But What Do I Know? … Joey Votto, Gary Carter, Bob Forsch

My weekly opinions, observations and rants about some Canadian baseball stories (Please follow me on Twitter: @kevinglewsports):

 They’re definitely not the Montreal Expos anymore. The deep-pocketed Washington Nationals have been linked to almost every big name free agent this season. The team reportedly has interest in Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Roy Oswalt and Mark Buerhle among others.

 Speaking of the Montreal Expos, Dan Duquette, the club’s GM from 1991 to 1994, will reportedly be the new general manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Duquette, who hasn’t been a big league executive since 2001, traded for Pedro Martinez twice during his GM stints with the Expos and Red Sox. Maybe he can talk the future Hall of Famer out of retirement?

 Sending positive vibes to former Expo Gary Carter who’s receiving treatment for brain cancer. For regular updates on The Kid, you can follow his daughter’s blog here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/TheKid8

 Sad to hear that former Cards right-hander Bob Forsch died suddenly on Thursday from an apparent heart attack, less than a week after he threw out the first pitch in Game 7 of the World Series. He was 61. Expos fans might remember Forsch for the no-hitter he tossed against Montreal on September 26, 1983. The only baserunner that Forsch permitted that game was Gary Carter. The Expos catcher was hit with a pitch in the second inning.

 Condolences to former Expos manager Felipe Alou on the death of his brother Matty on Thursday. In 1,667 career games, Matty Alou recorded 1,777 hits and batted .307. In 1966, he won the National League batting title when he hit .342, it was the first of four consecutive seasons in which he hit .330 or better. Alou was 72 and died from complications from diabetes.

 Three Canadian starting pitchers – Erik Bedard, Jeff Francis and Rich Harden – are free agents this off-season and the Toronto Blue Jays should have some interest in each of them.

 Two decent starting pitchers reportedly available via trade are Braves right-hander Jair Jurrjens and Giants lefty Jonathan Sanchez. Both are the kind of inexpensive, relatively young players that Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos often covets.

 The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame will announce the winner of its annual Tip O’Neill Award for the top Canadian big leaguer in the coming weeks. It looks to be a two-horse between Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) and John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.). Who would get your vote?