The Mets continue to bolster their position player mix, announcing agreement Tuesday with free agent outfielder Mark Canha. It’s reportedly a two-year, $26.5MM guarantee for the CAA Sports client. The deal also contains a 2024 club option. A Bay Area native, Canha had previously spent his entire big league career with the A’s.
Canha’s contract will see him collect $12MM in 2022 along with a $2MM signing bonus and then $10.5MM in 2023. The 2024 club option is valued at $11.5MM and has a $2MM buyout attached.
Canha becomes the second big addition of the day for the Mets, who also agreed to terms with infielder Eduardo Escobar on a two-year guarantee this afternoon. Canha will step into the club’s outfield mix, with the bulk of that time presumably coming in the corners. While he has experience in all three outfield spots, he’s never rated highly as a center fielder and has logged the plurality of his career innings in left field.
Public metrics like Statcast’s Outs Above Average and Defensive Runs Saved have been mixed on Canha’s corner outfield work over the past few seasons. There’s little question about his bat, though, as Canha has been an above-average hitter in each of the past four years by measure of wRC+.
Since the start of the 2019 season, the Berkeley product owns a .249/.377/.438 line over 1365 plate appearances. While he doesn’t have an eye-catching batting average, the right-handed hitter has walked in a fantastic 13.3% of his trips to the dish. That’s the 14th-highest rate among the 159 players with 1000+ plate appearances in that time. As a result, Canha’s on-base percentage is nearly sixty points higher than the league-wide mark over that span.
That ability to reach base may be Canha’s only standout skill, but it’s a highly valuable one for a Mets’ club that ranked sixteenth with a .321 mark this past season (excluding pitchers). And while Canha may not be elite at anything else, he’s a generally solid all-around player. His strikeout rates over the past few years have typically been a bit lower than the league marks. He owns a .189 ISO (slugging percentage minus batting average) since the start of 2019, which is slightly above par. Canha has done all that in one of the game’s more pitcher-friendly home environments, and his overall offense over the past three seasons checks in 29 percentage points above league average after accounting for park effects.
Canha was off to an especially promising start in 2021. In 325 plate appearances through June 25, he hit .255/.375/.450 with 11 homers. He suffered a left hip strain that landed him on the injured list at that point, an injury from which he didn’t seem to fully recover. While Canha returned in mid-July, he slumped to a .206/.340/.319 line over his final 300 plate appearances. A glance at his batted ball metrics seems to support that narrative. Canha’s average exit velocity before his IL stint sat at a solid 89 MPH; over his final few months, that mark dropped to 85.5 MPH.
The Mets are clearly of the belief that Canha’s power and overall offensive output will return to peak levels after an offseason to recover. His reported $13.25MM average annual value comes in a touch higher than MLBTR’s two-year, $24MM projected guarantee. Still, it’s a reasonable price for a player of Canha’s caliber and the Mets aren’t taking on much long-term risk. Canha turns 33 years old in February, capping the length of offers teams were willing to put forth.
Canha joins Brandon Nimmo as locks for regular playing time in the New York outfield next season. The Mets have various others who could play their way into the mix. Jeff McNeil and J.D. Davis could get bumped from a crowded infield mix into outfield work, while Dominic Smith, Khalil Lee and recent big league signee Nick Plummer could also see action. Still, there are enough moving parts that new GM Billy Eppler and his staff could continue to look for upgrades. Jon Heyman of the MLB Network tweets that New York still isn’t ruling themselves out of the market for free agent center fielder Starling Marte, for instance.
The specific breakdown of Canha’s deal has yet to be reported, but it’s likely to be another fairly significant addition to the Mets’ 2022 books. If both the Escobar and Canha deals were paid out evenly over the next two seasons, New York’s 2022 payroll would be pushing $207MM in the estimation of Jason Martinez of Roster Resource. The Mets’ estimated luxury tax commitments, meanwhile, are now up around $210MM (both figures including projected salaries for arbitration-eligible players).
It’s not entirely clear how far owner Steve Cohen is willing to push payroll, but it seem very likely they’ll at least be above this past season’s $195MM mark. Both Cohen and Eppler have talked about having ample financial flexibility, and the Mets remain on the hunt for additions to a rotation that has already lost Noah Syndergaard and could see Marcus Stroman depart. It’s already been an active first few days for Eppler in Queens, and it seems likely the Mets will continue to be busy as they try to snap a five-year playoff drought.
