How many Canadian MLB teams are there? A 2026 Fan Guide

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How Many Canadian MLB Teams Are There As of Early 2026?

You know what? It’s a question that sounds simple on paper, but if you ask any baseball fan from Halifax to Victoria, you’ll get a sigh before you get the answer. Technically, the answer is one. Just one. The Toronto Blue Jays stand alone as the only Major League Baseball franchise north of the border. But if you think that number tells the whole story, you’re missing the heart of the game up here.

Baseball in Canada isn’t just about a single roster; it’s a weird mix of pride, nostalgia, and a little bit of heartbreak. We’re currently sitting here in early 2026, still stinging from that World Series Game 7 loss to the Dodgers last October (yeah, I’m still not over it), and watching Bo Bichette pack his bags for the Mets this winter didn’t help the mood. But that’s the thing about baseball-it breaks your heart and you still come back for spring training.

So, while the official count is one, the spirit of the game is way bigger than a single stadium in Toronto. Let me walk you through why that “one” feels like a lot more, and why we haven’t stopped dreaming about making it two again.

The Blue Jays: Canada’s Team (Whether You Like It or Not)

Since the Montreal Expos left us in 2004, the Blue Jays have had to do some heavy lifting. They aren’t just Toronto’s team anymore; they are Canada’s team. You see it every summer when they head to Seattle to play the Mariners. The stadium gets flooded with folks coming down from British Columbia, turning T-Mobile Park into “Rogers Centre West.” It’s a sea of blue jerseys, and honestly, it’s a beautiful sight.

The Jays have given us some incredible highs. The back-to-back World Series titles in ’92 and ’93 are legendary. Joe Carter’s home run? That’s not just a baseball highlight; that’s a “where were you when” moment for an entire generation.

And look at where we are now. The 2025 season was a wild ride. We finally got back to the big dance. Watching Vladdy Jr. mash baseballs into the stratosphere all season felt like the good old days. Sure, falling short to Los Angeles in seven games was a gut punch, especially after leading the series, but it reminded the rest of the league that Canadian ball is serious business.

But it’s not always sunshine and dome-openings. Being the only team means the spotlight is intense. Every move the front office makes is dissected on sports radio from Winnipeg to St. John’s. When we lose a guy like Bichette in free agency, it feels like a national event, not just a roster change.

How Many Canadian MLB Teams Are There? The Expos Legacy

You can’t talk about Canadian baseball without pouring one out for the Montreal Expos.

If you ask a Montrealer, “How many Canadian MLB teams are there?”, they might tell you, “One, but there should be two.” The Expos were the first MLB team outside the US, joining the league in 1969. They were colorful, they were quirky, and man, they had some players. Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, Gary Carter, Vladimir Guerrero Sr.-these guys were icons.

The Expos didn’t just play baseball; they brought a different flavor to the league. The fans at Olympic Stadium (the “Big O”) were loud, passionate, and bilingual. There was nothing like hearing the announcer call out “Au bâton… Larry Walker!”

But the end was messy. The 1994 strike killed what was arguably the best team in baseball that year. Then came the ownership issues, the stadium crumbling (literally), and the eventual move to Washington, D.C. in 2005 to become the Nationals.

It left a hole. For years, you’d see folks wearing the tricolor Expos cap, not just as a fashion statement, but as a quiet protest. A way of saying, “We were here, and we mattered.”

Even now, over 20 years later, the ghost of the Expos hangs around. Every time there’s talk of expansion, Montreal is the first name on everyone’s lips. We miss the rivalry. A Jays-Expos World Series? That’s the dream we never got to see.

The “What If” of Expansion

Speaking of dreams, let’s talk about the future. Commissioner Rob Manfred has been dangling the expansion carrot for a while now. He knows the Toronto market is a juggernaut, but he also knows Canada is huge.

Montreal’s Case

The hunger is there. Pre-season games in Montreal have drawn massive crowds in recent years. We know the city can support a team – if they get a proper downtown stadium. The Olympic Stadium is a relic; nobody wants to watch baseball in a cavernous concrete bowl anymore. But if the money lines up and a venue gets built? Montreal is a no-brainer. It brings back a natural geographical rivalry and taps into a market that misses its team desperately.

How Many Canadian MLB Teams Are There

Vancouver’s Long Shot

Then there’s the West Coast. Vancouver gets mentioned now and then. It makes sense on paper-great city, a huge population, and existing rivalry with Seattle. But let’s be real for a second: the stadium situation there is tricky. BC Place isn’t ideal for baseball, and finding land in Vancouver to build a ballpark? You’d need a budget that rivals a small country’s GDP. Still, the idea of a “Vancouver vs. Toronto” showdown is enough to get any Canadian sports fan excited.

How Many Canadian MLB Teams are There? Future Expansion Chances

When we ask “How many Canadian MLB teams are there?” in five or ten years, could the answer change? Maybe.

