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Freddie Freeman and Jordan Romano withdraw from Canada’s WBC team
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Photo credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Ryley Delaney
Jan 11, 2026, 08:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 11, 2026, 05:54 EST
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Team Canada will be without one of their best hitters at the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
On Saturday evening, Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reported that Freddie Freeman has withdrawn from the tournament due to personal reasons, as has former Toronto Blue Jay Jordan Romano.
Freeman played for Canada in both the 2017 and 2023 tournaments. In 2023, the first baseman slashed .200/.273/.200 with an RBI in 10 at-bats over three games. He also struggled in his three games in 2017, slashing just .182/.182/.182.
Still, it’s a big blow to Team Canada, as he’s one of their better players. With the Los Angeles Dodgers, Freeman has won back-to-back World Series, and slashed .295/.367/.502 with 24 home runs in 627 plate appearances in 2025.  For his entire big league career, Freeman is slashing .300/.386/.511 with 367 home runs in 9,363 plate appearances for a 141 wRC+ and 64.8 fWAR. It’s not a hot take to say he’ll be heading to the Hall of Fame.
Romano isn’t the dominant closer he once was. After injuries and poor performance derailed his 2024 season, the Markham, Ontario native was non-tendered during the 2024/25 off-season. The right-handed pitcher played the entire 2025 season with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he had an 8.23 ERA and 5.39 FIP in 42.2 innings pitched. 
His strikeout rate has declined quite a bit over the past two years, dropping from 29% in 2023 to 21% in 2024, and back up to 25.1% in 2025. Romano signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels earlier this off-season.
Recently, Gate 14’s Johnny Giunta reported that James Taillon will play for Team Canada, improving an already solid bullpen. Their entire team is yet to be announced, but former Blue Jay Otto López is expected to play for them.
Team Canada is in a group with Puerto Rico, Panama, Cuba, and Colombia, with their games being played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Their first matchup is against Colombia on Mar. 7, with their final game coming on Mar. 11.
If you enjoy international sports, there’s a whole lot of notable tournaments in 2026. In February, National Hockey League players return to the Olympics, just a month before the WBC. A few months after the WBC, Canada will make just their third appearance in World Cup history.
Buckle up, it’s going to be a fun year.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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