Effectively Wild Episode 2417: Just Passan Time

Date: December 22, 2025
Host: Ben Lindbergh (The Ringer)
Guests: Jeff Passan (ESPN Senior MLB Insider), Sam Blum (The Athletic)

Episode Overview

This episode features two main interviews:

1. Jeff Passan discusses the art and ethics of baseball newsbreaking, the toll and balancing act of being MLB’s top insider, his complicated relationship with social media, and personal reflections on life, career, and parenthood.
2. Sam Blum breaks down the wrongful death lawsuit brought by Tyler Skaggs’s family against the Angels, analyzing trial insights, organizational responsibility, and potential league-wide ramifications.

1. Interview with Jeff Passan: The Life of a News Breaker

Introduction & Ground Rules (02:11 - 04:47)

• Jeff Passan returns to the show for the first time since 2018.
• Discussion about handling breaking news live:
  Both agree that if a major trade happens, Passan might have to break news mid-podcast.
• Passan’s scoop process:
  Keeps breaking news embargoed until players are informed, even if it means losing a scoop.

  "Treating the people I cover like human beings rather than, I'm not going to say chattel...It's not how I like doing things." — Jeff Passan (05:34)

Ethics of Breaking News & Human Dilemmas (03:47 - 08:31)

• Passan explains never wanting to "let a player find out they’ve been traded via Twitter."
• If he has a close relationship with a player, he might call them before the news drops.
• Fears involving typos and making mistakes live while tweeting during interviews.

Building Trust & Reputation (09:14 - 10:03)

• Accuracy is essential to Passan’s "brand":

  "If they feel like they lose trust in me, because I get something wrong, then you know, I'm worthless." — Jeff Passan (09:21)

Social Media and Mental Health (10:03 - 14:06)

• Passan expresses deep ambivalence—even distaste—about his presence on social media.
• Shares the origin of his Twitter use—breaking the Aroldis Chapman news.

  "If I could nuke every account, I would. Generally speaking, I find social media to be a horrible and destructive tool." — Jeff Passan (10:12)

• Describes the "addictive" quality of social platforms.

Passing of Time, Career, and Aging (14:06 - 19:31)

• Reflects on aging, being a veteran in baseball media, having kids heading to college, and the challenge of relating to a younger generation of players.

  "I'm fucking old. I'm five years shy of 50 now, man. Like we're getting up there. I have a kid going to college next year." — Jeff Passan (13:14)

• Makes humorous comparisons between aging, appliances, and veteran pitchers like Justin Verlander and Rich Hill.

Professional Image & Dress (19:31 - 22:21)

• On his personal style and being known for wearing suits on camera, but dressing for comfort off-air.
• Anecdote about being rejected from a Hollywood nightclub for wearing shorts during All-Star weekend.

Standards for Tweeting & ‘Pointless Pings’ (23:06 - 27:33)

• Discusses when he considers newsworthy enough for a tweet and the social obligations that come with his role.
• Takes pride in tweeting about obscure or less-acclaimed transactions:

  "I kind of take a perverse pleasure when people say this was not worthy of a Passan tweet." — Jeff Passan (24:18)

• Frame of reference changes after watching his son’s hard work to play D3 college baseball.

Life in Real Time (26:44 - 27:33)

• Passan receives a call from a source live on air, giving a window into the hectic and unpredictable life of an insider.

The ‘Fun’ Tweets and Gravitas of Position (27:51 - 32:06)

• Balancing serious news reporting with whimsical Twitter asides, like his “thankful for gravy” tweet on Thanksgiving:

  "Frankly, I don't think gravy is a frivolous thing. I take it very seriously." — Jeff Passan (29:01)

• Acknowledges the power and weight of his tweets (e.g., accidentally setting off widespread anticipation among fans).

Editorial Independence & Bosses’ Disappointment (32:06 - 33:57)

• Describes the balancing act between being candid and representing ESPN, feeling the sting of employer disappointment over concern for his actions.

Motivation, Evolution, and Family Priorities (33:57 - 41:34)

• Got into news breaking after his wife "emasculated" him into trying, which transformed his career trajectory.
• Respects Ken Rosenthal as a standard for accuracy and consistency in baseball news.
• Stresses the need for work-life balance, with high priority on not missing family events.

  "If the toll was too great, I’d just stop." — Jeff Passan (43:01)

What Makes a News ‘Breaking’? (35:34 - 37:18)

• Only uses “BREAKING” (in all caps) for exclusives over $50 million—mostly large, impactful deals.

Tracking and Crediting News (37:30 - 39:36)

• Keeps notifications on for all major (and many local) reporters.
• Values collegial crediting among newsbreakers, issuing follow-up tweets if someone else scoops.

Why So Many MLB Newsbreakers? (39:36 - 41:34)

• Discusses why news breaking is more diffuse in baseball than the monopolistic NBA or NFL worlds.

  "I think the balance that I’ve struck in my life that has me in a very contented place would probably cease to exist if I tried to own everything." — Jeff Passan (41:15)

Quality of Life & The Personal Cost of Newsmaking (41:34 - 46:05)

• Contrasts his balance with notorious NBA/NFL newsbreakers who are essentially “on call” 24/7.
• Describes “news” as a vehicle for deeper connections and understanding of the sport.

The Value of Storytelling (47:03 - 51:10)

• Shares why writing, storytelling, and longer features remain more rewarding than just breaking scoops.
• Laments the decline of longer-form reading among younger generations.

