February 8, 2020

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Pitchers and catchers will start reporting to big league camps this week, but there are still some Canadian free agents looking for contracts.

Here is a look at four Canadian free agents that are still hoping for deals:

Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.)

Jon Heyman, of the MLB Network, reported in November that Martin was already working out and was planning to play a 15th major league season in 2020. With his lucrative five-year, $82.5-million contract expiring at the end of the 2019 season, there was some speculation that the soon-to-be 37-year-old Canuck might retire. The market has been quiet for the veteran backstop. In his return to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019, he batted .220 and posted a .337 on-base percentage in 83 games and reached the post-season for the 10th time in 14 major league campaigns. Despite his extensive playoff resume, Martin has never suited up for a team that has advanced to the World Series.

Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.)

Pompey became a minor league free agent in November. His tenure in the Toronto Blue Jays’ organization that dates back to 2010 is likely over. Hampered by a variety of injuries - including three concussions - in recent years, the speedy outfielder proved he was healthy when he played alongside his brother, Tristan, for the Canadian national team at the WSBC Premier12 tournament in early November. In all, the 27-year-old competed in parts of four big league seasons with the Blue Jays. In 590 minor league games in the Blue Jays’ system, he batted .278 and posted a .364 on-base percentage, while swiping 167 bases.

John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.)

After signing a minor league deal with the Blue Jays last February, the veteran right-hander made just one minor league appearance in 2019 after suffering an elbow injury during spring training. The 36-year-old reliever has registered a 3.87 ERA and notched 144 saves in 543 big league appearances in his 10-year major league career that has included stops with the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, Oakland A’s, Blue Jays and Dodgers. The 6-foot-5 righty went 4-1 with a 4.41 ERA in 45 appearances for the Blue Jays in 2018.

Jim Adduci (Burnaby, B.C.)

The 34-year-old first baseman/outfielder batted .301 with 108 hits – including 12 home runs – in 105 games for the triple-A Iowa Cubs in 2019. For his efforts, he was named the first baseman on Minor League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs’ Organization All-Star Team. He also played two games with the big league Cubs. Adduci enjoyed his longest tenure in the big leagues in 2018, batting .267 in 59 games for the Detroit Tigers. In the previous season, he had three separate major league stints with the Tigers in which he batted .241 in 29 contests. The 6-foot-2 veteran previously played parts of two seasons with the Texas Rangers in 2013 and 2014, batting a combined .189 in 61 games. Selected by the Florida Marlins in the 42nd round of the 2003 MLB Draft, Adduci just finished his 16th professional season.