December 19, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

It has been a busy off-season for Canadians in professional baseball.

In the 50 days since the last out of the World Series, several Canadians have changed teams.

I’m going to try to document all of the transactions involving Canadians in the pro ranks this off-season. So, here’s an early off-season summary:

RHP Landen Bourassa (Lethbridge, Alta.) re-signed with the independent American Association’s Winnipeg Goldeyes on November 4.

Louis Boyd (North Vancouver, B.C.) was named Seattle Mariners’ major league field coordinator on November 26.

OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) was added to the Chicago Cubs’ 40-man roster on November 19.

RHP Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.) was added to the Kansas City Royals’ 40-man roster on November 19.

OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) was added to the Oakland A’s 40-man roster on November 19.

INF-Coach Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.) was named to Baseball Canada’s Wall of Excellence on December 6.

RHP Jim Henderson (Calgary, Alta.) will return for his fourth season as an assistant pitching and strategy coach with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers confirmed this in a news release on December 17.

C Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) was selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Miami Marlins from the Detroit Tigers on December 11.

LHP Nathan Landry (Victoriaville, Que.) has re-signed with the independent Frontier League’s Trois-Rivières Aigles.

INF Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) became a free agent and departed the Los Angeles Angels to sign a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves on November 13.

LHP Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.) was added to the Toronto Blue Jays’ 40-man roster on November 14.

First-base coach Dave McKay (Vancouver, B.C.) will return to the Arizona Diamondbacks for his 12th season with the club. It will be his 55th season in pro baseball as a player or coach.

Chris Mears (Ottawa, Ont.) was hired as the Cleveland Guardians pitching rehab lead following the season. Most recently, he had spent five seasons as the Boston Red Sox pitching coordinator.

OF Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, B.C.) signed a three-year, $49.5-million contract with the Baltimore Orioles on December 10. He spent the 2024 season with the Red Sox.

Stephen Osterer (Ottawa, Ont.) was promoted to the position of vice-president player development/farm director by the Guardians on November 27. He spent the last three years as the director of pitching development.

RHP Jordan Romano (Markham. Ont.) agreed to a one-year, $8.5-million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on December 9. He spent his first six major league seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Manager Rob Thomson (Corunna, Ont.) signed a one-year contract extension with the Phillies on October 15. The contract extends through the 2026 season.

Carson Vitale (Victoria, B.C.) was hired as bench coach of the Miami Marlins on November 26. He had most recently served as the major league field coordinator for the Seattle Mariners.

INF Jared Young (Prince George, B.C.) was signed by the New York Mets on December 16. It is a one-year major league contract.

LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs from the Milwaukee Brewers on November 4.