  "If I weren’t telling stories, I would feel like I’ve lost the plot." — Jeff Passan (47:03)

Leaks, Legality, and CBA Constraints (51:26 - 53:24)

• Explains that teams technically break MLB’s own rules by leaking certain details to insiders—the CBA prohibits many disclosures before physicals/agreements.

The Temptation of Other Sports (53:24 - 57:13)

• Confirms he seriously considered switching from baseball to the NBA at ESPN, but ultimately chose to prioritize his family and comfort/expertise with baseball.

Covering the Game as ESPN’s Insider (57:13 - 60:38)

• Reflects on ESPN’s near-split with MLB.
• Describes the unspoken conflict of covering an organization your employer partners with—but ESPN never interfered with his coverage.

Telling Unflattering Truths & Burning Bridges (60:38 - 60:52)

• Acknowledges he sometimes publishes stories at the expense of future access, but “that’s just the job.”

Quick Hot Stove Breakdown (60:52 - 62:42)

• Believes the 2025-26 free agent market has been strong for players, with notable deals for relievers; expects the remaining top FAs to sign soon.

Labor Relations Outlook (62:30 - 63:10)

• Passan expects no 2026 lockout to jeopardize MLB games:

  "If you ask me, will they lose games or will they not? Right now, I'm saying they will not." — Jeff Passan (63:04)

Closing Advice & Food (64:04)

• Passan is "thankful for latkes" and offers practical tips to avoid soggy potato pancakes.

2. Interview with Sam Blum: The Tyler Skaggs Wrongful Death Case

Jury, Settlement, and Process (67:28 - 71:03)

• The case reached a confidential settlement just before a jury verdict—jury was leaning strongly toward a large award for the Skaggs family.
• Blum: “The evidence showed otherwise” than the Angels’ insistence they acted responsibly.
• Punitive damages and pressure from insurance may have forced the Angels to settle.

Organizational Accountability & Culture (73:54 - 76:08)

• Blum makes a direct connection between “minor” organizational dysfunction (e.g., penny-pinching, poor minor league conditions) and the massive failure in Skaggs’s case.

  “There is something fundamentally a little bit broken...it needs addressing. And I think that always starts at the very, very top.” — Sam Blum (74:04)

The Angels’ Response and the Human Impact (76:08 - 82:26)

• Ben and Sam discuss how the team’s legal defense often involved disparaging Skaggs’s character to mitigate damages; both view this as unpleasant but legally standard.
• The Angels’ arguments about Skaggs’s value as a player were “not credible.”
• Mike Trout’s testimony highlighted, particularly his private memorialization of Skaggs and personal attempts to help Eric Kay.

Closure, Consequences, and Lessons (86:38 - 90:38)

• Blum considers whether the team’s self-assessment failed—settlement possibly could have been reached sooner with greater self-awareness.
• Artie Moreno, Angels owner, largely shielded from accountability.

MLB's Role and Future Actions (90:38 - 96:07)

• Major League Baseball refuted the Angels’ assertion that they followed league policy in managing K’s addiction.
• League policy already improved since Skaggs’s death; Blum is skeptical further policy changes will result.

  "When you see this happening, you're not helping the person by not reporting it." — Sam Blum (94:12)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Passan on social media addiction:

  "Social media, like, let's just be real, social media is a drug and we have all been fed it and... we have willfully become addicted to it." (10:33)

• On "pointless" vs. "real" news:

  "Baseball is a universe where there are many, many different people... And I respect every bit as much the guy who might not be as talented or might not be as good and has to work that much harder." (24:18)

• On personal sacrifice and work-life balance:

  "I just don’t need to miss these things that I don’t have many more of." (46:05)

• Blum on the Angels’ failing:

  "There is something fundamentally a little bit broken. Clearly, this doesn't happen without that. And I just think that comes from the highest elements of this franchise." (74:04)

• On colleague Ken Rosenthal:

  "Being right matters to him and being good matters to him. And, you know, he’s... been the standard." (44:02)

• On the sake of storytelling:

  "To me, that doesn't compare to telling a great story... Every great story is great because of the details they're in." (49:56)

Key Timestamps for Significant Segments

• Interview start & newsbreaking philosophy: 02:11–06:42
• Social media/reputation/ethics: 10:03–14:06
• Professional image, age, and career arc: 14:06–19:31
• Tweet standards and the value of smaller stories: 23:06–27:33
• Breaking news live (source call): 26:44–27:33
• Fun vs. gravitas in reporting: 27:51–32:06
• Professional and personal balance, life as an insider: 41:34–46:05
• Storytelling and writing's importance: 47:03–51:10
• Skaggs wrongful death trial debrief: 66:54–96:38

Takeaways & Final Reflections

• Jeff Passan exemplifies how rigorous standards, ethical care for sources, and a real sense of humanity persist even as the "scoop" economy dominates baseball media.
• Passan’s blend of journalistic seriousness and levity—reflected in his “thankful for gravy” tweet—is part of his widespread appeal.
• Sam Blum’s reporting on the Skaggs case exposes deep, troubling organizational flaws in the Angels, with questions that should echo throughout MLB.
• Both interviews center on the weight and cost of responsibility—whether as a trusted news source or as a steward of human life within an MLB franchise.

For further details, check the linked timestamped show notes and referenced articles at FanGraphs.com.