As for Canha’s former club, the A’s never seemed especially likely to make a strong run at bringing him back. Oakland is expected to conduct a significant roster overhaul this winter, with ownership seemingly mandating a drastic reduction in payroll. The A’s didn’t make Canha an $18.4MM qualifying offer, and shelling out a multi-year deal at an eight-figure annual salary would’ve registered as a major surprise.
Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported the Mets and Canha were nearing an agreement. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported a two-year, $26.5MM guarantee had been agreed upon. Sherman also reported the presence of a 2024 option, which Jon Heyman of the MLB Network specified was a club option. MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reported the salary breakdown of Canha’s contract.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Mets making moves!
Yeah. This move makes a lot more sense to me than the Escobar move. Unless the Mets infield will start the season as is? This puts the Mets at more than $208M. They must be planning to shatter the luxury tax to make any more big additions. If they sign long term contracts they must be planning to give up draft picks in the future so they can keep the payroll up. Cano will be gone in a couple seasons so that will give them some room.
When you build a roster like the Mets are doing you have to build a roster knowing that you will have players get Covid and they will be down for 10 days. That’s why you have these players that can play multiple positions
Covid won’t be an issue next year Karen
Covid is going to continue to be an issue for the foreseeable future. Read the news, Karen.
Covid is not going to be an issue until immunized rate is 90%. Do you think the US reaches that next year? If yes, then cool. It could go either way really.
Oh my God, calling somebody “Karen” has got to be the most infantile trend ever.
Wow, went from 70 ton 80, now 90%. Easy work being a “scientist” these days, you can basically be wrong about everything yet just keep moving the goal posts until you’re eventually right. Science is real guys.
That is how science works – for something to be scientific it has to be falsifiable. You’d rather scientists just stick to their original hypotheses even when new evidence suggests otherwise? Way to out yourself as a fool on the internet.
@A’sfaninUK. As both an environmental scientist with Pre-Med biology coursework from a major (Big Ten) university and currently working as both a Deputy Medical Examiner and Deputy Coroner I have some bad news for you my friend; the jab does not provide sterilizing immunity. AT BEST all it does is give “effective immunity” for the person receiving the jab so 1) one can be jabbed and still die from COVID (Colin Powell, Marc Pilcher, and numerous other examples) AND 2) one can be jabbed and be asymptomatic but still carry the virus, therefore infecting others. The jab is NOT the panacea so many people want it to be.
Who invited an A’s fan from the sorry UK into this chat? Worry about your royal family, not American Baseball.
Duned-
I’m confused, how is what you described different than what the vaccines have been presented as?
@CalcetinesBlancos –
Before I can really answer your question I need you to clarify your question to include WHO is doing the “presenting” in your scenario. Are you talking about the pharmaceutical companies who produce the vaccines, the government, the medical community, average joe on the street, etc.? I ask because it seems many of those do not agree.
Kodiak920: The key word in your post is “read”. I think you overestimate some of these commentators.
No doubt you’ve done the research Mr. Collings.
Okay Karen
Ooh big shot premed from a B1G university. So he claims. Which could mean he’s at Nebraska, and not Northwestern, Michigan or Wisconsin
There isn’t a covid vaccine. It’s a shot. The def of a vaccine is immunity from the virus the vaccine is for. The covid shot doesn’t make you immune or prevent you from getting/transferring the virus. It’s all a shame and false sense of hope.
Your comment makes you sound like the idiot you probably are
Guess some folks in here are the type that gets a flu SHOT every year and swear they’re immunized from every strain of flu yearly.
The rest of us who read and gather info might realize that shots are immunization for one strain of the virus, but not the virus itself.
Big Pharma loves the jab$.
Duned-
You people are exhausting and my patience for you has worn really thin. Honestly, I really hope for your sake that you are one of these Russian or Chinese paid trolls tasked with spreading BS and anger on the internet. If not, I really don’t understand what you are trying to accomplish here. Maybe you are just bored and angry.
I asked a simple question that should be easy to answer in which I asked you to explain what the hell you were talking about, but instead of giving an answer you respond with some rambling nonsensical BS that tries to put the burden on me. Your answer includes asking that I try to surmise what the “average joe” thinks. Well, thanks to people like you spreading BS, that could literally be anything these days. But I wouldn’t recommend taking medical advice from your ranting uncle. Hopefully you’re aware of this.
