February 19, 2025

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

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

I’ve tried to document all of the transactions involving Canadians in the pro ranks this off-season.

Here’s my latest summary:

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

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

RHP Zach Cameron (Hamilton, Ont.) was signed by the independent Frontier League’s Ottawa Titans on January 17.

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.

C Victor Cerny (Winnipeg, Man.) re-signed with the independent Frontier League’s Ottawa Titans on February 12.

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

OF Canice Ejoh (Toronto, Ont.) was signed by the independent Frontier League’s Ottawa Titans on January 28.

OF Justin Gideon (Pickering, Ont.) re-signed with the independent Frontier League’s Quebec Capitales on January 20.

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.

RHP Tylor Jons (St. Albert, Alta.) was signed by the independent American Association’s Winnipeg Goldeyes on February 14.

RHP Halen Knoll (Edmonton, Alta.) was signed by the independent Frontier League’s Trois-Rivières Aigles on January 19.

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

Manager Kevin Lavallee (North Delta, B.C.) was promoted to manage the Toronto Blue Jays’ double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats on February 13.

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.

OF Marc-Antoine Lebreux (Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Que.) re-signed with the independent Frontier League’s Quebec Capitales on February 14.

LHP Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.) was added to the Toronto Blue Jays’ 40-man roster on November 14. On February 17, the Blue Jays announced that he is likely to undergo meniscus surgery in his left knee. The procedure is expected to sideline him for three-to-six months.

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.

1B Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks by the Cleveland Guardians for Slade Cecconi on December 21.

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.

Former catcher Noah Or (Richmond, B.C.) was named Vancouver Canadians’ assistant strength and conditioning coach on February 13.

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 Nick Pivetta (Victoria, B.C.) signed a four-year, $55-million contract with the San Diego Padres on February 17.

RHP Zach Pop (Brampton, Ont.) avoided going to arbitration with the Toronto Blue Jays and signed a one-year, $900,000 contract on January 9.

C Jordan Procyshen (Calgary, Alta.) has hung up his playing spikes and accepted a position as bench coach with the Arizona Diamondbacks’ double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles.

RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) signed a one-year, $3.5-million contract with the Miami Marlins on February 12.

Former RHP Paul Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) will return as a special assistant with the Toronto Blue Jays.

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.

Coach Michael Saunders (Victoria, B.C.) was hired as a roving outfield instructor by the Seattle Mariners after serving in a similar position with the Atlanta Braves for the past three seasons.

Right-hander William Sierra (Montreal, Que.) was signed by the independent American Association’s Winnipeg Goldeyes on February 5.

RHP Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) signed a one-year, $9-million contract with the Washington Nationals on December 19.

Coach Mike Steed (Lincoln, Ont.) was promoted to pitching coach of the double-A Columbus Clingstones by the Atlanta Braves on February 11.

Coach Ashley Stephenson (Mississauga, Ont.) was named position coach of the class-A Dunedin Blue Jays on February 13.

RHP Curtis Taylor (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on February 12.

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

Jordan Tiegs (Woodstock, Ont.) was named the Texas Rangers’ bullpen coach on November 26.

INF Abraham Toro (Longueuil, Que.) signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox on January 28. The deal includes an invitation to big league spring training.

Outfielder Mathieu Vallée (Saint-Eustache, Que.) signed with the independent Frontier League’s Trois-Rivières Aigles on January 23.

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.

RHP Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, B.C.) re-signed with the Yokohama Bay Stars, of the Japan Central League, for the 2025 season.

UTIL Taylor Wright (North Vancouver, B.C.) re-signed with the independent Frontier League’s Ottawa Titans on January 21.

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.

Executive Farhan Zaidi (Sudbury, Ont.) was hired as a special advisor by the Los Angeles Dodgers on February 10.

LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs from the Milwaukee Brewers on November 4. The veteran left-hander was designated for assignment by the Cubs on February 11 and then claimed on waivers by the New York Yankees on February 17.

OF Tucker Zdunich (High River, Alta.) was signed by independent Frontier League’s Trois-Rivieres Aigles on January 10.