ROTHENBURGER – No, the World Series was not a nation-building exercise

THE BLUE JAYS came ‘that close’ to winning the World Series. You’d think the future of Canada depended on them beating the Los Angeles Dodgers. So what will Canada do now?

Let’s consider the veracity of all the hype about the importance of the Blue Jays to national pride.

The loss in Game Seven is being universally described across the country as “devastating” “gut-wrenching” and “heart-breaking.” South of the border, of course, media couldn’t resist bringing politics into it.

‘Canadians Mourn a Loss by Underdogs Who Brought a Nation Together,’ read the headline in the New York Times, which followed up with the lead, “The Toronto Blue Jays, Canada’s only MLB team, were a salve for a country hit by Donald Trump’s threats and tariffs.”

Seriously? What did a baseball series between a couple of teams made up mostly of Americans have to do with tariffs?

The Blue Jays have only one Canadian on the roster — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The Dodgers have one as well, sort of, in the person of Freddie Freeman, who’s actually a dual Canada-U.S. citizen. Guerrero himself was born in Montreal but is a Dominican-Canadian citizen.

Indeed, the two teams, though dominated by U.S. players, are a mini United Nations of baseball. In addition to Americans and the lonely pair of Canadians, there are players from Venezuela, South Korea, Japan, Mexico, Cuba and Dominican Republic.

They come for the money. The Dodgers are often criticized for writing big cheques to build their team. Their active player payroll is $268.7 million, with a total payroll allocation of more than $350 million.

Their star, Shohei Otani, pulls in a cool $28.72 million a year, and he’ll continue to be guaranteed that amount through 2033. And he’s not even the highest paid member. Pitcher Tyler Glasnow takes home $32.5 million annually through 2027, and Mookie Betts rakes in $30.4 million a year through 2032.

But the Blue Jays are no cheapskates either. Guerrero Jr. made $28.8 million in U.S. dollars this year and will be bumped up to $40 million. Through 2039, when he’ll be 40 years old, the grand total will tip the scales at $500 million.

George Springer’s bank account will see a $24.17 million deposit this year (again in U.S. money), and starter Kevin Gausman $23 million. These spectacular salaries are at least partially offset by those on the lower end of the pay scale. Brilliant catcher Alejandro Kirk makes ‘only’ $4.6 million, though it will build to $12.2 million, while Ernie Clement — one of the big stars of the playoffs — made a modest $1.97 million in 2025.

So not to play down player loyalty, but the smell of money is the major motivator. That’s why Bo Bichette, who has said he’d rather stay in Toronto all things being equal, will nonetheless shop around as a free agent for the highest offer next year. His base salary with the Blue Jays this year is $16.5 million.

It’s no wonder tickets in the nosebleed section at Game Seven sold for $2,200, while a seat behind home plate went for $21,665.

However, despite the Big Business aspect of big league ball, we can’t discount the immense entertainment value of the Blue Jays-Dodgers clash. Millions were glued to all seven games on TV at home in addition to those who could afford seats in Dodger Stadium or Rogers Centre. Blue Jays were the talk of Canada everywhere from the day they made it into the playoffs.

And if not for a couple of really bad strategy decisions on the field, some shaky work by the bull pen, and many, many men left on base, the Jays could have taken the whole thing. With the likelihood of some major lineup changes, a chance may not come again for a long time.

Regardless, it was a series to remember, and the Jays did their franchise proud. Was it a Canada-U.S. matchup, or a Canada-Trump battle?

No, it wasn’t that. We’ll get over it, probably in a few days, and the nation will be none the worse for wear. But it was a lot of fun.

Mel Rothenburger is a former regular contributor to CFJC-TV and CBC radio, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Webster Foundation Commentator of the Year finalist. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.