The life of the insider is a perilous one. You’re constantly working the phones and fighting for your next scoop. And when you aren’t dropping breaking news bombs consistently enough, people start to notice and might even call you out.
Even you’re own co-workers.
The 2025 Major League Baseball trade deadline was Thursday, July 31, at 6:00 p.m. ET. So you better believe that ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan was working hard to break as many last-minute deals as possible. And a quick check of his social media accounts proved just how much news he was breaking, including the big Carlos Correa trade between Minnesota and Houston.
BREAKING: The Minnesota Twins are trading shortstop Carlos Correa to the Houston Astros, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2025
Passan was coming and going on Thursday during ESPN’s Baseball Tonight trade deadline coverage. Naturally, when he did show up on everyone’s screen, there was an assumption that he was about to break news of yet another trade. However, Jeff knows a thing or two about baseball and sometimes just wants to be included in the ongoing conversation.
Unfortunately for Passan, that kinda weirded out MLB analyst Eduardo Pérez, who couldn’t wrap his head around hearing from the breaking-news guys when he wasn’t breaking news.
“Since when is Jeff Passan allowed to be on TV and not give breaking news?” – Eduardo Pérez 😂 pic.twitter.com/PW4iBJKBXF
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 31, 2025
“Since when is Jeff Passan allowed to be on TV and not give breaking news?” Perez jokingly asked in the middle of a segment about the Arizona Diamondbacks. “He just came on and I was like ‘okay, what’s the breaking news?’ Nothing? Crickets?”
“Am I not allowed to talk?” asked an incredulous Passan. “What’s going on here, Eddie?”
“I want breaking news!” demanded Perez.
“I want breaking news, too! I’m trying!” said Passan, checking his phone. “My phone is dinging right now. Okay, Eddie. Let’s look. Oh look! No breaking news! How bout that?”
“Thanks, Eddie,” added Passan as the entire studio laughed. “Appreciate you, bud.”
Just a few minutes later, Passan was back to breaking MLB trade news, and all was right with the world.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.