The return of Max Scherzer to the Blue Jays fold leads off the discussion on Exit Philosophy, on a one-year $3M deal, plus incentives, depending on innings pitched. With what is normally a five-man rotation, the Jays are now dealing with seven active starters that deserve to be there, plus injured veteran and former Cy guy, Shane Bieber. Will Jose Berrios have to be traded? Mal and Griff discuss where Mad Max fits in with the Jays on this fury road back to the World Series. Grapefruit League games have begun in earnest and while the bullpen needs to sort itself out, so does the Jays outfield with eight names for five spots. What are the early impressions of the automatic ball-strike system and how it's working in the spring, heading towards regular season use for the first time?

INDEX:

0:00 Cold Open & What's Ahead

1:04 Scherzer Is Back — What It Means for the Jays

11:53 Six-Man Rotation: Bold Move or Big Risk?

17:08 The Berríos Dilemma

21:56 Manoah's Head-Scratching Comments

25:56 Entire Infield to the WBC?

27:28 WBC Absences = Opportunity for Youth

29:12 Jake Casey & MLB Bloodlines

31:28 Fast-Tracking the Next Generation

35:44 Early Grapefruit League Takeaways

43:05 Solving the Infield Puzzle

44:56 Bullpen: Is the Ceiling Too Low?

49:33 Outfield Logjam

55:05 ABS Challenge: Fixing the Strike Zone?

1:01:10 Boras on MLB's Asian Expansion

1:04:01 Olympic Hockey & Gold Medal Spotlight

1:07:31 Final Thoughts

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Get the video version of "Exit Philosophy" and "Conversations with Griff" on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@ExitPhilosophy

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For the full catalogue of Richard Griffin's work, including weekly Blue Jays/MLB columns, a weekly MLB Power Rankings column, exclusive conversations with some of the game's greats, past and present, and the Exit Philosophy podcast, visit https://www.griffsthepitch.com/

Following a significant shakeup at the top of the players' union, with executive director Tony Clark stepping down, what does it mean for the upcoming labour negotiations on the CBA that expires on Dec. 1. Spring training games are underway in Arizona and Florida. How much should fans pay attention to Grapefruit League results. The history of Japanese players in M LB and the seven players from that country who have worn a Blue Jays uniform. A quick review of the Jays crowded bullpen picture and what to do with talented lefty Ricky Tiedemann. The 21st Century history of World Series teams the next year and far more on this edition of Exit Philosophy.

INDEX:

0:00 Intro

0:33 Olympics discussion

3:08 Impact of Tony Clark resigning at the MLBPA

9:09 Can either side win if there's a stoppage

14:45 Spring games and their lack of importance

20:47 Spring training phenoms and a grain of salt

25:37 Blue Jays six-man rotation discussion

32:06 What to do with a healthy Tiedemann

37:00 Jays bullpen looking at too many bodies

40:21 Okamoto and the history of Japanese Blue Jays

48:31 Importance of Okamoto in '26

49:21 The need for another infielder

52:01 Are there too many lefty hitting OF

56:27 Can Blue Jays return to World Series

1:00:13 Closing and an Ironbacks update

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Get the video version of "Exit Philosophy" and "Conversations with Griff" on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@ExitPhilosophy

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For the full catalogue of Richard Griffin's work, including weekly Blue Jays/MLB columns, a weekly MLB Power Rankings column, exclusive conversations with some of the game's greats, past and present, and the Exit Philosophy podcast, visit https://www.griffsthepitch.com/

Griff and Mal discuss the World Baseball Classic and if Team Canada is at last strong enough to escape the first round. It somehow seems that MLB should have been better prepared for the insurance issues that have mostly had an effect on Caribbean Nations. The Blue Jays will replace the Ted Rogers statue at the stadium with one honouring Joe Carter and his walk-off home run in the 1993 World Series. They discuss what other moments in Jays history worthy of a statue? The CDN Baseball Hall-of-Fame announced the list of six inductees for a June ceremony in St. Marys, including Stubby Clapp, Devon White and Bill Stoneman. Will the Tigers trade Tarik Skubal? How about top picks for '26 over/under win totals and much more?

