OverDrive - OverDrive - January 16, 2026 - Hour 2 - Mike Johnson/Steve Phillips

Episode Date: January 16, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson on Mitch Marner's win against the Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews' silencing comments and Marner's reception in his return to Toronto. TSN Baseball Insider Steve Phillips on the conclusion of the Bo Bichette era in Toronto, Kyle Tucker signing with the Dodgers and the Blue Jays' next steps and Bryan gives his FanDuel Best Bets.

Massive amount of hatred directed towards the Dodgers and what's going on with that organization. And let me just tell you this, if you're a fan of the Jays, find a way to get the player. They just do it. I don't even remember hearing the Dodgers. Obviously, they're in on everybody. But it's almost like they went to Tucker's agent and said, circle back with us at the very end and let us know. And we'll just come over the top with the King Daddy Topper.

and I think that's what happened. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I'm sure there's a variety of reasons. Living in L.A., playing with the Dodgers, probably winning a World Series. It feels like almost a lock. If you sign in L.A. over the next three or four years, they're going to win again. The money's there.

You know, there's a lot of reaction has been, well, this guarantees a lockout and guarantees a salary cap. And possibly, possibly, I can't imagine the commissioner. loves hearing from owners all over the league saying, really, the Dodgers are paying a guy 60 million. Like, Tucker's a really good player. Really good. He shouldn't be making more money. It should not be. Based on relative to every other player in the league, him making $60 million a year is unheard of.

Like the Otani deal was crazy. This one is more extreme. This is way more extreme than the Otani deal. That was Shohei Otani. That was a long-term deal. This is a short-term $60 million a year. It's crazy. It's ridiculous.

Cohen responded with Bichette, the same thing. All right, $42 million. You know, but you're right, oh, like, the Jace could have given him $65 million a year. Would they be comfortable? Probably not. Of course not. Would it be ridiculed by other fan bases? Yeah, probably.

They already gave $500 million to a guy that hit 25 homers. You don't need to do it again. Right. But there are other owners that could say we'll pony up. Now, a tie is always going to go to the Dodgers. That's very clear for the most part. Now, you've got to question two, Tucker's, you know, maybe his mentality is I just want to, I want to make $60 million and blend in because it'll be Otani and Betts and Freeman and Smith.

Like, this guy's going to be hit like fifth in the lineup. You know, it's not even close to his team, not even close to his team, and he's making $60 million. $60 million. It's crazy amount of money. It's crazy. and Bichette's crazy amount of money. And, you know, the Jays have spent money. This one stings, I think, when you consider, you know, the Dodgers,

I said it earlier that, you know, the Jays thought they could get Otani. He was real close. The Dodgers got them. They thought they could get that Roki Sasaki. It goes to the Dodgers. They thought they were going to win the World Series. Goes to the Dodgers, thought they were going to get Tucker. It's like the Jays in particular being bullied by the Dodgers.

Soto as well to the Mets. And Soto to the Mets. Yeah. But the Mets, they don't win. anything. You know, like the Mets, go ahead. Spend your money. Good for you.

But it wasn't about necessarily. It was about winning that negotiation. Yes, I hear you. You remember the pressers when everyone was pissed off because Ross was like, we were, we had a great time being involved in the conversations. And people were like, what are you talking about? And I like he loved every minute. It's like, no.

Yes. And I think that's why this one, it stings in a way because you, I think a lot of Bujay fans felt them going to the World Series was going to be a, trump card for them you know like now Tucker wants to come up here because look how good they're that close yeah exactly where with Soto you were trying to sell them to come to a team that had never won anything before or Tani the same this was supposed to be like man you might be able to get Tucker and man sure Bichette wants to stay it's the greatest clubhouse ever created you know these guys love each other more than anyone else and he's left as well but I think with Bichette it's a deeper

cut because he's been here for so long you know soccer was always somewhat of a fantasy. He's got no history here. He hasn't played here. Bichette, there's such a connection. But I think the fact that they played so well last year, and this opens up opportunities for guys who really played well, the fact that he didn't play in September,

didn't play in the DS or the CS, and they still perform without him, softens the blow. I think when the dust settles, Blue J fans would prefer to have them, but I think the majority of fans will say, good for you, got your money, we'll be okay without you. I know, but don't you think Jay's fans had it in their head,

regardless of how successful or not they thought of the offseason that it was going to be one or the other? There was talk of both. Yes, started the offseason with reports that they are in on both. And you're right. Like, I still think they've had a, if I were to grade their offseason, a B, B plus, you know, Dylan Cs, Rogers, Okamoto.

You know, we'll see what he does as he transitions over to North America and what that bat looks like and how he looks. But they've been active. They spent money. But if you got one of these guys, it's an A-plus. Like if either of them sign here, it's an A-plus off-season. And I don't know if they can reach that limit now. Right?

Like, there's still some guys out there. Bellinger's out there. I don't know if he's a fit. A couple of other bats, a couple of other arms. But we'll see what they do. You know, maybe there's trades. It hasn't been big trades. You know, it could be a trade.