As for the rest of the groups you mentioned, their message has been consistent the entire time. So again:
How is what you described different than what the vaccines have been presented as?
Dumbest post ever
@CalcetinesBlancos –
You rant and throw a tantrum because I simply asked for clarification for your poorly worded question, then repeat your question with the same error. You asked “How is what you described different than what the vaccines have been presented as?”. I again ask ,”Presented by who?”! You didn’t answer the question. The “vaccines” are “presented” as different things by different people. Every Tom, Dick, & Harry has an opinion, as is obvious on this thread. I cannot read your puerile mind. How hard is it for you to simply clarify your question? Again, who is doing the “presenting” in your scenario?
Luckily you don’t have to read my mind; you can just respond to what I said.
But I actually think you’re better off not trying to defend your initial BS, so on second thought just stay silent like you seem to prefer doing.
@Dunedin Let’s pretend all of the “groups” mentioned is doing the “presenting”
What’s your answer for each group?
Massive overpay for Can(t)a!!!
I haven’t kept up on Cahna’s stats too much until I read this article. He seems like a .250 BA/.800 OPS guy. He kind of looks like a poor man’s Adam Duvall. I know they are different. Cahna has a higher average and OBP but they still aren’t very good. Forgive me if I prefer Duavll’s Gold Glove defense and all 40ish of those pretty home runs he hits over Cahna’s .250 average and higher OBP. Duvall’s slugging percentage is so much better that it makes their OPS equal. I’ll take the gold glove defense combined with all that home run power every time. This is what I don’t get. Duvall is projected to make $9M if the Braves tender him arbitration. Some people say that’s too much and the Braves should non-tender him. If that’s the case then how is Cahna worth over $13M a year on a multi year deal? Cahna is older, doesn’t hit for nearly as much power and isn’t even close with the glove. But he’s worth almost 50% more because his OBP is high enough to make their OPS very similar?
When it comes to OPS, one OBP point is more valuable than one SLG point.
That aside, you already outlined the major reason for the difference: one is a free agent, and the other is not. That’s it. That’s the big difference.
You forgot the one important stat. Availability. Duvall (a former 27-yo rookie) was screwed by the system. That said, Duvall isn’t as good as you think. His OBP isn’t just worse than Cahna’s. It is far worse. Duvall’s Whiff is in the 21st percentile, his Chase rate is in the 11th percentile, his BB rate 15th percentile, and his K rate 4th percentile. Horrible metrics. Instead of trying to look a gift horse in the mouth, think of Cahna as a major improvement over Dominic Smith (offense and defense). This is a good signing for the Mets.
But he’s a gold glover on D… laughs in Lourdes
I know longer understand this club or the moves they make. And I thought meth was only smoked in Polk County, Fl.
Very underrated player good obp guy.
He’s a great all around hitter, a consistent middle of the order producer in our super pitcher friendly park. My only complaint is sometimes he takes forever between pitches, adjusting his gloves and going for little walks. I’m sure it makes him a better hitter but man is it boring to watch.
All around great hitter?? Wow I guess averaging 12 HR’s a year and 40 RBI’s get you HOF votes.
you are so dumb to make that leap smh
HOF votes? So, Yep, you just respond to whatever you want, not what was actually said? What nonsense.
Those averages per 162 are 24 and 70, with an OBP of .366 since becoming a regular player in 2018. Yes, those are good numbers. No, you don’t gain anything in this argument by pointing out that he’s not a Hall of Famer.
Case, I completely agree. Canha is the most annoying hitter to watch. He follows the same little routine between every pitch. But he has crazy good on-base skills.
JD Davis and Dom Smith are all but gone eh?
Davis, maybe. Smith if the NL has the DH could still be a factor.
McNeil in LF, Nimmo in CF, Canha in RF would be my guess as of right now. Though Smith could play LF, McNeil 2B, and Cano DH if the NL has one
I think McNeil and Davis are gone. They will sign a legit CF. Nimmo goes to LF.
They might trade for Kiermaier too.
What “legit CF”? Marte is the only one available, can’t just conjure one out of thin air.
Where are McNeil and Davis going? A trade? You’d be selling McNeil at his lowest value, imo. Not sure Davis would bring back a whole lot considering his injuries this past year, either.
I saw a comment here that McNeil messed up by trying to hit with power. Isn’t that what Cohen tweeted should be done?
