Jeff Passan breaks down the entire postseason field, starting with every Wild Card Series matchup: Red Sox-Yankees, White Sox-Astros, Cubs-Padres and Phillies-Braves. Then, we look ahead to the four teams that earned a bye and are waiting in the Division Series — the Dodgers and Brewers in the NL, and the Rays and Guardians in the AL. Which Wild Card teams are built to make a run? What should we expect from baseball’s top seeds? And what could define the road to the World Series? Everything you need to know as the road to the World Series begins. (0:00) Welcome to Sources Tell Jeff Passan (0:25) Playoff preview  (0:47) Red Sox vs. Yankees Preview  (10:38) White Sox vs. Astros Preview (22:18) Cubs vs. Padres Preview (32:49) Phillies vs. Braves Preview (46:26) NL Top Seeds: Dodgers, Brewers (57:03) AL Top Seeds: Rays, Guardians Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ten years after the death of José Fernández, Jeff Passan sits down with two of his former teammates, Christian Yelich and Dee Strange-Gordon, to remember the person behind one of baseball’s most unforgettable stars. Christian and Dee share stories about what José was like as a teammate and friend, from his arrival in the big leagues and the joy and energy he brought to the clubhouse to the moments that still make them smile today. They also reflect on the devastating day they learned of his death and the emotions of returning to the ballpark without him — including the Marlins’ first game back, when Dee led off with a home run and left everyone in the ballpark stunned by a moment that felt almost impossible. Jeff also reflects on José’s complicated legacy and why, 10 years later, he believes more can be done to remember the extraordinary mark Fernández made on the Marlins, Miami and the game of baseball. A conversation about José Fernández — the player, teammate, friend and person they knew — and why his memory still matters 10 years later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeff Passan asked all 30 MLB owners for an interview about baseball's looming labor war. He got 30 nos. So he answers the biggest questions himself — the ones ownership won't touch on the record. MLB is pushing for its first salary cap in over 30 years, and the MLBPA has called the league's proposal "the worst system for players in any of the major sports — and it's not close." With the CBA set to expire and a lockout looking more likely by the week, Jeff breaks down what a cap would actually fix, who benefits, and why a full season could disappear in 2027 the way one did in hockey in 2004-05. Along the way: a hard look at the Dodgers' payroll and luxury tax spending compared to the rest of the league, the legal nuclear options both sides are sitting on, the ghost of 1994, and how close baseball is to a shutdown nobody in charge wants to talk about. Five questions. Zero owners willing to answer them. One very real chance the game stops. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MLB expansion is on the horizon. So who gets a team? Jeff Passan is joined by representatives from six cities hoping to land an MLB team — Montreal, Nashville, Portland, Salt Lake City, Raleigh and Orlando — and gives each of them the chance to make their case. Why is their city ready for Major League Baseball? What would a new team look like? And which pitch is the most convincing? Six cities. A limited number of spots. Let the expansion pitches begin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

September is one of the most special times on the baseball calendar. For players grinding away in the minor leagues, it’s a month when anything can happen — and the dream of reaching the big leagues can suddenly feel a whole lot closer. This week, I’m celebrating September baseball through three remarkable stories: John Paciorek, who went 3-for-3 in his only MLB game and finished with a perfect 1.000 batting average; Brian Jeroloman, who was called up by the Blue Jays in 2011 but never got into a major league game; and Matt Buschmann, who joins me to share his own unforgettable September baseball story. Three very different journeys — and a reminder of the hope and possibility that September brings to baseball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of Sources Tell Jeff Passan, Jeff is joined by financial fraud expert and whistleblower Tom Gober for a deep dive into the complicated financial web surrounding Dodgers owner Mark Walter, Guggenheim, and the insurance companies