Sources Tell Jeff Passan

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?

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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.

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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

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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.

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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?

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What happens when you ask AI one of baseball's biggest questions?

Jeff Passan and Richard Staff enlist the help of several AI models to tackle one of MLB's most hotly debated topics: Should there be a salary cap?

Along the way, they compare how each model approaches the question, challenge them to back up their arguments with charts and graphics, and see just how well AI can handle a baseball debate.

Whose argument is the most convincing? Watch and decide for yourself.

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In this episode of Sources Tell Jeff Passan, Jeff sits down with Paul Skenes, Ernie Clement, Travis Bazzana, Roy Wood Jr., Nick Martinez, Jac Caglianone and Ivan Herrera at the All-Star celebrations in Philadelphia. Jeff asks each of the All-Star players what they love, which ranges from American history, the Bills Mafia, selling big league chew, baseball scouts, MMA and much more. 

Timecodes:

0:00 Welcome to Sources Tell Jeff Passan

0:45 Ernie Clement

8:50 Paul Skenes

19:20 Travis Bazzana

24:53 Roy Wood Jr.

41:40 Nick Martinez

46:33 Jac Caglianone

51:16 Ivan Herrera

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In this episode of Sources Tell Jeff Passan, Jeff Passan sits down with Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero for an honest conversation about his remarkable path to the major leagues—and the challenges facing baseball today. Junior reflects on being traded from the Cleveland organization to the Rays. He also looks back on one of the most unforgettable moments of his career: crushing the game-winning home run in the LIDOM Championship and unleashing a bat flip that many believe is one of the greatest ever seen in baseball. The conversation then shifts to some of the sport's biggest and most important topics. Jeff and Junior discuss the proposed MLB salary cap, what it could mean for players and the future of the game, and the often-overlooked realities facing many Latin American prospects. Junior shares insight into how young players are frequently exploited financially and the pressures that can lead some teenagers—as young as 10 years old—to use performance-enhancing drugs in pursuit of a professional career.

Timecodes:

0:00       Welcome to Sources Tell Jeff Passan

2:10       Rays Junior Caminero Joins Sources Tell Jeff Passan

3:21       Developing a fast swing and being signed by MLB at Age 17

6:06       Getting Internet Fame off one swing and growing up in DR

9:28       Baseball is Life and Importance of Education

14:03     Junior Caminero on MLB Scouting

17:31     Thoughts on being traded by Indians

20:10     What the Rays saw in him and playing in Australian Baseball League

33:02     Hitting the ball, “Perfect, Perfect.”

31:30     Making MLB Debut with Rays and playing for Albert Pujols

38:07     Breaking down Homerun that won the LIDOM Championship

44:50     Becoming an everyday player for the Rays

46:54     Free Agency and Salary Cap

52:30     Importance of having Latin player representatives during labor talks

59:31     Love for WBC as a Dominican Player

1:01:44  After baseball wants to become a DJ and golf enthusiast 

1:02:52  How the game of baseball talks to you

1:05:32  Why the Rays are always competitive 

1:07:57  Wrapping up Sources Tell Jeff Passan

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In this special episode, Jeff Passan is joined by legendary sports and rock 'n' roll photographer Michael Zagaris, along with special guests Jose Canseco, Billy Beane, and Dallas Braden. They share behind-the-scenes stories from some of the sport's most iconic moments, including Canseco's famous beefcake photo shoot for Madonna, how Zagaris helped inspire Brad Pitt's portrayal of Billy Beane in Moneyball, and Braden's unforgettable perfect game.

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In this special episode of Sources Tell Jeff Passan, Jeff hands out his inaugural MLB Midseason Awards, The Sourcies. He’s handing out hardware for the accomplishments that actually matter. Joining him are MLB players Jo Adell, Logan Gilbert, Jake Mangum, and Corbin Carroll, who accepted their prestigious award with great pride.  From hilarious clubhouse stories and unforgettable moments to the quirks, celebrations, mishaps, and innovations that defined the first half of the season, this episode celebrates the side of baseball that doesn’t show up in the box score.

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