Could be someone else available for them. but you're right it was a lot of focus on these two guys power bats keep the party going best offense in the american league last year now how many home runs at this guy hit didn't you hit 25 home runs bichette or tucker yeah Tucker's not a guy that matches he doesn't hit like 50 home runs in a year you know he's like a five wins above replacement guy five six war guy he's a really good player really good player just not worth 60 sheets 60 is a bit aggressive But if you're the Dodgers noodles, you're like, man, we win every year. We make so much money.

22 home runs he hit. 22 home runs. Yeah. Left-handed back, good player. Really good player. I know a guy that would love it if he hit 22 home runs and somebody paid him 60 million. Do you know who that guy is? Mike Johnson, is that who you're indicating?

All right, here's Mike Johnson, our TSN hockey analyst, joining us here on the Maple Turtle Hotline. What's up, Johnny? How are we doing? Now, oh, you're right. I'm not sure about the compliment or criticism, but yeah, I would gladly take 22 homers, 22 goals, whatever it might be, if it wants to pay me six or 60. I gladly take it. Yeah.

60s are huge. 60s is a big number. Although I read guys that the Dodgers, despite like massive, massive salaries and everything else, they are making so much money. Yeah. With all their international sales, like the growth of their business, O'Tonni, all the rest of it plus the wins and like they are not they're not losing money even if they don't win the world series despite these huge salary at least they're they're more than fine what would those

paychecks look like rod brindamore got mad at me one day because i opened the envelope and stall with his paycheck in it and i think he was making like 250 grand every two weeks and i was just like wow man well you think what six months season and so 10 million a month five million every two weeks, mixing some tax, so the check would be for 2.5, 2.8, every couple weeks.

That's crazy, 8. In your stole. Hey, Kyle. That's cash out the door. Out the door. Nowadays, it's direct deposit, but I've played with players.

I won't name a name, but I went over to a guy's house. There was like five checks sitting on his, on his, like, dresser, like hundreds of dollars. Like, the checks were like you were, there was like a million dollars sitting there,

and I was like, are you going to cash those? Yeah, yeah, I'll get around to it. Like, I was like, it was insane. Those are the best stories. The guy couldn't care less about the checks. The best one was Dion. I think Dion put one in a frame. Well, Ricky Henderson.

Yeah, maybe it was Ricky Henderson. He put it in a frame. A million dollars. Framed it. Never cashed the thing, I don't think. Ricky Henderson. Those are great stories. Today, I'm the greatest in the world.

Wasn't Ricky Henderson the guy that said, I played with a guy who had a weird helmet like yours? Yeah, John Olerud. And Olerud was like, it was me, you idiot. I was on your team. I was there at 93. John Olerud. I used to play with a guy who used to wear a helmet.

Because Olerud wore the batting helmet in the field. At first base, yeah, he played first base. Yeah, he played the old Ricky was like, I played with a guy that did that before. in the whole room. He's like, yeah, bro, it was me. We won a World Series together. Yes.

Imagine. You know? Oh, it's so good. Close team. The winning teams are always so close. Always. Always. So you were down in Vegas last night.

Yeah. Man, it was a fun hockey game. It was a great, great hockey game. If you're the Leafs, how are you feeling today about the way everything played out? I'm not feeling great. Lydia. You can talk about the stuff they did well, and they did. They put up a five spot. They created chances. They're dangerous off the rush now. But I think, well, two things. One, the kneelander injury or aggravation. We showed it after he scored his goal, I think he

tweaked his ankle on the celebration. And the fact that that's all it took to knock him out of the game tells you that he wasn't remotely healthy to begin with, right? Like if he was 100% fine, that little stumble would have been nothing. But he's not. He's trying to work through it. So that is troubling if you're the Leafs. But more than that, guys, I think we've seen it a lot this year. And without Canev and the D gets stretched in and forwards the way they are

and they don't play great in their own end. They have stretches occasionally, but they just don't play great in their own end. They just give up chances. Once the team gets in there, you know, in Vegas is a decent offensive team with good offensive players. They were creating a lot.

As was Toronto, like the offensive side of the fuck, great, but I think I would be bothered by we had four two goal leads including with 10 minutes left and Rubik summed it up like the Ethan Calum Pelley is a tough one I think the 2-on-1 when Matthews line went out there right after they scored a goal

with a, you know, that's not great fucking game management by that group yeah I think they'll be more disappointed with not having won the game in regulation because they did enough to do it and it sort of exposed their warrants which is like defending in their own end and so just not great at it.

Yeah. And it seems, you know, like when they have the lead in the third period, it really is highlighted, Johnny. You know, like they just, it's old school, it's kind of got that Randy Carlyle-era vibe to it where they get into the third, they have a lead, and they're just not comfortable. They're not aggressive.

They're not sharp with the puck. You know, a lot of just flip it out and try to survive moments, you know, try to get a change. because we're all gassed moments? Like, how often did that happen? We're like, man, you've got to get a change here. Like, that's never a good feeling. Yeah.

Right. The last shift. Yeah. You're exactly right. They sort of stop playing. And that's somewhat human nature. But teams that are more capable of sort of controlling it when they're in their own end, they can manage that a bit more.

