Report: Mets sign RHP Griffin Canning to a one-year, $4.25 million contract
Canning figures to serve as depth for the back of the Mets rotation in 2024
The Mets shored up their starting pitching depth on Wednesday, agreeing to sign RHP Griffin Canning to a one-year, $4.25 million contract.
The deal, as first reported by The Athletic, is pending a physical.
Canning, who will turn 29 in May, went 6-13 with a 5.19 ERA in 32 games, 31 starts in 2024 for the Angels. He allowed an American League high 99 earned runs while allowing 31 home runs and 66 walks with 130 strikeouts in 171.2 IP last season.
He was recently acquired by Atlanta for Jorge Soler, who non-tendered him in November. He has a 4.78 ERA over five big league seasons with the Angels with a 92 ERA+, below the major league average for pitchers (100).
Canning will join a pool of questionable starting pitchers who have major league contracts for 2025, including Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Frankie Montas, Clay Holmes, Griffin Canning, Paul Blackburn, and Tylor Megill.
The Mets remain in need for a frontline starting pitcher in what is expected to be a six-man rotation in 2025, and have reportedly been linked to Sean Manaea, Walker Buehler, Rōki Sasaki, and Jack Flaherty to fill that need.
Big Sean is the key. That would give us Senga, Manaea, Montas, Pederson and Holmes, with Megill, Blackburn, Butto and whomever sticks out of the reclamation products to claim the last spot. Or those tail end guys can serve as a mini rotation between the six hole and long relief as well as insurance in case Holmes or Montas don't work out. (For the record, I think they will.)
In any event, it's clear David is stocking up on affordable arms with big league experience and decent stuff who just haven't been able to put it together consistently. It means putting a lot of faith in Hef and the Pitching Lab -- great name for a hipster band -- but their track record is pretty good.
My son’s name is Griffin so I’m happy we have a Griffin on the team! Unfortunately my son might be a better pitcher 🤦🏼♂️