Shushkewich: A look at Canadian free agents heading into MLB offseason
Calgary Redbirds and Junior National Team grad Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) had a strong season with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026. The D-Backs and Soroka have a mutual $10-million option for 2027.
October 28, 2026
By Tyson Shushkewich
Canadian Baseball Network
The World Series is nearing its conclusion, and the 2026–27 MLB offseason is just days away.
However, this winter’s free-agent market comes with an added layer of uncertainty: the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is set to expire in early December, raising the possibility of a lockout that could disrupt offseason activity.
For Toronto Blue Jays fans, several familiar faces are expected to hit the free-agent market, including George Springer, Shane Bieber, Yimi García and Max Scherzer. Kevin Gausman and Daulton Varsho, both of whom were traded by Toronto this past summer, are also among the notable names to watch.
From a Canadian perspective, however, several questions remain regarding which players will reach free agency, as club and mutual options could determine the next steps for a number of Canadian-born/connected players.
Nick Pivetta – RHP
Status: Club option — San Diego Padres
Victoria, B.C., native Nick Pivetta missed a significant portion of the 2026 campaign because of an elbow injury, limiting him to just eight regular-season starts and 34 2/3 innings.
When healthy, however, the right-hander showed just how effective he can be. Pivetta allowed 11 earned runs while striking out 42 batters, finishing the regular season with a 2.86 ERA. He also made two postseason starts for San Diego, surrendering just three earned runs over 7⅔ innings.
This offseason, the Padres must decide whether to exercise Pivetta’s $14-million club option for the 2027 season. The option was originally structured as a player option but converted into a club option after the veteran spent more than 130 days on the injured list this past season.
Since joining San Diego, Pivetta has delivered impressive results. Across 39 starts, he has recorded a 2.87 ERA and a 3.29 FIP over 216⅓ innings while striking out 9.7 batters per nine innings.
Provided there are no lingering concerns about his elbow, exercising the option appears to be a straightforwarer could be worth the investment as San Diego looks to remain competitive. d decision for the Padres. Pivetta has demonstrated that he can be a valuable piece of the rotation, and retaining a proven start
Cal Quantrill – RHP
Status: Free agent
After finishing the 2025 season with the Texas Rangers, right-hander Cal Quantrill elected to return to the organization on another minor-league contract.
He did not begin the 2026 campaign on the major-league roster but was called up on April 15 and remained with the club for the rest of the season.
Moving between the rotation and bullpen, Quantrill found his footing in Texas. He appeared in 32 games, including 15 starts, and allowed just 35 earned runs over 110 innings, finishing with a 2.86 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP.
Opponents hit just .218 against him, while his walk rate improved to an impressive 2.0 BB/9. The right-hander's versatility and ability to limit baserunners made him a useful option for the Rangers, although a right lat strain landed him on the injured list to close out the campaign.
Quantrill enters the offseason in a similar position to Romano, but his stronger results and younger age could work in his favour.
The right-hander could attract interest from teams looking for an experienced starter who can also provide relief innings when needed. A short-term contract in the $1-million-to-$3-million range could be a possibility, although his final market will depend on his health and the level of interest from other clubs.
A reunion with Texas also makes sense. The Rangers gave Quantrill an opportunity to rebuild his value, and he responded with one of his more effective campaigns in recent years. With that relationship already established, another short-term agreement could benefit both sides.
Jordan Romano – RHP
Status: Free agent
Markham, Ont., native Jordan Romano experienced a turbulent 2026 season, one that saw him move from a major-league contract to a minor-league deal before finding a measure of stability in Colorado.
Romano signed a one-year, $2-million contract with the Los Angeles Angels before the season. However, his tenure in Anaheim was short-lived. After blowing four saves and posting a 10.13 ERA over eight innings, he was designated for assignment in late April.
The right-hander subsequently signed a minor-league deal with the Colorado Rockies. After making nine appearances in triple-A, he earned a call-up to the major leagues and finished the season in Colorado's bullpen.
Romano was considerably more effective with the Rockies, recording a 4.21 ERA over 25⅔ innings while converting 11 of 14 save opportunities.