But the Leafs are at their best. I think I said it last day, the broadcast. When they defend further up the ice, right? Either on their own forecheck or when they're good in the neutral zone and turnpucks over, they are dangerous. They are really good. And you saw it last night, some of the rush attempts they had

either off, you know, over, or four checking chances when they get it in there. But once you get past that stuff and in their own end, and that exacerbates with a lead in the third period

because, you know, you're going to sit back a bit more, the team's going to push a bit more. And that is what the Vegas 8th come from behind third period win. And I think the Leafs have lost the most games when leading after two in the entire NHL. So it's sort of, you know,

the perfect storm for both teams, but that's something they're going to have to clean up. And I don't know with the personnel they have, how easy that's going to be. I mean, it's sort of mindset, but it's also stability. And I don't know if they're going to have to be great at it. They can be better, but to be great, I'm not so sure. So, Johnny, you were there in Vegas. You got the atmosphere and all of that. Talk about the, we'll call it the Mitch Marner experience, right?

Because that was the thought process. Both these guys were on the panel. you know, to me, it obviously was a big storyline. Was it too much? Was it, you know, did you notice him? How were the Leafs towards it? All of that type of stuff. When you're in the building, it's a lot different than us watching it on TV.

You know, I think noodles, I don't think it was too much. I mean, I think maybe factoring the importance to either team, we might have overstated, not to Mitch or not to make Nick Ju-Wa. It was a hugely important to them. I like how Jack Eichle put out of the game. We knew it was important to Mitch, so that means it's important to us. Like, that's sort of a good, like, we're good teammates kind of mentality, and I appreciate that sentiment. But, you know, it was a Marner thing.

What was interesting, if it's any, there's ever any doubt what might happen next week. There were enough lead fans to boo Mitch Marner when he had the puck and the power play for a long stretch. Like, it was noticeable, audible booze you could hear through whatever else was happening in that building, and that building's loud anyways. So that was interesting. But what I thought was, you know, Mark Master, had Tavares over the boards. He asked him a Mitch Martyr question or two.

Of course he's going to. And Tavares was very much, you know, good teammate, great person. We're moving on. We're worried about this game and our team. The Matthews one, I've had enough questions about Mitch today, thanks, Mark. Which was polite stern and saying,

I'm not, I'm over this. Like, we are friends. We had a great run together. But I'm not getting caught up in this nostalgia about, oh, my old teammate, my old buddy, my old winger. Oh, I miss him so much. Like, that wasn't there at all. And I thought that was actually pretty healthy.

Like that whole attitude from the Leafs regarding Mitch, and it wasn't being rude, but it's like we're not, we can't be worried about this guy. We got enough to worry about our own, and that probably was appropriate to me. So, Johnny, just from listening to your comments there, like there is basically an uproar about Matthew's comments saying it was disrespectful. And my view on it was it was a little snarky, but I don't know, Mark Masters is a big boy. But there's the other side of it where people are like, you knew that question was coming. so just have the decency to answer. And my comment before in the first hour was,

we give these guys crap for never being really honest, and he could have said, oh, it's going to be great battling my old friend. We'll see him after the game. As opposed he said, you know what, I'm tired of talking about this. I'm ready for the game. Yeah, exactly right, right?

We criticize them for saying nothing, and then we criticize them for saying something that we don't agree with. Like, you can't if you do. And I thought, you know, it was blunt, but he wasn't rude. and maybe most importantly to me, he answered the next two questions, unrelated to Mitch, really well and articulated what he was thinking.

He didn't just sort of shut down the whole thing. And, you know, Austin has referenced that's enough about Mitch a few times this year, right? Remember in training camp? He's like, that's enough of this. We're not going to go do on this every day. So, you know, he talked about it for a couple days, and Mark has to ask it. He has to.

And I don't think Mark Masters is offended at all. He went right back. They have a good relationship. I like the fact that he used Mark's name, like Mark, Mark, that's enough. I don't really want to answer any more questions about this guy. And they moved on. So I wasn't bothered by it.

I, like, the, the Marner attempted to, like, playfully shoot a fuck at his case as they both get off the ice. Like, often wasn't having any of that. Like, I think he's, you know, he wasn't, he wasn't worried about Mitch last night. He was worried about his team. Yeah, and I think that'll be interesting the next time. I'd rather have that, no? Wouldn't you have to have a captain than, like, having a love in with this former guy and then

go out there and tap each other shit bad? Like, we're playing. We got to have points. It's way more important than to be buddy-buddy with your old line mate. Yeah, I get it, Johnny. I just want to chime in here quickly. I just pointed, I think people were pissed. They wouldn't have a problem with it.

It's the way the game ended. So they're pointing to Matthews on the last shift of the game. They're pointing to, you know, giving up the two-goal lead. And then you put in, you know, he's chippy with Masters. I think that's what compounded maybe some of the frustration or the criticism of Matthews. I always just look at it How would Sidney Crosby How would Jerome McGillard?

Guys that I either know or how they handle it They might have said something different And I think Matthew is a pretty funny guy I thought he would have been like All right, enough with that Mark and move on He was stern because he's getting ready for a game I get it I don't think it's that big of a deal

But I think it got a little bit more Gasoline on the fire Per se because of the way the game ended That's kind of where I feel like some vitriol is coming And that's the more important element of the game, right, Johnny? Like, he's on the ice. Eichol's his guy.

