Whicker: Beltran elected to Hall of Fame but difficult to separate him from Bonds
“You’re forgiven for being surprised when Carlos Beltran was elected to the Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
He piled up 2,725 hits during his 20 years, and hit 435 home runs, too. Seven times he scored 100 runs, and eight times he drove in 100. He won four Gold Gloves and was a prolific and high-percentage base-stealer.
But he led his league in nothing, except his 162-game perfect attendance year in 2002, and he was a Top-5 MVP vote-getter only twice. He was a compiler, sneaking up on those numbers, and that’s perfectly fine. A more complimentary term would be “grinder.” At the very least he was one of the better centre fielders of the last 30 years. Andruw Jones, a lesser one, also got elected. “
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Shushkewich: Hicks' strong rookie season with Marlins helps him land WBC roster spot
“Heading into the 2024-25 offseason, catcher Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) knew that a change of scenery could be on the horizon.
The former Toronto Mets and Arkansas State University backstop started the 2024 season with the Texas Rangers, playing alongside Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.) in double-A Frisco, but finished the campaign with the Detroit Tigers. Hicks and right-hander Tyler Owens were dealt at the trade deadline to the AL Central squad, with veteran backstop Carson Kelly heading to Texas in return. “
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BWDIK: Albers, Hicks, Lawrie, Martin, Raines, Timlin
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s weekly “But What Do I Know?” column discusses Russell Martin, Liam Hicks, Andrew Albers, Tim Raines, Brett Lawrie and Mike Timlin.
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Glew: Saunders returns to B.C., introduces Saundo Athletics
Michael Saunders has moved back to Victoria, B.C. and he recently announced that he’ll host four baseball camps there this summer as part of his new business called “Saundo Athletics.”
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National Baseball Hall of Fame's class of 2026 to be unveiled on Tuesday
The results of the 2026 Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s National Baseball Hall of Fame election will be exclusively announced on MLB Network on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. E.T.
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Whicker: Big-league teams handing out big contracts before CBA expires
“Those GoFundMe pages really work.
The destitute Pittsburgh Pirates kept reaching underneath sofa cushions until they found $29 million to give Ryan O’Hearn, over two years. O’Hearn is 32, has 84 home runs and is a lifetime .252 hitter. Then they traded for Brandon Lowe, who was a reliable infielder at Tampa Bay and will cost them $11.5 million in the last year of his deal. Lowe had 31 home runs last year and has a lifetime OPS of .807. Hey, it’s not Clemente and Stargell, but it’s an investment. It is hoped that owner Bob Nutting still has S&H Green Stamps left. “
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Glew: Paxton makes history at Rogers Centre again with Baseball Canada honour
“It seemed fitting for James Paxton to be inducted onto Baseball Canada’s Wall of Excellence at an awards banquet held at the Rogers Centre on Saturday night.
After all, it was in that building 2,804 days earlier that he made history when he tossed a no-hitter for the Seattle Mariners against the Toronto Blue Jays to become the only Canadian to throw a major league no-hitter in a Canadian ballpark.
It also seemed fitting that it was at the Rogers Centre that the Ladner, B.C., native confirmed that he’s coming out of retirement to pitch for Canada at the World Baseball Classic in March.”
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Wilson: McFarlane and the McGwire ball bonanza
“It was memorabilia mayhem.
Calgary-born Todd McFarlane was right in the middle of the collectible chaos and emerged with one of the most sought-after pieces of sporting history.
This is a story of a slugger, his incredible feat, and baseball fanaticism run amok. Only those with the fattest wallets were invited to this party, and the ensuing media attention grabbed more headlines than a celebrity scandal.
More simply, this is just a tale about a baseball. And yet, it is so much more than that.”
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Caissie traded to Marlins
The Chicago Cubs have traded prized outfield prospect Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) to the Miami Marlins as part of a package for right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera.
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Glew: 15 things you might not know about James Paxton
On Saturday, James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) will become the 14th member of Baseball Canada’s Wall of Excellence. Here are 15 things you might not know about him.
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ICYMI: Ned Colletti was a Jean Beliveau fan
Back in 2014, former Los Angeles Dodgers executive Ned Colletti shared with Bob Elliott why Jean Béliveau was his favourite athlete from any sport.
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BWDIK: Balazovic, Encarnacion, McRae, Morneau, Quantrill, Selkirk
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s weekly “But What Do I Know?” column discusses Justin Morneau, Edwin Encarnacion, George Selkirk, Cal Quantrill and Mike McRae.
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ICYMI - Antonacci: Trailblazing Canadian ball hall inductee Noga was truly in league of her own
Trailblazing former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player Arleene Noga (Ogema, Sask.) was born on this date in 1924. To pay tribute to her on what would be her 102nd birthday, we thought we would resurrect this article that J.P. Antonacci wrote about her posthumous induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame this past June.
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Glew: Remembering the Canadian baseball greats who died in 2025
As the end of 2025 approaches, let’s pause to remember some of the Canadian baseball greats who passed away this year.
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Glew: A (Steve) Christmas Story, plus holiday birthdays
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew shares a (Steve) Christmas story and highlights some former major leaguers born on December 25.
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Wilson: Campbell was a Calgary ace
Former Calgary Cannons ace Mike Campbell died on December 15 at the age of 61. Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, takes a look back at the right-hander’s career.
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Whicker: Trading Skubal doesn’t make sense for Tigers
“Alas, the headlines in Motown these days do not transmit that hope. They list all the ways that Tarik Skubal, their back-to-back Cy Young Award winner, should or should not be traded. Somehow the act of getting rid of your best player is seen as a path to progress, particularly when that player is the league’s best pitcher, and the best gate attraction for a franchise that has gone from 1.6 million fans to 1.8 to 2.4 in the past three years.”
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Phillies sign Pop
The Philadelphia Phillies have signed right-hander Zach Pop (Brampton, Ont.) to a major league contract.
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ICYMI - Fearless approach helped Ash rise through Jays ranks and into Canadian ball hall
It’s former Toronto Blue Jays GM Gord Ash’s 74th birthday today. Happy Birthday to him!
In his honour, we thought we’d rerun this article from when he was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.
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Toro signs with Royals
ABC alum Abraham Toro (Longueuil, Que.) has signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals.
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