Report: Mets ink Mark Canha to two-year, $26.5 million contract
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Report: Mets ink Mark Canha to two-year, $26.5 million contract
The Mets have an option for 2024 on the former A's outfielder
Following the reported procurement of infielder Eduardo Escobar Friday afternoon, the Mets landed more major league depth, agreeing to sign OF Mark Canha to a two-year, $26.5 million deal with a club option for 2024, according to multiple reports.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first to report the two sides were nearing an agreement.
Canha, who will be 33 on opening day, played in a career-high 141 games for the Oakland A’s in 2021, hitting .231/.358/.387 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI with 77 walks, was hit by a pitch a league-high 27 times, and had 128 strikeouts in 625 plate appearances. He was worth 2.6 fWAR, according to FanGraphs.
He had a 111 wRC+, the fourth straight year he has been above average by that metric while going 12-for-14 in stolen base attempts and, per FanGraphs, posted 2 base running runs above average (BsR), an important upgrade for a club which was 27th in MLB in BsR in 2021 with -13.5.
While he can play all three outfield positions, Canha did struggle defensively for Oakland in 2021 with -11 defensive runs saved in the outfield and -10 in left field, where he played 106 games. Canha figures to slot in as a fourth outfielder for the Mets, potentially serving as a replacement to Kevin Pillar.
In seven big league seasons, Canha has hit .244/.344/.431 with 89 home runs, 294 RBI and a 114 OPS+.