THIS is the problem – quality organizations put players in a position to succeed. JD Davis cannot succeed anywhere playing defense. Dom Smith is a decent 1B, he has neither the speed nor arm to play the OF – especially in a large home park. Cano at best can play 1B. Alonso can’t play 1B. Nimmo learned to play CF – which will shorten his career; he’s a quality LF. McCann is a platoon C – he can’t catch 60% of a teams innings.
I could go on and on. The Mets have been using players wrong for years, and this administration is carrying on the tradition.
Yankees the same.
Samuel, THIS I agree with (except about Alonso, I think he’s ok at 1B). Good assessment.
Seems that way
I don’t see this move effecting Davis or Smith at all. Don’t see why it would.
They don’t have 1/10 th the trade value Mets fans seem to want to believe they do
Not directly but it’s somewhat unlikely that both make it through though I guess as of right now if they signed absolutely no one then they’d still be playing cano, JD, McNeil, and smith every day at least until vientos comes up
Mets tryna bring all the 32 year old players in lol
Regardless both Escobar and Canha are solid signings.
This is a good one
Jed Lowrie deal all over again
Why do you think Canha will be a brittle injured player like Lowrie was with the Mets?
Yea, absolutely no reason to think that.
OBP doesn’t age which equals good move
13m per year is pretty steep but you’re paying premium for OBP
It ages, but slower. Eyes still diminish and bat speed still reduces.
Yes….doesn’t age as much as other things, and only slightly
and we get to see Canha outside of the pitcher-friendly ALW. I think he might have 30+ HR power away from the more pitcher friendly parks (LAA/SEA/OAK) in that div.
Citifield is extremely pitcher friendly.
Friendly, not extremely though since they moved the fences in.
Nothing really ages well, but OBP ages better than speed or power.
It really depends on the person. Barry Bonds, for example, had power that aged so well it multiplied.
By by smith
Nice evening to be a Mets fan.
Kris Bryant play’s outfield and infield too. He’ll be next
Not in NY
Bryant would be a great addition to the Mets but can you see them adding that salary? Probably not
I got Bryant and Rizzo going back to the Cubs, Schwarber too.
None of those are gonna happen A’s Fan. That ship has sailed. All parties have moved on.
Bryant ain’t worth the cash he’s gonna command if he’s in LF. Doubt they sign him and kinda hope they don’t.
Everyone can stop making fun of the Mets now.
LoLmUtTs
We can stop, but do we want to?
Still laughing at a rich owner crying over Matz… lost Thor, Matz….Stroman next? Also still don’t even have a manager lol. Like anyone wants to come to Queens to what self destruct and implode.
Why? They are playing in a cheap sandbox. Wheres the big moves? Would rather have bryant and baez then these 2. These are wilpon moves!
Canha is making more per year than Bryce Harper. This is a big move, I don’t see how anyone can say it isn’t. Smart move? That’s another story. Still, the Mets are much better today than they were yesterday.
How is he making more than Harper?
I would say marginally better. Cahna replaces Conforto in terms of OBP. Escobar’s defense is better than Davis,’ but Davis is the better hitter. Assuming Conforto and Davis don’t return, it almost feels like a wash. Maybe a bit more versatile defensively. But that’s about it.
I said per year. Harper makes 25 per year. Canha makes 26.5 now.
uh – isn’t canha signed for 26.5 for 2 years which would be 13.25 per year?
Lol. I’m an idiot. I misread it
My bad.
@riffraff Yup. I’m an idiot.
Don’t be so hard on yourself Von. You’re good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, people like you!
These aren’t Wilpon moves. We have many shoes to fill and we have to outbid a lot if teams. I’d rather have Canha for 2 years at 26 mill than to overpay Bryant over the next 7 years. Baez is still a factor.
These are Wilpon moves. Remember the pointless acquisition of Neil Walker? Remember the Cuddyer signing, or the useful Asdrubal Cabrera deal or the sensible Granderson signing, all roughly in this price range, for old players, most in significant decline? These are all in that vein.
Doesn’t make them bad moves, necessarily, but these are easily moves the Wilpons would have made.
Sure, once they bring the fences in at Mets stadium, they’ll hit 15 hr per year. The team that can’t gel
If your a baseball fan I’d be prepared for the coming days expect to see a lot guys sign and also the non tender deadline will most likely be huge this year. Maybe a few trades who knows
Both Escobar and Canha can play some 1st base. Something tells me Dom and JD Davis may be moved in a deal at some point.
