Buck Martinez as 2026 approaches: Joe Siddall set to replace the retired legend

buck martinez has retired after the Blue Jays’ 2025 World Series run, and Joe Siddall will replace him on the team’s television broadcasts as 2026 approaches. The change closes a long chapter in the franchise’s on-air history and opens a new one built on continuity among the existing broadcast personnel.

What Happens Now That Buck Martinez Has Retired?

Buck Martinez retired following the Blue Jays’ run to the 2025 World Series. His career with the club encompassed roles as a player, manager and broadcaster beginning in 1981, and he was 77 at the time of retirement. The immediate lineup for televised coverage is anchored by play-by-play announcer Dan Shulman. Joe Siddall will step into the primary colour-commentary chair for approximately 125–130 games, while Caleb Joseph is expected to handle the remaining telecasts. Hazel Mae is expected to continue in the sideline reporting role.

Joe Siddall arrives in the role after years inside the Blue Jays media ecosystem. A Windsor, Ontario native, Siddall played parts of four Major League Baseball seasons and spent 13 professional years as a catcher before ending his playing career in 2000. He joined the team’s radio broadcasts, later moved to television as an analyst, and in 2025 split time between studio work and game telecasts. Siddall also filled in for Martinez during the elder broadcaster’s medical leave.

What If Joe Siddall Delivers as Full-Time Analyst?

• Best case: Siddall’s familiarity with the club and prior booth experience provides a seamless transition. Working with Dan Shulman for the bulk of games preserves continuity for viewers, while Caleb Joseph and Hazel Mae offer consistent complementary coverage.
• Most likely: The broadcast shifts gradually; Siddall solidifies his presence across the majority of telecasts as viewers adjust to a new voice. The mix of Siddall, Joseph and Shulman keeps the core broadcast identities intact while honoring Martinez’s legacy.
• Most challenging: Audience expectations tied to a long-tenured, multi-role figure create a tougher standard for comparison. Any early rough edges in the pairing or uneven distribution of duties could prolong the adjustment period for some viewers.

What Should Blue Jays Viewers Expect and Do Next?

Expect familiarity with fresh emphasis. The network’s plan preserves established elements—play-by-play continuity with Dan Shulman and sideline reporting with Hazel Mae—while shifting the primary colour role to someone who has already been integrated into studio and broadcast duties. Caleb Joseph will continue to play a role on telecasts, covering games Siddall does not.

For viewers and stakeholders, the practical steps are straightforward: evaluate the new booth over the season’s first stretch, compare Siddall’s approach across the 125–130 games he will call with Shulman, and watch how the team balances studio and game responsibilities among its analysts. The transition is grounded in personnel already familiar to the audience, which should temper disruption while the new on-air chemistry develops.

At its heart this is a handoff from a storied broadcaster to a seasoned internal successor—one that closes the chapter on buck martinez and opens a new era for Blue Jays television coverage.