Eichol beats him up the ice. He wasn't even closed. By 50 feet. Yeah, by 50 feet. I thought the draw and regulation with 40 seconds left, that was a huge moment in the game and he got beat clean. Yeah, but hey, just for a perspective,

I think he was 14 and 4 in his own end, the whole game. Like, I know it was the big one, and Eichol did something different. He bull rushed him. He crossed him. He didn't even go for the puck. He just sort of slammed into him, which maybe caught Austin off. but he had been really good in his own end.

I do think, though, a couple different thoughts. One, I was, you know, I'm there, I'm watching it. I saw Austin when Riley missed the net. He was already buckled, right, minute, 25 in his shift. He almost elected not to skate back. He was so tired, he got upright against the boards behind the goaltender in Vegas,

and I need a hill, and was like, oh, my God, I can't even move. And by that time, Michael was, like, you know, top of the circles, and it didn't matter. But I think it may be, the overtime strategy and philosophy, We celebrate the greatness, but we sort of criticize when it doesn't go well. And they really do play in all or nothing.

Like they are willing to give up glorious chances, breakaways for the opportunity to get a two-on-one. There is no sort of defensive mechanism in their thought. And that's, you know, that's a strategy. But maybe more important guys, and this is worth talking about. With Tavares sort of maybe having some of the mid-season fatigue, with kneelander going going to be out of the lineup now, it hasn't been out actually lost a little bit at different times. like how much is too much for Austin Matthews to play? Like we know he's a horse and he's playing awesome

and he's got great energy. 26 minutes in Colorado, really tired and then to go, you know, whatever he was last, I don't even if the number would have been, but it would have been a big one. And he gets points in game where he just is tired. And I don't know if that's on the coach because you to put him out there.

Like I don't know how you solve this because he needs probably a couple, three less minutes in some of these games and he gets himself in troubling situations. especially late when he's played already 22 minutes prior to that. Right. It's a great question. You know, it's the Joseph Wall conundrum.

You know, like Wolves are playing a lot. You're not, he's not going to play tomorrow. I don't think they've announced that, but I'd be shocked if he did. I would assume Hildaby goes. Yeah, and he's playing a lot. He's playing 24, 25 minutes a night, you know. It's too much. Too much.

He's like, how do I feel like, like, what's your phrase? Some guys skate deeper in the ice and some guys float on top of it and also the great powerful skater, but he works, right? It's not effortless Paul Coffee gliding. He is chugging and working with that big frame moving it around. And when he gets late in shifts, he doesn't, even he can't go hard after a minute. He's sort of managing his fatigue. I just watch it in firsthand. I'm like, you know, he's got to do less.

They got to ask him to do less sometimes. Well, and especially last night, four different times you got a two-goal lead. If you can't rely on your depth when you're up two with eight minutes to go or whatever. Well, Hayes, you're in the panel with O, you know, you're working. But I was sitting there three one after one, and I'm like, there's not a chance this game is over. And then I'm like, if they get to five, I'd feel pretty good. But even then you're like, you knew. And that probably says as much about how we feel about the least ability to shut it down.

that at no point in that game that I think the game was over. But that Vegas was out of it. Despite time and again, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 5-3, and still you're like, nah, 8 minutes, that's enough time. The way the game was getting played,

the way the least were playing. And that's, you know, it's a new game, I get it, but you got to be able to defend a lead a bit more. And that's not just battling and clearing pucks and making plays, but also decision-making, not taking penalties, not giving up odd man rush, it, not taking bad routes,

making it easier on yourself than just the actual battle around the puck and around the net. So, Johnny, if you sat there and said there's no way this game is over, Brian said it on the panel, Duthy said it as well, like, does that just mean it's a personnel issue? Like, is that what we're getting at? Or it's, like, it's not like you guys are, like, questioning whether these D can get to their structure. It's a personnel thing where you're like, these guys are going to give up some chances here. Yeah. Yeah, but it's not just a defenseman personnel.

Like, you know, it's Bobby McMahon and Max Dolmey who are talented players, but they maybe don't, you know, see the entire defensive side of the game as well as guys who play 18 minutes of five-on-five hockey against the other team's best players. You'd like them to, right? Like, the role they're playing, they're Austin's wingers. They're playing against Jack Eichael. And they don't always, you know, see all the defensive moments in the game. You know, so it's not just the defense men.

It's sort of everyone. Like, I think in Utah, you know, saw the defensive sort of struggle, but yeah, I mean, they'd like someone who could skate better, pass better, move the puck on their own end, but I think it's also the forwards helping the defenseman by not putting them in bad, tough spots, and it's a bit of both,

oh, it's a bit of everything. With Mike Johnson, our TSN hockey analyst, you know, as for Marner himself, like, what do you make of kind of the role he plays for Vegas and how you think he'll be prepared

for next week? Because last night, my guess against the Leafs, but next Friday's the real dance. I mean, that's the one you circle rolling back through town for the first time. So, I mean, as far as... He played well last night. He had two assists,

had another one called back. He runs the powerplay. It was almost like a reminder of how actually quite good he is at playing the top of the powerplay. Maybe he can, like, sort of snap it around and, you know, get shooters in the sides. And even though he doesn't shoot great, he sees the ice so well. the centerman thing is interesting because he's not great on baseoffs, but he is doing a good job and offering up another layer,

sort of one, two, three lines with hurdle and Ikel. So he was good. I'm sure he'd be pleased. He got a couple assists. You know, they won. He had actually a bit of a muted reaction, did you think, guys, when they won? Of course, we had a camera on him on the bench when they won. And he was, like, he didn't freak out.