Feature	Toronto Blue Jays	Montreal Expos
Years Active	1977 – Present	1969 – 2004
Best Result	World Series Champions (1992, 1993)	Best Record in MLB (1994 – Cancelled)
Iconic Home	Rogers Centre (SkyDome)	Olympic Stadium
Key vibe	National Powerhouse	Scrappy, Beloved Underdogs
Current Status	2025 AL Champions (Runner-up)	Relocated to Washington (Nationals)

It’s clear that while we only have one team right now, the footprint of two teams is still visible. The history books-and the fans-haven’t forgotten.

The Canadian Player Pipeline

Even with just one club, the number of Canadians playing in the majors is something to brag about. The 2024 and 2025 seasons saw a surge of talent from the Great White North.

We aren’t just sending pitchers anymore. We have sluggers:

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: Born in Montreal, plays in Toronto. He is the bridge between the two franchises.
The Naylor Brothers: Josh and Bo Naylor have been tearing it up. Mississaugas finest.
Tyler O’Neill: The muscle from British Columbia.

It’s cool to see. Kids watching the Jays today aren’t just seeing American stars; they’re seeing guys who grew up playing on the same frozen fields they did. It makes the “one team” thing sting a little less when you realize the league is peppered with Canadian flags.

Life as a Fan of the “Only” Team

Being a Jays fan in Canada is a unique experience. It’s a massive community. When you walk into a bar in Calgary and the Jays game is on, you have instant friends.

But there’s a catch.

Since Rogers Sportsnet broadcasts the games nationally, we all watch the same feed. We all hear the same commentary. We all suffer through the same slumps together. It creates a weirdly unified national mood. When the bullpen blows a lead, the whole country groans at the same time.

And let’s be honest, the travel schedule is brutal for the fans who want to see a game live. If you live in Regina, going to a home game is a vacation, not a Tuesday night outing. That’s why those road trips to Minneapolis or Seattle are so popular. We invade other stadiums because our own is a four-hour flight away.

The Minor League heartbeat

While we focus on the big leagues, don’t sleep on the minors. The Vancouver Canadians (High-A affiliate of the Jays) play at Nat Bailey Stadium, and let me tell you, that is baseball heaven. It’s small, it’s intimate, and the sushi race in the middle of the inning is peak Vancouver.

These teams keep the game alive at the grassroots level. They remind us that you don’t need 40,000 seats to have a good time at the ballpark. You just need a hot dog, a cold beer, and a sunny afternoon.

Why Do We Need More?

Look, having the Blue Jays is great. They represent us well. But competition is healthy.

Imagine a “Battle of Canada” series that actually counts. Not just Spring Training exhibitions, but a pennant race. Imagine the banter. Imagine the road trips. It would energize the sport in a way that nothing else could.

We saw a glimpse of that passion during the 2025 playoffs. The streets were buzzing. But imagine if Montreal had been in the mix? The intensity would have been off the charts.

Here is why a second team matters:

Regional Pride: The West hates relying on Toronto for sports news. A western team (or a reborn eastern rival) balances the map.
Grow the Game: More local games mean more kids seeing pros in person.
Rivalries: Sports are boring without someone to hate (affectionately).

The Reality of 2026

So here we are. It’s 2026. The snow is on the ground, and we are waiting for pitchers and catchers to report. We have one team. One glorious, frustrating, exciting team.

We are proud of them. We wear the blue with pride. But if you catch us staring wistfully at old clips of Pedro Martinez in an Expos uniform, or reading rumors about expansion fees, don’t blame us. We are a baseball nation, and we have plenty of room for more.

The Blue Jays carry the torch, and they do a good job. But hopefully, one day, they won’t have to carry it alone.

FAQ

Is there any chance the Expos come back soon?

Honestly? It’s a toss-up. Manfred talks about it, and the money guys in Montreal are keen, but until shovels hit the ground for a new stadium, don’t hold your breath.

Why did the Expos leave in the first place?

A mix of bad ownership, a terrible stadium, and the ’94 strike killed their buzz. It was a perfect storm of bad luck and bad decisions.

Are the Blue Jays popular outside of Toronto?

Big time. They are basically the “Team Canada” of baseball. You see Jays hats in every province, from the Rockies to the Maritimes.

Who is the best Canadian player right now?

Vladdy Jr. is the face of it, even though he plays for the Jays. But keep an eye on the Naylor brothers; they bring that intense energy every game.

Can I see MLB games in Vancouver?

Only on TV, buddy. But the Vancouver Canadians (minor league) play at “The Nat,” and the vibe there is arguably better than some big league parks.

Did the Blue Jays actually win the World Series recently?

They got painfully close in 2025. Lost in Game 7 to the Dodgers. It still hurts to talk about it, so let’s move on.

How many Canadians are on the Blue Jays roster?

It fluctuates, but usually a handful. Having Vladdy (Montreal-born) and Jordan Romano (Markham boy) in recent years kept the local connection strong.

Final Thoughts

So, how many Canadian MLB teams are there? One. But that one team carries the hopes of 40 million people. And hey, maybe by the time you read this in a few years, that number will finally change. Until then, Go Jays.