was there when the news broke that the Blue Jays had failed to come to a long-term contract agreement with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Gregor joins us to discuss all the goings-on …

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Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Inductees Jose Bautista and Greg Hamilton 51:07

5M ago51:07

51:07

Guests: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Inductees Jose Bautista and Greg Hamilton This week, we celebrate the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame as it announces the newest honoured members who will take their place among the immortals at the Hall on Induction Day, June 7 in St. Marys. Jose Bautista headlines the class and he joins us to ta…

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Hall of Famer Max Scherzer, Canadian actor Aaron Abrams and more 1:13:02

6M ago1:13:02

1:13:02

Guests: Aaron Abrams, star of CTV’s “Children Ruin Everything,” plus clips from Max Scherzer and Ross Atkins’ news conference and we bring you clips and analysis of that news conference. Scherzer talks about his health, the hows and whys of his coming to Toronto, his motivations in finally coming to the AL East and his feelings about baseball’s dat…

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The Blue Jays add Hall of Fame pitcher Max Scherzer 26:44

6M ago26:44

26:44

The Blue Jays Add A Hall of Famer A busy January on the free agent front came to a close with the Blue Jays snagging Max Scherzer, the 40-year-old eight-time all-star who will bring his three Cy Young awards and two World Series rings to town with him. With five trips to the injured list in the past two seasons, and only having been able to make ni…

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Blue Jays 1B coach Mark Budzinski, former Baseball Canada slugger Scott Thorman and more 50:38

6M ago50:38

50:38

Guests: Blue Jays 1B coach Mark Budzinski, former Baseball Canada slugger Scott Thorman Not too many people in the Jays’ system know their new acquisition, Anthony Santander, better than Mark Budzinski, who managed Santander at two levels of the minor leagues. We get the goods on the new guy from his ex-skipper, who is very excited for the reunion.…

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Toronto Maple Leafs pitcher Ayami Sato, Anthony Santander, Ross Atkins and more 58:04

6M ago58:04

58:04

The Blue Jays introduced Anthony Santander, their first major offensive acquisition in four years, and we bring you clips of his media availability and interpret Ross Atkins’ attempts to sidestep criticism for the Roki Sasaki debacle and the Jays’ failure (so far) to sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a contract extension. We examine the Cooperstown Cla…