He was sort of like, yeah, you know, he kept, he toned it down a little bit. Maybe he was trying to be polite to his former team, but that was interesting to me. But yeah, like he said he didn't think about last night's game until the day before. That's not true. And he'll say it next week. I didn't think about this game until I got to Toronto. That's not true.

And I had some conversation with different people, like, fans around. And I thought, I'm like, yeah, he's going to get booed in this game. And a lot of people like, no way. There's no way you should get booed. I'm like, I'm not saying he should. I mean, he will. And he got booed yesterday at home. So what do you think is going to happen?

And even if it's 50-50 split, the booze will drown out the cheers for a lot of the game in Toronto. And I think it will hurt him. He'll sting because, you know, he's from Toronto. He played awesome there. He is probably the greatest homegrown after Jeff O'Neill, Toronto Maple Leaf ever.

Right? Like, he literally is the greatest Toronto-born Maple Leaf of all time. And he's got to go back there for the first time and he is going to get brushed, an avalanche of booze, and negativity and vitriol and signs and all the rest. So that wouldn't feel great despite your own choice to leave and everything else. So I imagine maybe open his eyes a little bit to if he thought there was a chance it might not be that way in Toronto.

He knows now it will be. Yep, it's coming. And we'll see if, you know, everyone's asked about it again. I think you probably will be. So what happens, Johnny, quickly, what happens when they give this shout-out video to him at the first TV time out? Do people cheer then and then they continue to boo the rest of the game? Or is it just boo? Do the Maple Leafs have to make a decision there and maybe shorten that video

or do something just based on some vitriol? I'm hopeful, and I actually think in that moment they will cheer and the rest of the game they will boo. And there will be some booze during that moment for sure, but I think the cheers will be louder than the booze during the tribute and the rest of the game, the booze will be louder than the cheers. And I think that's, you know, they're going to do it. it no matter what and I think you know I don't we don't have the game so but I imagine they will

broadcast the whole thing live I don't think it'll even come out of break and show it they'll probably have it live to watch and listen and see but I think noodles they will cheer then and boo the rest the way yeah yeah someone tweeted in jacob tweeted in saying I'm going to be in the building next week and I'm in the boo majority but I will cheer and celebrate the video package okay all right there he is there you go so it's kind of counterintuitive but whatever Harvey too It doesn't make sense. Then don't boo then. It's a weird point.

Like, boo, and then, hey, great stuff, though. I don't know. I don't have that psyche. I was on a broadcast the other day where Thomas Shabbat stopped behind the net, and the fan was banging on the glass, like just sitting there banging on the glass. Oh, yeah, glass banger. I don't have that mentality. I'm like, what is that person doing?

Not many people do. Not many people do. There's glass bangers that just literally bang on the glass. walking among us. All right, Johnny. We'll leave it there. We'll do it next week. All right, fellas.

Have a great weekend. Mike Johnson joining us here on the Maple Toyota hotline. It's time to Toyota in the 2025 Prius. Go up to 72 kilometers on battery alone, then seamlessly switch to the hybrid model. Man, you've got to believe Chris Drury. We'd love that. Check it out at the Maple Toyota

near Canada's Wonderland on the Maple Auto Mall. All right. Steve Phillips coming up on Kyle Tucker, going to the Dodgers, Bobichette to the Mets. how do the Blue Jays respond? If they don't respond with a significant piece, how do we look back on their offseason? Steve will join us next.

I'm Luke Wilson. Join me each week for Film Never Lies. Since retiring from the NFL, I've had a lot of my mind, and now I've got my own show. If you're tired of lazy takes, if you want honest conversations, join us each week. Film Never Lies, available on all TSN platforms in the IHeart Radio app. Mail on Friday, brought you by Boston Pisa's NFL game day menu,

stop by your local VP for $7, touchdown pines, dialed in shareables and weekly prizing up for grabs. Football game days are better at BP. What a weekend we have in the NFL. Tomorrow is a big one. You get the Bills playing. You get the Seahawks Niners in the nightcap. You got the Leifes in Winnipeg.

Right? It's going to be a big one tomorrow. Big one tomorrow. Lots of couching. Carried over. Yeah, lots of couching. You're going to have to maneuver just like me, Haysie, with a hockey tournament. So those are always interesting.

Yeah, because we just got an update that they're, I think a game has been added at night somehow. I got to look at the email. But there's like a 730 game now, which was not originally on the docket. So I thought, like in other words, Bill's second half were on our way to the rink, I think. So it may be one of those at the rink watching the bills got to play. But we'll see. We'll see what happens. We're excited.

