Deep Left Field with Mike Wilner

Guest: Dave Bidini, Renaissance Man With the holidays upon us, we brought the biggest baseball romantic we know into Deep Left Field to talk about the magic that was the Blue Jays' 2025 season. Dave Bidini - author of multiple books including "Baseballissimo," publisher of the West End Phoenix, Toronto Star contributor and Rheostatics guitarist - joins us to wax poetic on the year that was, the post-season run and how he's handling the Blue Jays' loss in Game 7 of the World Series. And, as always, we open the mailbag at [email protected] (our inbox is always open) to hear your thoughts including, of course, questions about Bo Bichette's still-unresolved free agency.

Guests: New Blue Jays pitcher Cody Ponce, former Blue Jays pitcher Jay Jackson     This week in Deep Left Field, we meet Cody Ponce, the right-hander the Jays signed earlier this month who is coming off the greatest season ever pitched in the Korea Baseball Organization. Ponce was introduced to the Toronto media this week, and we have highlights from that conversation, including what drew him to the Jays, his relationship with Hyun-Jin Ryu, what's changed since he was drummed out of the big leagues in 2021 and his deep and abiding love for all things Star Wars. Also, Jay Jackson joins us to give us an update on baby JR, who spent the first few months of his life in the NICU while his dad was pitching for the Blue Jays and is now a healthy, happy 2 1/2-year-old. Jackson also fills us in on new Jays acquisition Tyler Rogers, with whom he pitched for the San Francisco Giants in 2021, and gives some straight talk on how he believes the Jays have handled Bo Bichette's free agency so far. Plus, we open the mailbag at [email protected] - keep those cards and letters coming!

Guest: Toronto Star Baseball Columnist Gregor Chisholm This week in Deep Left Field, we wrap up the winter meetings with my partner on the Star's Blue Jays beat, Gregor Chisholm, who was in Orlando to watch the Jays introduce free-agent signee Dylan Cease and to talk to general manager Ross Atkins about the Jays' winter plans, Shane Bieber's forearm fatigue and Jose Berrios' state of mind, among other things. We also hear from newly-elected Hall of Famer Jeff Kent, baseball's all-time leader in home runs by a second baseman. Kent was drafted and developed by the Jays and, until he was traded for David Cone in August, was the only rookie on the eventual World Series champion 1992 Blue Jays for most of the season. And, as always, we open up the mailbag at [email protected] to hear from you!

Guests: Gord Ash, VP Baseball Projects, Milwaukee Brewers; Jee-ho Yoo, Yonhap News Agency This week in Deep Left Field, we get you set for Major League Baseball's annual swap meet and free-agent signing session, the winter meetings, by giving you a look from the inside. Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer Gord Ash joins us to talk about what the meetings are like from a general manager's perspective. Ash was the Blue Jays' GM from 1995-2001 after working under Pat Gillick for six seasons. We also take you across the world to South Korea, where the Jays dove into the international market and pulled out right-hander Cody Ponce, who had a record-setting season with the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO, winning the pitching triple crown while establishing new league marks in ERA and strikeouts. Jee-ho Yoo, who spent his university days in Toronto, joins us from the far east to tell us what he saw from Ponce this season and what Jays fans can expect. And, as always, we open up the mailbag at [email protected]

Guests: Toronto Star baseball columnist Gregor Chisholm, Canadian Baseball League commissioner Ted Kalnins     The Blue Jays have made their first big move of the off-season, agreeing to a seven-year, $210 million (US) contract with starting pitcher Dylan Cease - the biggest contract they've given to a free agent in franchise history. We're joined by Gregor Chisholm, my partner on the Star's baseball beat, to talk about the deal and what it means as the Jays go into their first off-season as pennant winners in over 30 years. And about Cease and what he brings to the team as well. Also, Ted Kalnins talks about what used to be the semi-pro Intercounty Baseball League, now re-branded as the Canadian Baseball League, one that's fully professional. Plus, we open up the mailbag at [email protected]!