How many Canadian teams are in MLB? Explaining Canada's history of pro baseball clubs before Blue Jays

JUMP TO:

• How many Canadian teams are in MLB?
• Why are the Blue Jays the only Canadian team?
• What happened to the Expos?
• Canadian MLB players

Baseball has a long history in Canada. While the country didn’t get an established Major League Baseball team until 1969, with the formation of the Montreal Expos, several minor league teams had existed beforehand.

After the Expos’ founding, another MLB expansion team arrived in Canada in 1977 with the Toronto Blue Jays. For over 20 years, Canada had two MLB teams, but the Expos faced financial difficulties in the early 2000s. There was even a vote by the owners to eliminate the team from the league, though the action never went through.

Ultimately, in 2005, the Expos officially left Montreal and became the Washington Nationals, leaving the Blue Jays as Canada’s lone MLB team.

Here’s a closer look at the history of MLB teams in Canada.

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How many Canadian teams are in MLB?

As of the 2025 season, there is only one MLB team located in Canada. The league has had several discussions about expansion, and two of the most popular city choices for an expansion team have been Vancouver and reinstating a franchise in Montreal. 

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Why are the Blue Jays the only Canadian team?

When Toronto received the Blue Jays, Montreal already had the Expos. The Expos eventually relocated and rebranded as the Washington Nationals, leaving the Blue Jays as Canada’s only MLB franchise. Since then, Major League Baseball hasn’t expanded, so there hasn’t been an opportunity to add a replacement Canadian team.

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What happened to the Expos?

MORE MLB: Complete history of the Blue Jays' playoff appearances

Canadian MLB players

There are several active players in the MLB who were born in Canada.