Give me a big weekend. Big weekend. Hockey tournament season. Right? Oh, you got to do it. Got to do it. You got to do it. And you got to just bear down on the coffee and just get in there and cheer.

Absolutely. Absolutely. Now, you sit and enjoy yourself. Grab some popcorn. I always grab popcorn. Sit in the corner, put my headphones on, watch the games. That's great. There you go.

There it is. Put your headphones on. I love that play. That's basically a message to everyone in the building. Do not approach. No, people approach, but I like sitting. No, it's great noodles because if they say something, you just point at the earphones and you're like, just give it the old, what's that?

I take the earphone out and talk and then put it back in if I'm listening to music or whatever. All right. Okay, I got you. All right, so last night, Leaves Luz in Vegas. And while we're there, you know, doing the panel, news comes and we get texts from a bunch of people saying Kyle Tucker has signed with the Dodgers. and it's just an insane contract, like unprecedented deal. Short-term $60 million a year, crazy.

And then this morning, it's announced Boba Shett has signed with the Mets on a three-year deal at $42 million per. It's crazy. Now, neither of them went to the Yankees or the socks, but neither of them are coming to Toronto. So how do we respond to this up here to chat about it? We're joined now by our TSN Baseball Insider. Here's our good friend Steve Phillips. Steve, when you consider, do we have Steve? I think we do.

Yeah, we do. Oh, yeah. He's over the phone. Okay. Steve, yeah. So in terms of like the Tucker signing, let's go there first, is this a scenario where you look at it from a Blue Jay perspective that they could have matched, they should have matched, or was it just impossible to compete with the Dodgers?

Yeah, I don't think they had any chance of doing a long-term deal that would coax him out of this deal. And the other way to do it would have been to do an inappropriate, bizarre, outrageous contract on a long-term basis. I mean, remember, he came out of the season last year when Vladdy signed his contract. Everybody said, oh, Kyle Tucker's going to get $400 million. Okay. That's 40 times 10. He's getting $60 million for four years on the front end of this.

And so when you think about what's the way to maximize your value, four years at 240. Now, listen, the present value of it's $57 million because it sums deferred. But even that, you know, he would have had to have gotten $450 million even to justify walking away from this short-term deal. And so I think it made sense for him to do it. He'll play this out, even though, you know, he's got opt-downs, but he'll play it out. And then what he'll do is he'll try to do what Kyle Swarber did at 83233, turned it into a five-year, a $150 million deal, and you tack that on to the 240, and you're, you know, you're at

$390 million, and nobody was going to $400 million with them. And so I think it made a lot of sense for him to maximize this value. It made no sense for the Blue Chase to chase it. And, you know, the amazing part was, you know, the Mets were in. I thought they were nuts doing $50 million a year for three years. Then it was $50 million for $4. Then it was $55 million for $4. And I'm thinking, what are they doing?

And then it turns into $60 million. And remember, the Dodgers pay 110% tax on that 57.1 million present value. He will cost them $119.9 million for 2026. Just him. And so, like, it's absurd now. They can do it. They can afford it. They've got the revenues to justify what they're doing.

Their business plan and their baseball plan is rolling in the same way, and it's very successful. But nobody else can do that. And so, you have to let them walk at that point. There's nothing you can do, and you have to pivot to the next guy. The problem is the pivot for the Blue Jays went to the Mets because they got crazy with him. And I think a knee-jerk, desperate reaction of signing Bob Wichette. Who doesn't even fit for them, considering they traded for Marcus Simeon.

And they talk about wanting to improve their defense. And so they're not going to take a square peg into a round hole and Bichet try to play him at third. Then they're going to take the third baseman of Brett Beatty and say, oh, we're going to move in the left. field and pound another square peg in a round hole. So the Mets are playing reactive roster building, and it's really getting them in a hole. Steve, so if you were going to grade the offseason for the Jays,

with them losing out on Tucker and ultimately Bichette as well, like, does that affect the way you're going to summarize the Jays offseason? Because there was talk about the Jays getting both of these two guys, and then they end up with none. Yeah, so I didn't think they could afford both of them. But Dylan sees Cody Ponce and Tyler Rogers in the bullpen is a really big improvement on the pitching. You're going to get a healthy perios back, a full year of Treyas Savage. Then on the offensive side, I mean, last year was a loss year for Anthony Santander.

But the step forward that Addison Barger made and Nathan Lucas made and Ernie Clement made, I think is significant. A full season of Dalton Varsow this year. The improvement for Alejjo Kirk, The Blue Jays have an easy possibility of being a better team this year with the guys they already have. And there is some part of adding Kyle Tucker that it was going to cut into it fast for Addison Barger, which I wasn't okay with. You know, they signed Acomoto because the clock was ticking. They didn't know what was going to happen time-wise with Pichette. They had to make a decision.

