After spending $765 million on Juan Soto earlier this offseason, the New York Mets have made a more affordable move, signing free-agent starting pitcher Griffin Canning to a one-year, $4.25 million contract, with the potential for $1 million in incentives, as reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic on Wednesday.
Canning, 28, previously played five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, earning a Gold Glove Award in 2020. However, his career has been marred by setbacks, including a stress fracture in his back that sidelined him for the entire 2022 season.
Canning’s 2024 performance was also disappointing, finishing with a 6-13 record and a 5.19 ERA, along with a career-low 6.9 strikeouts per nine innings and an American League-leading 99 earned runs allowed. In October, he was traded by the Angels to the Atlanta Braves as part of the Jorge Soler deal, but the Braves non-tendered him shortly afterward, making him a free agent. Now, the Mets are taking a gamble on Canning, hoping to revive his career, particularly after missing out on another high-upside pitcher they had been considering.