Maybe McNeil too
Um, Escobars ability to play 1B has nothing to do with anything. McNeil could likely play first. And this doesn’t mean McNeil is gone. Why do fans always think EVERY addition must lead up a consequent subtraction? Gotta shake my head at this.
Um, genius, first this is “rumors” site. Second, Escobars ability to play 1st just might make someone expendable. If you look at the roster Smith, Alonso, and now Escobar all play first. We have two primary second baseman in McNeil and unfortunately Cano. In case you haven’t noticed they also want to bring back Baez who if he comes back will play…..2B because they have a $300m investment to play SS. You might have also noticed that the OF has its own problems. So, yeah it’s fair to speculate that his versatility might make other moves possible. In fact, baseball writers (not just fans) are speculating more is coming.
I haven’t noticed they want to bring Baez back. I’ve seen a lot of baseless speculation. And pretty much anyone can play 1B, that ability doesn’t make anyone expendable. Trade one and they have 4 instead of 5 or something? Nah. Smith doesn’t have a clear spot, Escobar has nothing to do with that. (My prefacing my original comment with “Umm” was unnecessarily obnoxious though, I apologize for that and see why it was likely perceived as rude).
Baez isn’t coming back. Mets just let go of two players on offense (Baez and Conforto) and signed three while saving dollars and years. Next signings I’d venture to say will be pitching and players like Smith and Davis could be used for trades, as well as McNeil if it’s the right deal.
Baez isn’t coming back. I highly doubt even if he’s hearty and not on ‘roids, Cano will see any playing time at 2B. He’ll be a bench bat if he’s even a met to start the year. If they can’t package him with a top prospect to move him while retaining salary, they’ll buy him out. Either way I don’t see Cano playing another game as a Met.
*Healthy
Holy over pay.
Yeah but in this case it’s worth it. Add more like that and you win
Cheaper than Conforto
And I would take Canha even if Conforto cost exactly the same.
conforto is so much better than Canha
As a long-time baseball fan I remember it was a big deal when a super star broke the $1 million a year threshold. I never thought I would see the day when a player of this caliber makes $26.5 million for a 2 year contract. I don’t see how this kind of spending can continue; the market eventually won’t be able to support it,
Do you understand the market is over a billion dollars and increasing every year?
Are you saying baseball players shouldnt see any of the profits they make?
Old people should go play checkers and leave the sportstalk to those who understand its not 1974 anymore.
@A’sfaninUK
Your socialist-sounding comment shows you assume way too much. Of course I recognize the financial state of baseball. Are YOU aware of Canha’s statistical history? THAT is my point. I stand by the statement that a player of Canha’s caliber doesn’t deserve that kind of crazy money based upon his past performance. If every player around his talent level gets paid that kind of money, it will skew the market.
Your approach to this conversation says a lot about your emotional state and maturity level, and your posting would have been much more effective if you hadn’t injected an asinine comment into it, junior.
BTW I’ve only been a baseball fan since 1975. 😀
“Socialist-sounding.” Dear god. The oligarchy is delighted that 99% of the population doesn’t even grasp basic definitions, making political discussion impossible.
@JackStrawb –
I tip my hat to you, sir. I appreciate your comment. I never would have guessed the word “oligarchy” would somehow make its’ way into a conversation on a baseball site.
My only criticism of your post, and it is a constructive one, is if you are going to use our loving Creator’s name in vain, you could at least capitalize it to show proper respect.
I like Canha more than Conforto but he really should of gotten something like 2 years for a total of 12 million.
Well, there goes the one player I expected my Guardians to sign. Looks like we’ll just fill the outfield with hot garbage again this year. I played little league with a kid that used to chase butterflies through the outfield, I can see what he’s up to now.
@cleribe Do the Guardians ever sign mid-tier FAs any more? Seems like 2/20 to 2/30 isn’t in their vocabulary.
I thought they might make a move considering there is no payroll on the books for next year, but now we get to play another off-season of “Remember that time we signed Encarnacion???”.
87 BB% + 91 chase rate + 72 whiff% = a prize tough out…..great acquisition…tough outs in the lineup wins
I like Canha in the NLE more than the ALW too. He might have 30 HR power playing in these parks.
Can Escobar or Canha pitch??? Didn’t think so. typical eppler signings.
Have fun with Syndergaard pitching 2 innings.
Syndergaard will throw more innings than Thor does this year.