Akamado is a very good offensive player, and J's fans are going to like them. Not a great defender, but Pichette wasn't a great defender. And so I think that he'll be good, and I think you're going to get bounced back for some guys and growth. I really still think the Blue Jays are the best team in the American League East. Well, and that's the amazing thing about the reaction to this is, you know, conventional wisdom would suggest as long as Bichette and Tucker don't end up with the Yankees or the socks, you're okay. You know, but the world of baseball is different because the Dodgers, you know, everyone has to face the wrath of the Dodgers, and the Dodgers have been winning all these negotiations at the sake of.

of the Blue Jays pursuing Otani and Sasaki and Tucker and the World Series, which the Dodgers came in and won. The Mets is just a crazy owner that's going to spend recklessly, but they still have an off-season. There's still some guys out there. Bellinger's still out there. The guys who they were connected to the most, obviously were Tucker and Bichet, Bregman to an extent.

There's some bats out there, some arms still out there, and the possibility of trades, do you think the Blue Jays off-season is over. If it's not, what could you see possibly happening? Yeah. So I, you know, the question is, do they pivot to Cody Bellinger? You know, he is Kyle Tucker Light is how I look at Cody Bellinger. Another five-tool guy. He can play center. I think ideally the Jayes wouldn't mind getting another outfielder that they control beyond the 26th season because Barshot is a free agent and Springer's a free agent. And so they'd like to have another guy. And the benefit of this is it's not going to take 10 years to get him done.

He wants seven. The Yankees have dead stopped at five. And imagine stealing Belling Bellinger out from under the Yankees, and the Yankees at that point would have nowhere else to go. Like there's not a Bellinger-like guy out there, another Tucker guy or Bichette guy. But Bichet could have been a fallback, but the Mets jumped out of it. And here's a thing. I think the Mets are going to be on Bellinger, too.

and so I think the Jays, I'd like to see them pursue Bellinger and see if they can't make a deal there. He's an outstanding defender in center field. He can play left field. He's done a lot of left field as well. He can play first base and protect you as a left-hand of bat there. And he got pop, he can still a base. And so he'd fit, and it would cut into some of bats for barger,

and I'd rather not do it. But the idea of getting him and keeping him away from the Yankees for a year, it would be fantastic. really good. And so, you know, I personally think the biggest whiff that the Js have made this offseason is not getting a closer. I think that they're a World Series caliber team in every aspect except the ninth inning. And I love, listen, Jeff Hoppins is a really good guy, and I think he could be an effective pitcher.

I just want him in the seventh inning or eighth inning. I don't want them in the ninth. I wanted Diaz or I wanted, and here's money. If you had money for Tucker, I would have put it on Diaz instead and gone with the position player group that I had. I would have put it on Robert Suarez and foregone my pursuit of Tucker in the group. Now, the closers are gone and you didn't get Tucker. And so, you know, and if you had that money, I would have spent it on a closer myself.

And that's the one area that, but at the trade deadline, they'll be able to save some prospects and then go out there and get a closer at the deadline. Yeah, Diaz went to the Dodgers of all teams, right? Like, it's almost like we've forgotten about that, but the best closing arm available is also in L.A. And I think the trade deadlines is going to be really interesting because if they are feeling like they're short of power bat, you might be able to acquire one there. I think you're absolutely spot on in terms of that, you know, Hoffman was a roller coaster all year. And it ended somewhat predictably. Yeah, unfortunately.

I mean, the Rojas home run, that's off him, you know? We talk about Conner Falafo. We talk about the Clement hit the left field. We talk about, you know, Kirk hit into a double play. Hoffman closes the night. They win the World Series. And he couldn't do it. So we'll see what they do with that position.

But, you know, you look at it. There's a lot of chat now, you know, in Toronto. And I know you've had it a lot, too, Steve, in terms of what needs to happen next season with certain guys. I think Springer, you've got to expect him to come back to Earth a little bit. They can't crash through the Earth. but he's going to probably come back to Earth a little bit. Full season of Clement, full season of Barger.

You mentioned Santander. He's effectively a free agent signing for me. Like his season last year, he didn't play. Right. You know, when he did play. He got nothing from him. He's terrible. They got nothing.

Like, that's, I think, what you've got to hope for here, if you're Atkins and company. He comes back healthy, motivated. If he can hit 40 home runs, okay. Now you're laughing, right? Oh, yeah. I mean, give me 35 home runs. I'm happy with it. And, I mean, that's a switch hitter.

So he gives balance to the lineup. Full season of Varshow, and Varshal's home run rate was fantastic when he came back in last year. And he's going to be motivated in a walk year to become a free agent at the end of the year. So there's a lot of reason to think the guys will be as good or better than they were last year. And you're getting full seasons out of just some of the guys who really blossomed last year, too. And so, you know, full season of your savage in the rotation is, I think, going to be huge. I just, I'm excited for the Jays for that to see what he can do with a full season and the depth of that rotation. And look, if they end up with that much depth, they can always

trade a starting pitcher to somebody at some point to fill a hole if they need it along the way. But they're still going to be a good defensive team. We'll see what Akamoto can do at third, but overall they can just, they can move players around later if they need to to make it fit. But I'm bullish on where they are right now, and I still think they're the team to beat in America League East. All right, Steve, we'll leave it there. It's been a pretty wild couple of days. There's probably going to be more to come before we get to pitchers and catchers reporting in a month.

Great catching up with you, Steve. We'll do it again soon. All right, you got it, guys. My pleasure anytime. There's Steve Phillips, our baseball insider joining us here on Mail It in Friday, brought you by Boston Pizza's NFL game day menu, stopped by your local BP for $7 touchdown pints, dialed in shareables and weekly prising up for grabs. Football game days are better at BP.