connected to the purchase and operation of the Los Angeles Dodgers. How were insurance companies used to help finance the purchase of the Dodgers? Why do Mark Walter’s insurance companies own the Dodgers’ television contract? And how did a franchise that emerged from bankruptcy become a multibillion-dollar powerhouse? Gober breaks down how potential financial-crime cases are built, when affiliated investments begin raising regulatory concerns, the role of the NAIC, and how reinsurance factors into the Dodgers’ financial structure. Plus, the red flag settlement from 2012, where the profits ultimately go, the biggest potential concern for Walter’s lawyers, and who could ultimately be held responsible. TIMECODES: 0:00 Welcome to Sources Tell Jeff Passan 0:25 Dodgers Owner Mark Walter's Billion-Dollar Insurance Scandal 4:25 Tom Gober Joins Sources Tell Jeff Passan 5:35 How Mark Walter Used Insurance Companies To Buy The Dodgers 7:12 How Cases Are Built With Potential Financial Crimes 8:55 The Complicated Web Of Guggenheim's Holdings 11:03 When Affiliated Investments Become Problematic 12:45 Investment Threshold That Causes The NAIC To Start Asking Questions 16:36 How Does Something Like This Happen? 18:25 The Game-Changing Dodgers Television Contract 23:37 Why Do Mark Walter's Insurance Companies Own The Dodgers TV Contract? 26:30 How The Dodgers Went From Bankrupt To Billions 32:15 Wall Street's Stance On The Matter 36:30 What Is Reinsurance And How Does It Involve The Dodgers? 48:05 More Insight Into The Mark Walter-Dodgers Situation 50:05 Biggest Concern For Mark Walter’s Lawyer 52:25 Profits Go To The Dodgers And Their Owners 56:17 Who’s To Blame? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of Sources Tell Jeff Passan, newly discovered footage captures baseball legends Ted Williams and Bobby Doerr on a fishing trip, talking—and debating—the art of the baseball swing. Jeff is joined by Joey Votto, who idolized Williams and studied The Science of Hitting, along with the Executive Director of the Ted Williams Foundation and a friend and former security guard of Ted’s. Together, they watch this remarkable footage and break down Ted’s thoughts on hitting, his approach to the swing, and what it’s like to hear one of baseball’s greatest hitters talk about his craft in such a candid setting. A rare glimpse of baseball history that has to be seen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s a lot more happening in baseball than the Dodgers. On this episode of Sources Tell Jeff Passan, Jeff breaks down the biggest storylines to watch down the stretch of the MLB season — from Yordan Alvarez’s pursuit of the Triple Crown and Aaron Judge’s eventual return to Jacob Misiorowski’s Cy Young case, the red-hot Red Sox and Pete Crow-Armstrong’s place in the MVP race. Which storylines will define the rest of the season? And which players could change the playoff picture before October? (0:00) Welcome to Sources Tell Jeff Passan (1:48) Yordan Alvarez Triple Crown (5:30) Aaron Judge will be back (10:05) AL West Race (16:28) NL MVP Race (19:50) Cy Young Races (23:16) Red Sox Run (27:27) AL Central Race (30:51) NL Wild Card Race (38:30) Lockout (45:00) World Series Contenders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeff Passan is joined by Buster Olney & Tim Kurkjian react to the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline, grading all 30 teams’ moves at the deadline. It’s a baseball extravaganza crossover event with The Baseball Tonight Podcast and Sources Tell Jeff Passan. The guys discuss Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox, Freddy Peralta to the Tampa Bay Rays, Luis Arraez to the Philadelphia Phillies, Luis Garcia Jr. to the New York Yankees and more. Plus, Alden Gonzalez, Jorge Castillo, Jesse Rogers and Kiley McDaniel join to deliver their grades. Later, Chicago Cubs GM Jed Hoyer stops by to talk about his team’s strategy at the deadline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to The Trady Bunch!  Jeff Passan and Richard Staff randomly draw 25 of the biggest names connected to the MLB Trade Deadline and react to each one—predicting who's getting traded, who's staying put, and the best landing spots if a deal happens. Who gets moved? Who stays put? And which team is about to make the biggest splash? Let us know in the comments: Which trade do you think is most likely to happen? What is a trade you’re dying to see? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices