After Canada suffered an 8–0 thrashing at the hands of Team USA in the World Baseball Classic on Sunday to finish dead last in Pool C, manager Ernie Whitt vented his frustrations.
Whitt, who has led Team Canada in each of the tournament’s four iterations, likened Canada’s roster at the WBC to wielding a knife in a gun fight.
“I love all of these players, but when you look at our roster compared to the other rosters, it’s just a huge challenge, a huge challenge for us,” he said. “I just wish that those players would buy into it and do it.”
Whitt was referring to the lack of buy-in from a number of high-profile players who declined invitations to this year’s tournament—a list headlined by Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto.
But what would the Canadian team have looked like had more big-leaguers shown up, and what might it look like four years from now?
What might have been
Seattle Mariners starter James Paxton was one of several major-leaguers to decline a roster spot. Paxton posted an ERA of 3.79 across 20 starts last season with the M’s—and a FIP of 2.80. The native of Ladner, B.C., would have provided a huge boost to Team Canada’s rotation.
Votto cited aspects of his performance last season that he “decided were lacking” as his reason for declining an invite. “I would like to use 2017 spring training for preparation,” he said.
The Toronto native, who posted a FanGraphs WAR of 5 last season, would have anchored the team’s offence. Had he been in the lineup, Whitt could have used Freddie Freeman—who played for Canada to honour his late mother, a Peterborough native—as a DH.
Toronto Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin was set to suit up for Canada at this year’s WBC but had to back out for insurance reasons. The 34-year-old was expected to play shortstop, with Canadian Sean Jamieson having undergone shoulder surgery during the off-season. Veteran backstop George Kottaras took the job behind the plate.
Brett Lawrie, recently released by the Chicago White Sox, has been dealing with a recurring leg injury. Had he opted in, Lawrie could have slotted in at second base, with 24-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Eric Wood at third.
Michael Saunders, like Martin, was forced to withdraw from the event. The former Blue Jay was required to show up for camp with his new team, the Philadelphia Phillies.
What’s next
Because Canada finished dead-last in its group this year, its future at the next tournament is up in the air. The top two teams in each pool advance to the next round, while the third team is eliminated but earns automatic qualification to the next WBC. Canada’s last-place finish in Pool C means the team will need to compete in a qualifying round played in 2020.
Assuming Canada qualifies for the 2021 tournament, veterans like Votto, Martin and Freeman could show up, but a wave of young talent will (hopefully) have emerged since then. We opted to imagine a lineup made entirely of up-and-comers.
The biggest question mark here is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who gets in on a technicality. The Blue Jays prospect was born in Montreal but would more likely suit up for the Dominican Republic. Still, fans can dream.
Cal Quantrill, son of former major-league reliever Paul, was selected eighth overall by the San Diego Padres in the 2016 draft. The right-hander is projected to be a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter and could take the mound for Team Canada in 2021, when he’d be 26.
Andrew Yerzy, selected in the second round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016, could be the future team’s backstop, while Kellin Deglan, a first-rounder back in 2010 and likewise a catcher, could DH.
Padres prospect Josh Naylor, drafted 12th overall by the Miami Marlins in 2015, played in his first WBC this year and should emerge as a solid first-base option. Adam Hall, who is expected to be the top Canadian in this year’s draft, could be the shortstop of Team Canada’s future. With Hall’s promise in mind, we’ve opted to put Daniel Pinero, likewise a shortstop, at second base. The Toronto native was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the ninth round of the 2016 draft.
Canada’s outfield in 2021 might once again feature Dalton Pompey and Tyler O’Neill, a Seattle Mariners prospect who earned MVP honours in the double-A Southern League last year. Gather Morgan, another M’s prospect, was drafted 74th overall in 2014 and could join O’Neill and Pompey in the outfield.
If these up-and-coming players are going to suit up for Team Canada, though, some of them may need some persuading. Whitt, at least, knows that’s part of the task ahead.
“It’s our job to try and convince them to come,” he said.
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