INDEX:

00:00 – Intro

00:55 – WBC Player Insurance Problems

09:30 – Team Canada WBC Roster + Tournament Outlook

18:28 – Joe Carter Statue Announcement + Top 5 Statue Moments

26:05 – Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees

33:20 – Projected 2026 Team Win Totals

45:35 – Buck Martinez Retires + Lasting Impact

54:30 – Tigers Sign Framber Valdez

59:20 – Chaim Bloom Dismantling the St. Louis Cardinals

1:03:32 – Super Bowl Preview and Predictions + Outro

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Get the video version of "Exit Philosophy" and "Conversations with Griff" on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@ExitPhilosophy

----

For the full catalogue of Richard Griffin's work, including weekly Blue Jays/MLB columns, a weekly MLB Power Rankings column, exclusive conversations with some of the game's greats, past and present, and the Exit Philosophy podcast, visit https://www.griffsthepitch.com/

Award-winning journalist and member of the Hockey Hall-of-Fame, Michael Farber, guests on Conversations with Griff. A New Jersey native who paid to see Bruce Springsteen perform for $2.50 at Rutgers University, Farber moved from a Yankees beat in Newark to Montreal to join the Expos beat for The Gazette in 1979. He still lives with his wife Danielle in Montreal and offers up work for TSN television and TSN 690 radio, as well as hockey insights for NBC. Michael and Griff discuss the memorable Expos years from 1979-94, focusing on the special bond those teams had with the city in which they played. Farber recalls the details of his exclusive access and coverage of the Tim Raines drug rehab winter, at age 23, between 1982-83, and the Hall-of-Fame redemption song that followed. Griff and Mike offer their opinions on Expos managers from Dick Williams to Felipe Alou, with personal reflections on all the special moments in those special years of Les Expos, Nos Amours.

INDEX:

00:00 – Welcome, Michael Farber!

00:50 – Difference between TV hit and writing a great column?

01:50 – Working the Sochi Olympics

4:00 – Hailing from New Jersey + Duke Snyder Stories

10:45 – Covering the Expos and Moving to Canada

14:50 – The Expos in the late 70s

19:20 – Lost lustre of the All Star Game

23:30 – Randy Johnson, Denis Martinez and Pascual Perez Stories

30:05 – Memories of the 1980 Expos

33:14 – Dick Willims Firing + Jim Fanning

39:50 – Bill Verdon years

43:30 – Advice for young media members

44:40 – Al Oliver Story

48:00 – Bill Lee/Rodney Scott Incident

53:40 – How did you handle the Strike?

57:05 – Covering Tim Raines during his difficult times

1:02:25 – Dave Dombrowski

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Get the video version of "Exit Philosophy" and "Conversations with Griff" on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@ExitPhilosophy

----

For the full catalogue of Richard Griffin's work, including weekly Blue Jays/MLB columns, a weekly MLB Power Rankings column, exclusive conversations with some of the game's greats, past and present, and the Exit Philosophy podcast, visit https://www.griffsthepitch.com/

After missing out on Kyle Tucker, Mets owner Steve Cohen pivoted quickly to Bo Bichette, triggering a ripple effect across MLB free agency. On Exit Philosophy, Griff and Mal break down Bo's awkward Mets introduction, questions about leaving the Blue Jays, opt-outs, and the Phillies deal that fell apart. The episode also covers the 2026 Hall of Fame results, a weak first-year ballot, a look ahead to Buster Posey and the 2027 class, plus MLB Network's Top 100 list—highlighting the Blue Jays, Dodgers, and a debate over John Schneider vs. Dave Roberts.

INDEX:

0:00 Intro

0:43 Bo leaves for Mets and his presser at CitiField

4:38 How will Bo handle New York

7:36 Bichette and his opt-outs

12:15 Bo at 3rd base and the new Mets defence

16:42 Phils thought they had a deal with Bo

18:24 Signs Bo was not coming back to T-O

23:13 What about Cody Bellinger

25:48 Jays still could use a bullpen arm

29:16 Bo says goodbye to fans via Hazel Mae

34:57 Beltan and Andruw Jones to Cooperstown

41:39 Dave Stieb and the Hall's Veteran Committee

43:17 Buster Posey leads new candidates in '27

47:46 MLB Network Top 100 players

51:46 Re-Ranking 2026 AL East

55:08 Jays non-roster invitees to watch

58:34 Salary Cap and the new CBA

1:06:04 NFL Championship Weekend

1:10:49 Niagara Ironbacks update

1:12:07 Bob Elliott's CBN's Top 100 influential CDNs.