Although his season got off to a disastrous start in Los Angeles, the former Blue Jays closer showed enough in Colorado to attract interest this winter. His late-season improvement and experience in high-leverage situations could appeal to teams seeking bullpen depth without committing significant money.
A minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training could be a realistic starting point for Romano, though a team looking for an experienced closer willing to accept a short-term deal could provide another opportunity.
After a difficult year, the 33-year-old will be looking to prove that his struggles in Los Angeles were an outlier rather than a sign of things to come.
Michael Soroka – RHP
Status: Mutual option — Arizona Diamondbacks
Michael Soroka was looking for a change of scenery, and he appears to have found one in the desert.
The Calgary, Alta., native has faced an uphill battle throughout his career, with injuries disrupting his development after a promising start with the Atlanta Braves. After struggling to establish himself in several different rotations, Soroka found a more consistent role with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Across 22 appearances, including 21 starts, he posted a 3.41 ERA, a 3.19 FIP and a 1.086 WHIP over 116 innings. It was his highest innings total since his sophomore campaign in 2019. Soroka also allowed just 44 earned runs and recorded an impressive 7.5 hits per nine innings.
The right-hander signed a two-year contract with Arizona that includes a mutual option for 2027. If both sides exercise the option, Soroka would earn $10 million next season, with a $1-million buyout attached to the decision.
This situation is more difficult to predict.
Soroka showed that he can still be an effective starter, but he also missed time on the injured list, leaving some questions about his long-term durability. The Diamondbacks must weigh the value of retaining a productive arm against the financial commitment and the risk of another injury-shortened season.
Soroka, meanwhile, could test the market in search of a more lucrative deal, particularly if teams believe his 2026 performance signals a return to form that made him a promising name to watch in the Braves’ rotation. With the possibility of a lockout looming, however, the security of another season in Arizona could be appealing.
Both paths carry risk, making this one of the more intriguing option decisions involving a Canadian player this winter.
Jameson Taillon – RHP
Status: Free agent
After signing a four-year contract with the Chicago Cubs during the 2022–23 offseason, right-hander Jameson Taillon was hoping to finish his deal on a high note. Instead, the Lakeland, Fla., native endured a difficult season, posting a 5.92 ERA through 15 starts before a strained hamstring further complicated matters.
The Cubs eventually designated Taillon for assignment before trading him to the Blue Jays.
Taillon made three appearances with Toronto, allowing just four earned runs over 10 innings. However, he once again landed on the injured list and is now preparing to undergo elbow surgery for the third time in his career.
The goal is to get the veteran right-hander healthy enough to return to the mound, as Taillon has made it clear that he is not ready to call it a career just yet.
Should a lockout occur this winter, the extended period of inactivity could offer Taillon additional time to recover from surgery and work his way back into throwing shape. While the uncertainty surrounding his health will likely limit his market, a successful rehabilitation could give him another opportunity to establish himself at the major-league level.
Across 10 MLB seasons, Taillon owns a career 3.99 ERA and a 4.18 FIP over 1,323 innings.
Rowan Wick – RHP
Status: Club option — San Francisco Giants
Since 2024, right-hander Rowan Wick has pitched overseas with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league.
Wick (North Vancouver, B.C.) established himself as one of the club's top relievers in 2025, appearing in 40 games and posting a 4–1 record with an outstanding 0.84 ERA. He struck out 49 batters, recorded five saves and finished the season with a 0.844 WHIP and a 10.3 strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate.
The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in November 2025 before signing a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants in February. The deal included a club option for the 2027 season.
The arrangement gave San Francisco a relatively low-cost opportunity to retain Wick's services while accounting for his expected absence during the 2026 campaign. The Giants could also place him on the 60-day injured list to open a spot on the 40-man roster while he recovered.
Wick's club option is worth $800,000, with a $100,000 buyout if the Giants decide to move on. He did not pitch in affiliated baseball during the 2026 season.
Given the modest financial commitment, the decision could come down to how the organization views Wick's recovery and his potential contribution to the bullpen in 2027. If his rehabilitation progresses as hoped, retaining him could offer the Giants an inexpensive opportunity to add bullpen depth without making a significant investment in free agency.