??? Unless you’re talking Avengers, it’s one and the same. As for position players that can pitch, J.D. Davis is one and could remain if two-way player requirements were waived.
Do you mean Syndergaard will throw more innings than Canha?
Michael ConfortWHO? Another big signing. Mets are vastly improved already, but I do think the AAV is a little too high here.
They really wanted this guy it looks like
This seems very preferable to them keeping Conforto. A lot more bang for your buck with Canha
Yea. I like him much better than Conforto. I like the Mets lineup much better with these two additions. Now they desperately need pitching, and they will get it.
Above average OF defense too, including CF
Please…..
Canha is not a good defensive OF, and Conforto was fine in a large yard.
Mets are done signing players so we’ll see how this all shakes out.
Conforto is so much better than Canha, I can’t even believe they’re being compared
These signings are decent but I expect more from a Mets payroll that can likely outbid any other team on any Free Agents. As a Braves fan I am a little concerned that the Mets will continue to spend big and add superstars but I still think the Mets will do met things until they prove otherwise
Outbidding teams on big free agents just leads to bad contracts and expensive, yet mediocre teams.
Cosmo: I agree with nearly all of your points, so I’m curious, where do you think the Mets recent acquisitions, particularly of Escobar, coupled with Eppler’s commitment to go after SP, place them in relation to their pursuit of Baez? Interested to read your thoughts on that.
I hope they don’t go for Baez. Hard to read the team right now but I see no indication from the team itself that Baez is a priority. Will Cohen really blow past the threshold towards 300 million? Most fans say yes, I say unlikely. Suzuki is an interesting option. I say they keep on like this, signing a couple mid tier SPs and maybe a trade for a CFr or a reliever or even third baseman, but I’d guess a larger than expected quantity of mid tier guys rather than one or two big splashes. But who knows?… thanks for the kind words.
Yeah, I could certainly see that. I think there are plenty of moves to be made still that could easily fill their needs.
Wow, Marte? Congratulations, man. I think today was a great day for your team! Premier CFer and Cahna, with the ever-versatile Escobar as well? Eppler is on a roll. I’d be pretty happy so far….
Yea, I’m not a fan of signing free agents of a certain age but Marte just fits too well. Good move.
As a Halos fan, I approve this message. Dude owned the Angels. Best of luck in NY, Mark (in another league, on another coast).
Mets keeping ahead of the Fish. Nice.
Add the Fish pitching and the new Mets lineup and maybe you could win 90 games.
Am I the only one who thinks these two deals do nothing but seal the trade of McNeil?
Nope. Maybe him + Vientos gets one of the A’s starters.
Nope. But I still think the notion makes no sense whatsoever. Did they trade him last year when they got Villar? Why would they? They are ADDING to the team.
We don’t need McNeil or Smith. I would keep Davis, but that’s a personal preference. McNeil has struggled since he started trying to hit the long ball and his attitude don’t mesh well with the new core. Sign Baez, Mad Max and Stro then maybe trade for a big RF bat. We would be serious contenders
I wouldn’t give up on McNeil. If he bounces back, we need him, but then again he could be an interesting bit of trade bait. Smith doesn’t have a clear fit but he’s still too good to toss away for the meh reliever he’d probably bring back now. Neither player is truly expendable.
Curious to see how many more guys sign before the deadline. I don’t think a lot of them want that uncertainty and would prefer to just sign now.
They’re getting nervous with the push for a cap. They know if the CBT is lowered, or the cap is enforced, their contract cannot be reneged and they will be grandfathered in.
I would do the same thing.
Right now, with all players they currently have, and if these two trades become official, I have this lineup as:
Nimmo
Canha
Lindor
Alonso
McNeil
Escobar
Smith
McCann
….. Meh or Meh+
Not great but not terrible either. More solid than last year, I will give them that
I agree. They’ll add more
@MetsFan I actually think their lineup is now really solid. These 2 additions vastly improve it. I’m not saying they won’t sign more, but I like this offense, and that’s something the Mets lacked for the last few years. Their rotation stinks, but I think that will change in the coming weeks.
Mets have definitely improved today
This lineup, very much like the Yankees, depends on which versions of certain players the Mets have next year, ie: Lindor & McNeil. If Lindor rebounds offensively, it changes the entire scope of that lineup, which is much improved over last year already. If Lindor & McNeil rebound, that’ll be a fairly prodigious offensive group.
Eppler is allergic to pitching
Does he need an Eppler pen for that?
