The New York Mets might have secured the services of the top free agent available in Juan Soto by awarding him a 15-year, $765 million contract that could potentially reach $805 million, yet their task this offseason to enhance the roster and elevate it to World Series heights is not yet complete. The pitching situation remains uncertain for the Mets, even after acquiring another former New York Yankees player, Clay Holmes. To address this, the Mets have opted to enlist starting pitcher Griffin Canning on a one-year agreement.
As reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Canning’s deal with the Mets is estimated at $4.25 million, with the potential to increase to a total of $5.25 million with potential incentives. Canning has thus far spent his entire MLB career with the Los Angeles Angels, showcasing fluctuating levels of performance.
The Mets view Canning as a potential project for revival, as he provided value for the Angels last season as a reliable innings eater, starting 31 games and throwing 171.2 innings. However, Canning lacks a consistent history of being a top-tier starter. In the previous season, he posted an ERA of 5.19, which was justified by his concerning underlying stats (his strikeout rate hit a career-low of 17.6 percent in 2024).
Nevertheless, the Mets must economize to complete the roster following their significant signing of Soto, particularly with the pending free agency of Sean Manaea and Pete Alonso. For now, Canning will suffice, though it is likely he won’t have a wide margin for error in the starting rotation.
Mets Secure Griffin Canning as Noteworthy Revival Project
Griffin Canning’s knack for eating up innings, despite missing the entire 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery, is noteworthy. At the very least, Canning could aid the Mets in preserving the rest of the team’s pitching staff, and possibly, New York’s pitching coaches can assist the former Angels starter in boosting his strikeout rate to pre-2024 levels.
Over his initial four seasons in the league, Canning’s strikeouts per nine innings ranged from 8.90 to 9.85, contributing to 1.8 WAR (according to Fangraphs) as recently as 2023. Given the Mets’ decision to sign him to an economical one-year deal, the risk in bringing in the 28-year-old is minimal to none.
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