November 10, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Some Canadian baseball notes from the past week:

Pivetta faces decision on Red Sox qualifying offer

When the Boston Red Sox extended a qualifying offer to Nick Pivetta (Victoria, B.C.) last Monday, it surprised many in the industry. The 31-year-old right-hander went 6-12 with a 4.14 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) for the Red Sox in 2024, but he also struck out 172 batters in 145 2/3 innings.

The amount of the qualifying offer (which is calculated based on the average of the top 125 salaries in MLB) for 2025 is $21.05 million, which is nearly three times what Pivetta made in 2023 ($7.5 million). After the offer was made, most thought it was a foregone conclusion that Pivetta would accept it. But during the General Managers Meetings this past week, multiple baseball writers – including Jon Heyman, of MLB.com – reported that interest in Pivetta is strong. So, there’s a possibility Pivetta might decline the qualifying offer and seek a multi-year deal as a free agent.

Pivetta has until 4 p.m. E.T. on November 19 to accept or decline the offer. If he declines it and signs with another club, the Red Sox will receive a compensatory pick prior to the third round in next year’s draft.

Soroka also a free agent

Right-hander Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) is a free agent this off-season. Soroka was dealt to the Chicago White Sox by the Atlanta Braves last November. After a rough start to the 2024 season as a starter with the Sox, he was moved to the bullpen where he excelled. In 16 relief appearances, he posted a 2.75 ERA and struck out 60 batters in 36 innings. Overall, in 25 appearances (nine starts), he recorded a 4.74 ERA and had 84 strikeouts in 79 2/3 innings.

MLB Trade Rumors projects that Soroka is in line for two-year, $14-million contract. A graduate of the Calgary Redbirds and Junior National Team, Soroka, who’s still only 27, was a first-round pick (28th overall) of the Braves in 2015. In 2019, he went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 29 starts and finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.

Since then, however, his career has been curtailed by a series of injuries, most notably he tore his right Achilles tendon twice. He only had one stretch on the injured list (shoulder strain) in 2024 and he finished the season strong – striking out 13 batters and allowing just two hits in 7 1/3 scoreless innings in three September appearances.

Switch-hitting Toro another Canadian free agent

Toro (Longueuil, Que.) is a free agent after batting .240 with six home runs and 26 RBIs in 94 games with the Oakland A’s this season. The switch-hitting infielder was designated for assignment by the A’s on August 27 and completed the season with the triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.

It was a disappointing finish to a campaign that began with so much promise. The 27-year-old Quebec native had 39 hits for the A’s in the month of May, which was the most in the major leagues. It was also more than any A’s player has had in May since 1989 when Carney Lansford had 39 hits. But Toro suffered a hamstring injury on June 21 that sidelined him for a month and he went just 9-for-60 in 21 games after his return.

In total, Toro has played in parts of six major league seasons with the Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers and A’s. In 365 big-league games, he owns a .220 batting average with 34 home runs and has 134 RBIs.

Originally selected in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB draft by the Astros, the ABC Academy alum made his big-league debut on August 22, 2019.

Denzel Clarke selected to AFL Fall Stars Game

Oakland A’s outfield prospect Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) Fall Stars Game on Saturday. He went 1-for-2 and played centre field for the American League squad in the second half of the contest. His team defeated the National League Fall Stars 6-5.

His Fall Stars nod was a reward for his .371/.500/.532 slash line in 16 AFL games for the Mesa Solar Sox. He also had 23 hits, three triples and seven stolen bases. This performance came on the heels of a strong season with the A’s double-A Midland RockHounds in which he batted .269 with 13 home runs, eight triples and 36 stolen bases in 116 games.

A Toronto Mets and Junior National Team alum, Clarke, 24, was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB draft by the A’s. He just completed his fourth season in the A’s organization.

Happy Birthday to Shawn Green!

He was the Toronto Blue Jays’ first 30-30 player and he still holds franchise records for longest hitting streak (28 games) and runs in a season (134 in 1999). And his left-handed swing was so smooth that Blue Jays coach Mel Queen once threatened to fire anyone who messed with it. I’m talking about Shawn Green, who turns 52 today.

Green had trouble finding regular playing time with the Blue Jays while Cito Gaston was manager, but after Gaston was fired, Tim Johnson took over as skipper and told Green he was going to be the club’s everyday right fielder. With this vote of confidence, Green enjoyed a breakout season in 1998, belting 35 home runs and stealing 35 bases. He also drove in 100 runs and scored 106.  

The left-handed hitting slugger was even better in 1999 when he batted .309 with 42 home runs, 123 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. For his efforts, he was selected to his first All-Star Game, captured a Silver Slugger Award and won a Gold Glove Award. 

He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers following that season. He’d play eight more seasons with the Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets and finish his MLB career with a .283 batting average, 2,003 hits, 328 home runs and 1,070 RBIs. 

Yerzy becomes free agent

Andy Yerzy (Toronto, Ont.), who batted .208 in 23 games between double-A and triple-A in the Milwaukee Brewers’ organization in 2024, is a minor league free agent. The Toronto Mets and Junior National Team grad was chosen in the second round of the 2016 MLB draft by the Diamondbacks. He played parts of six seasons with the D-Backs, rising as high as double-A prior to landing in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization in 2023. Initially, during his pro career, he was used exclusively as a catcher but in recent years, he has seen more action at first base.

Freeman walk-off grand slam card a hot seller

One of the hottest selling cards on the baseball card market is this 2024 Topps Now card (pictured above) that shines the spotlight on the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Freddie Freeman‘s walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the World Series. It was the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history. Freeman, whose parents were born in Canada, has played for the Canadian national team in the last two World Baseball Classics (2017 and 2023). In recent years, Topps has created Topps Now cards which are printed in limited quantities after a memorable big-league accomplishment or milestone. Collectors could only order this Freeman card for a 24-hour period. These cards have been selling for more than $100 each.

Two more instances of Canadian homering off a Canadian in MLB in 2024

Master Canadian baseball statistician Neil Munro recently sent me a list of the instances when a Canadian player has homered off a Canadian pitcher in the big leagues. It has happened 50 times. It occurred twice in 2024: Josh Naylor homered off Michael Soroka on April 9 and Edouard Julien (Quebec City, Que.) went deep off Soroka on April 25.

More Canadian baseball history

In his excellent presentation at the Canadian Baseball History Conference in St. Marys, Ont., last Sunday, David Matchett shared that on June 30, 2023 when Jared Young (Prince George, B.C.), then with the Chicago Cubs, singled against the Cleveland Guardians’ all-Canadian battery of Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) and catcher Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) in the bottom of the third inning, it represented the first time that a Canadian has had a hit against an all-Canadian battery in major league history.

Canadian ball hall’s Holiday Silent Auction to begin November 18

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s annual Holiday Silent Auction fundraiser is set to begin on November 18. This is their 21st annual Holiday Auction and more than 100 items will be featured, including jerseys signed by Pedro Martinez and Jesse Barfield and balls signed by Jose Bautista, Joe Carter, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. There will also be Blue Jays, Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs tickets to bid on. You can read more about the auction and the items here.