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Get the video version of "Exit Philosophy" and "Conversations with Griff" on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@ExitPhilosophy

----

For the full catalogue of Richard Griffin's work, including weekly Blue Jays/MLB columns, a weekly MLB Power Rankings column, exclusive conversations with some of the game's greats, past and present, and the Exit Philosophy podcast, visit https://www.griffsthepitch.com/

Within 24 hours on Thursday and Friday, the two top MLB free-agent hitters linked to the Blue Jays signed and came off the board, but neither one was headed north of the border. First, it was Kyle Tucker to the Dodgers, then Bo Bichette to the Mets. On Exit Philosophy we discuss the possible impact to the Jays' hopes of improving their lineup via free agency and where this leaves the AL Champs moving forward. Was Bo to the Mets a panic move by owner Steve Cohen? Was Bo's departure always an inevitability? Mal and Griff discuss the Hall-of-Fame announcement later this week, the looming labour negotiations after the '26 season, Ernie Clement to Team USA and much more.

Note** - Bo signed right after recording original episode so the first 25 mins are recorded separately from the rest of the episode. Hope you enjoy!

INDEX:

0:00 – Intro

0:35 – Kyle Tucker is an LA Dodger

9:50 – Bo Bichette is a New York Met

21:40 – Realmuto resigns with Phillies + How Will Bo Handle NY Media

25:30 – How to Avoid a Salary Cap and a Lockout

35:15 – Bo Bichette and Mitch Marner Comparisons

43:15 – Hall of Fame Announcement Preview

50:45 – Rob Manfred and Lockout Negotiations

1:00:32 – Ernie Clement on Team USA for WBC

1:04:15 – Red Sox Have Best Rotation in the AL East

1:12:10 – International Signing Period

1:13:45 – NFL Divsional Weekend Preview + Outro

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Get the video version of "Exit Philosophy" and "Conversations with Griff" on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@ExitPhilosophy

----

For the full catalogue of Richard Griffin's work, including weekly Blue Jays/MLB columns, a weekly MLB Power Rankings column, exclusive conversations with some of the game's greats, past and present, and the Exit Philosophy podcast, visit https://www.griffsthepitch.com/

The Blue Jays made a significant addition from the Japanese pool signing free-agent 3B Kazuma Okamoto -- four years, $60M. On this Exit Philosophy, Griff and Mal explain how much the Jays' dramatic World Series run impacted the club's international profile and what this latest addition may mean to the team's pursuit of Bo Bichette and/or Kyle Tucker. Which AL teams have had the best off-season, a month to spring training. Detailing the dramatic change in the Jays starting rotation and the bullpen from opening Day 2025 to now. Should Ross Atkins wait until March to attempt a trade for Jose Berrios or is that too much a distraction? All this and more, including handicapping NFL wildcard weekend.

INDEX:

0:00 Intro

0:38 Kazuma Okamoto discussion

5:16 Okamoto presser with Scott Boras

10:49 Are Tucker and Bo still on the table

16:44 Rogers figures out spend money make money

19:16 Who's going to bat middle of the order

27:49 Jays and Luxury Tax with Jose Berrios

33:32 Jays will miss influence of departed pitchers

36:28 Comparing 2025 pitching to '26

46:20 AL Teams with best off-season

55:21 NFL Playoff Preview

1:02:56 Wrapup

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Get the video version of "Exit Philosophy" and "Conversations with Griff" on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@ExitPhilosophy

----

For the full catalogue of Richard Griffin's work, including weekly Blue Jays/MLB columns, a weekly MLB Power Rankings column, exclusive conversations with some of the game's greats, past and present, and the Exit Philosophy podcast, visit https://www.griffsthepitch.com/