November 26, 2023

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Some Canadian baseball news and notes from the past week:

-Here’s a list of arbitration-eligible Canadians who have been tendered 2024 contracts by their respective big league clubs. Their projected salaries are also included. These players will now negotiate with their teams to try to reach a deal. If the two sides don’t come to an agreement, an arbitrator will decide how much they will be paid in 2024.

RHP Nick Pivetta, Boston Red Sox, $6.9 million

RHP Michael Soroka, Chicago White Sox, $3 million

1B Josh Naylor, Cleveland Guardians, $7.2 million

RHP Cal Quantrill, Colorado Rockies, $6.9 million

OF Tyler O’Neill, St. Louis Cardinals, $5.5 million

RP Jordan Romano, Toronto Blue Jays, $7.7 million

-Legendary Montreal Expos broadcaster Jacques Doucet (Montreal, Que.) is one of the 10 finalists for the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s 2024 Ford C. Frick Award, which is handed out annually for broadcasting excellence. The winner will be announced on December 6. Here’s a link to a video created by ExposFest coordinator Perry Giannias that shares some highlights from Doucet’s career. Born in Montreal in 1940, Doucet began performing play-by-play for the Expos’ French language radio broadcasts in 1972 and continued for 33 seasons. For many years, Doucet also broadcast major league playoff and World Series games in French. After the Expos left for Washington following the 2004 season, Doucet continued his broadcasting career in his home province, calling games for the independent Can-Am League’s Quebec Capitales from 2006 to 2011. Starting in 2011, he called Blue Jays games in French for TVA Sports. In total, Doucet broadcast more than 5,500 big league games. He was also a finalist for the Frick Award in 2019 and 2022.

-It was 13 years ago this past Wednesday that Cincinnati Reds slugger Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) was voted the National League MVP. In 150 games in 2010, Votto batted .324 (second in the National League) and topped the senior circuit in on-base percentage (.424), slugging percentage (.600) and OPS (1.024). He also finished third in the NL in home runs (37) and RBIs (113). I was happy to see the Cincinnati Reds Museum celebrating the anniversary of this and that they have some artifacts from Votto on display (see photo below).

-Forty-four years ago today, Blue Jays shortstop Alfredo Griffin was voted co-American League Rookie of the Year along with Minnesota Twins second baseman John Castino. It was the first major year-end award that a Blue Jays player garnered. In his rookie 1979 campaign, Griffin batted .287 and registered 179 hits – including 10 triples – in 153 games. He also stole 21 bases that season.

-Speaking of major year-end awards, it was 19 years ago today that Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero was voted the American League MVP in his first season with the Los Angeles Angels. After starring for the Montreal Expos in the previous eight seasons, Guerrero batted .337 and socked 39 home runs and knocked in 126 runs for the Angels in 2004 to lead them to their first American League West division title since 1986.

-Junior National Team alum Evan Elliott (Toronto, Ont.) has signed with the independent Frontier League’s Ottawa Titans. The team made the announcement on Wednesday. Selected in the 15th round of the 2021 MLB draft by the Texas Rangers, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound right-hander posted a 4.70 ERA, while striking out 24 in 15 1/3 innings in 15 relief appearances in parts of three seasons with the Rangers’ Rookie Ball Arizona Complex League club. He completed the 2023 campaign with the Intercounty Baseball League’s Toronto Maple Leafs. Elliott became the second Canadian the Titans have signed for the 2023 season. They have also re-signed utility infielder Taylor Wright (North Vancouver, B.C.).

-On this date 55 years ago, pitcher Gaetan Groleau (Longueuil, Que.) became the first Canadian to sign with the Montreal Expos. A Montreal Junior Baseball League star, Groleau spurned contract offers from the Detroit Tigers and California Angels before signing with the Expos. He attended spring training with the Expos in 1969, but never pitched professionally in their system. He was inducted into the Quebec Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.

-According to multiple reports, former Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons will be hired as the New York Mets bench coach. He will work under new Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. It will be Gibbons’ first big league coaching position since departing the Blue Jays’ managerial post after the 2018 season. A former big league catcher, the 61-year-old Gibbons enjoyed two tenures as the Blue Jays manager from 2004 to 2008 then again from 2013 to 2018, compiling a combined 793-789 regular season record. He also guided the club to their first division title in 22 years in 2015. In between managerial tenures with the Blue Jays, he served as a bench coach with the Kansas City Royals in 2009 and 2010.

-Rest in peace, Willie Hernandez. The former big league closer passed away on Wednesday at the age of 69. Most remember him for his American League Cy Young and MVP Award-winning season with the World Series champion Detroit Tigers in 1984. But several years later, when he was attempting a comeback, he was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays on May 2, 1991. He posted a 4.22 ERA in eight relief appearances with triple-A Syracuse. Here’s a clipping from Alberni Valley Times from May 3, 1991:

-Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the Canadian baseball fan in your family? You’ll likely find it in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s annual Holiday Silent Auction. There are rare bobbleheads, ticket packages and all sorts of autographed memorabilia up for bids. Bid early and bid often. Here’s a link to the auction.