November 5, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Some Canadian baseball notes from the past couple of days:

Guerrero Jr., Naylor named Silver Slugger Award finalists

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.), of the Toronto Blue Jays, and Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), of the Cleveland Guardians, are among the Silver Slugger Award finalists for American League first basemen that were announced on Monday. The two Canadian-born players will compete against Minnesota Twins first baseman Carlos Santana for the honour.

Guerrero Jr., who won a Silver Slugger Award in 2021, topped Canadian-born major leaguers in batting average (.323), OPS (.940), hits (199), runs (98), doubles (44), walks (72) and WAR (6.2) this season. The 25-year-old first baseman also had 30 home runs and 103 RBIs. Overall, his batting average was the second-best in the majors, while he ranked third in hits and OBP (.396).

Meanwhile, Naylor followed up his 2023 Tip O’Neill Award-winning season by registering career-highs in home runs (31) and RBIs (108) in 152 games for the Guardians. He topped all Canadians in RBIs and tied with Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, B.C.) for the most home runs. Naylor also finished second among Canuck big leaguers in hits (137), runs (84), doubles (27) and walks (58). This is the first time the Junior National Team alum has been a Silver Slugger Award finalist.

The Silver Slugger awards have been handed annually since 1980 to baseball’s top hitters. The manager and three coaches from each big-league club vote for them. The winners will be unveiled on November 12 at 6 p.m. E.T. on the MLB Network.

Red Sox make qualifying offer to Pivetta but not to O’Neill

The Boston Red Sox made a qualifying offer to veteran right-hander Nick Pivetta (Victoria, B.C.) on Monday, but they declined to offer one to outfielder Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, B.C.).

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 Pivetta’s 2023 salary ($7.5 million). The 31-year-old righty has until 4 p.m. E.T. on November 19 to accept or decline the offer. If he declines, he’ll become a free agent, and if he signs with another club, the Red Sox will receive a compensatory pick prior to the third round in next year’s draft.

Pivetta, who has pitched in parts of eight big league seasons, led all Canadian major leaguers with 172 strikeouts. In total, Pivetta went 6-12 with a 4.14 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) for the Red Sox. He tossed 145 2/3 innings, which were the second-most by a Canuck big leaguer.

O’Neill, on the other hand, heads directly onto the free agent market. In his first season with the Red Sox in 2024, he topped the club with 31 home runs. That total also tied him with Naylor for the most major league homers by a Canadian. O’Neill’s .511 slugging percentage, .847 OPS and 2.6 WAR all ranked second (to Guerrero Jr.) among Canadian big leaguers in 2024. The 29-year-old outfielder has competed in parts of seven big league seasons.

Zastryzny claimed on waivers by Cubs

Left-hander Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) is headed back to the Chicago Cubs, the team he began his big-league career with in 2016. The 32-year-old reliever was claimed on waivers by the Cubs from the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.

Signed by the Brewers last December, Zastryzny started the season in Triple-A before being recalled to start on Canada Day. Overall, in nine appearances (three starts) for the Brewers, he posted a 1.17 ERA and had five strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. He was also 4-0 with a 3.03 ERA in 30 relief appearances for Triple-A Nashville. He had 39 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings. He finished the season on the 60-day injured list with left elbow tendinitis.

Zastryzny was a second-round pick of the Cubs in 2013. He recorded a 4.41 ERA in 18 relief appearances with the Cubs from 2016 to 2018 and earned a World Series ring in 2016.

From 2019 to 2022, he pitched in the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins, New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels organizations. He also started for Canada against Mexico in the World Baseball Classic in March 2023.

Dasan Brown wins minor league Gold Glove Award

Blue Jays’ outfield prospect Dasan Brown (Oakville, Ont.) has won a minor league Gold Glove Award. The announcement was made on Monday.

The speedy 23-year-old split the season between High-A Vancouver and double-A New Hampshire. He did not make an error in centre field in 91 games between the two clubs. He also registered six outfield assists and initiated three double plays.

Selected in the third round of the 2019 MLB draft by the Blue Jays, the Junior National Team alum just completed his fifth season in the organization. At the plate, he batted a combined .246 with a .342 on-base-percentage with eight home runs and 35 stolen bases in 106 games.