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Who's ready to rock? Mail it in Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza Canada's favorite sports bar. This January at BP get delicious mouth-watering pasta starting at 1199 every single day. Enjoy the pastas you love at prices you can't miss. Hustle into your local BP tonight. Quick update on your boy, VJ Singh. Talk to me, Goose. Come on, BJ.

Bogus 17, but part 18. He's two under. I think he's into the weekend. The projected cut line is one under. VJ Singh, that was paying huge plus money for him to make the cut. Forget winning it. You imagine that sweat when he bogey 17? I know.

It wasn't a tough part of three. It wasn't, what was that? No, it was something, 100,000 to 1 for him to win the tourney, noodles. Like the making the cut, I don't remember what it was, but I'll bet you it was for 30 to 1. Yeah, heavy. Like big time odds for all VJ. So, yeah, we're tracking what's going on out at the Sony, the Leasster in Winnipeg tomorrow. any Stollards said, I guess it's been a nerve issue he's been dealing with.

Oh, really? Yeah, now we're revealing injuries. So, yeah, it sounds like that's the case, and he could return soon, needs a couple more practices. But maybe next week, maybe when Marner's in town next Friday, Stollars is playing. That would have been pretty useful to the members of the media if he just had to said that out of the gate, then everyone would be like, oh, he's probably going to be out a while. I'm going to be out a while. I have a bit of a nerve thing.

Yeah. And the doc said it's going to be a while. There you go, guys. End of story. Seems reasonable. But anyway, and Lena Sormark, I guess, was back on the ice for Ottawa today. Saw that. Skated full practice, but no timeline there.

So that's interesting. Apparently he's skated by himself for 10 days now. So now getting back into it. So I don't know. They need him. They need, like, Maryland. What, they want? Two in a row.

And Marylandans played well for them. last couple games, but you still need your highest paid player. He's their highest paid player. It makes $8.25 million. Right. Sitting in the stands. Yeah, got to have it. Most important players, start a goalie.

Especially when you're out of the playoffs. You know, like the least the rest of the way. We just talked about it. The way they defend, the way they handle, playing with a lead, they've been a lot better recently. Way better. But they're going to have to get great goaltending.

Like, you're going to have to get it to get in. So, yeah, we'll see. what comes of it this week. The NFL, man, I am looking forward to these games tomorrow and Sunday. And there will be four teams standing the next time we're on the air. Will there be any more activity in Major League Baseball is a legitimate question? You know, Steve throwing out the Bellinger thing is to jam, jam up the Yankees. Kind of an interesting thought.

I mean, I don't know what it would cost. I don't know how much you want to commit to him. Yeah, I don't know. I'm not having a $60 million dollar transfer. transaction to spite somebody else. That's not going to happen. Beliger, although I never would have thought Tucker's getting 60 or Bo's getting 42. So maybe he's looking at it saying, why can't I get $35 million, $37 million?

Well, Bellinger's going to be like, I hit for more power than this guy. Right. Why won't you pay me? Yeah, it's definitely possible. We'll see. We'll see. All right. Well, there you go.

Leaves losing in overtime, but it was fun last night. It's great to be a part of the panel. I won the quiz. I actually brought the belt home. I saw that. I saw that. You embarrassed yourself. You embarrassed yourself when you held it upside down.

I know. Duffy jammy so bad. No, he didn't, dude. You got to have a little peak and then you're like, okay, I won the quiz. He'll never win it again. Was anybody Pete Rose? Was anybody falling asleep up there? No.

Everyone was alive. Yeah, this is really embarrassing. It's upside. Look at that. Look, he thinks he's so cool. It's such a cool guy winning the belt. Oh, I love it. I asked later.

I'm like, you got to give me a chance to redeem myself, which is nice of Duffy to do that. It's a busy show. Yeah. So I got a chance to redeem myself later, but I was getting carved online for that. Because I was no. Like, I'm so cool. I know. There was no fatigue, though, noodles.

We had a nice little dessert treat after dinner, and we were ready to rock. Yes. We were. We got after it. We had a great night. Windows up dessert. Windows up dessert. Old school.

European, the old school European dessert. Everyone having a good time. It was an Italian drive back from the rest of work. All right. Best bets powered by Fandau quickly. We're on the Rams and the Pats. That's where we're at going into this weekend. Best Bats powered by Fandau must be 19 plus physically located in Ontario.

All right. Enjoy the weekend. It's going to be a great one. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today, TV, radio, podcast, Web. And of course, up on YouTube live, every show, streaming live on TSN's YouTube channel. We're out of here.

Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy your weekends. We're back Monday at... Hedge and Jagger? He wears honkas. 4 p.m. Well, chat then. Mail it in Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar.

This January at BP, get delicious mouth-watering pasta starting at 1199 every single day. Enjoy the pastas you love at prices you can't miss. Hustle into your local BP tonight. I'm Luke Wilson. Join me each week for Film Never Lies. We're going in depth on football and a lot more. We'll pull back the curtain on Life and the Pros and dive deeper into the stories making the headlines.

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