….nice…
Old, but still a solid hitter. I like these two additions for the Amazings.
Neither Escobar or Canha has much injury history but they will on the Mets
They have a 3b and RF , now sign ,Stroman,Gausman ,Baez and a few relief pitchers., trade Smith,Davis,Megill,Lee and another lower prospect to Baltimore for Mullins and Means.
Lol keep dreaming
Why would Baltimore want that package? If they don’t have min. 5 years of control, doesn’t work for the Orioles!
Mets fans think every team’s GM is sitting around trying to figure out how to help the Mets.
No we don’t
Actually, they probably sit around hoping to fleece them like the Mariners did, when they got them to tak Cano, and his salary.
*take
A. Why would Baltimore trade Mullins? B. If they did, they do it for a deal that makes sense for them and that one doesn’t come close. Smith and Davis are gonna be free agents close to when Mullins is. Makes no sense.
Oh boy…. Are the O’s really dumb enough?
Lol at this trade proposal
I struck out again on a free agent prediction. Definitely did not see this coming
If I recall, there was someone that predicted Marte to the Mets on the prediction board. I saw it and thought, “No way,” but yes way.
These are desperate signings that will ensure another 3rd place finish. Good work Mets
26.5m/2yrs is a pretty good deal for a solid-consistent player like Canha
So what does the Mets payroll end up at? Already 23m for Canha/Escobar. Im guessing the 280m area
It looks like he’s Conforto’s replacement and Escobar is Villar’s replacement. It’s hard to say they rule out all the other players that were there last year. A lot will hinge on whether the NL gets the DH. Personally, I prefer leaving it alone. What would differentiate the leagues if you do that? It’s not that you need to have a difference, I just prefer it that way. Another rule change that could have an effect is if they remove the requirements for two-way players. J.D. Davis didn’t pitch last season, but he was a closer in college and did have a few appearances on the mound for the Astros. That would be the best way for him to remain on the team.
If there is a DH, Davis can compete with Cano for at-bats or maybe even a roster spot.
If no DH, trade Davis for a pitching prospect, even if it is a future middle reliever.
Nah, Davis is way too good to trade for a middle reliever.
Now they can package average players like Jd davis and dom smith to say brewers for some cash to sign even more players! Cohen is playing bridge way everyone is is playing uno
Short term fixes to stay competitive…
Yes and to hold the fort until players like Baty, Vientos, and Mauricio are ready.
Now that Epp saved a bit on 2 positions that needed to be filled with good players, he can splurge on pitching. If I’m him I go hard for Gausman and Rodon. And make a trade with Oakland for Chapman (change of scenery candidate), Manaea and piscotty (eating his whole contract) for McNeil, Davis, Carrasco and Jt Ginn. Pay for Carrasco too. It could work. I’m pipedreaming for sure but it could work. McNeil could rake there if he’s legit still.
Mets going to spend 270m and still be mediocre.
A lot to spend for 77 wins.
84 wins with a full season of deGrom, 75 wins with no deGrom. Not how I would build a contender, but with Cohen being in the news so much, it was obvious they were not going to be patient and do it the right way. Still, the new guys might be flipped for prospects by trade deadline.
Why would you say that? The last 2 moves have absolutely nothing to do with the long term of this team, and its pretty much common knowledge they aren’t looking to sign players that will force them to give up picks, theyre essentially trying to put together a respectable team, while waiting. How would you feel if they sat their and did absolutely nothing to better the team while waiting for the youngers players to produce, while having the richest owner in baseball. They’re actually doing it the right way
280m and mediocre
I mean, technically they already did…. on one guy whose contract is going to end up being a trainwreck.
The A’s fire sale continues!
He was a free agent.
Free agent!
How is it a fire sale if he was a free agent? I could see the Mets make a deal like McNeil and Megill for Montas or Manaea and Piscotty, though.
In his defense, he never said Cahna. So, he’s still correct that the A’s fire sale continues, even if accidentally correct.
Wonder if this means no Marte. But, I like the signing nonetheless.
I’d be shocked if they sign Marte now. I think they’re still in on Baez, and then they go all out on pitching.
Trying to plug huge holes with a checkbook. We know how that usually turns out, right?
short term though. Both contracts 2 with a team option. Cano also comes off the books. teams sheds almost 45 million between the 3, with vientos baty and Alvarez in the wings, drastically bringing down payroll. Sure its more than likely all 3 dont pan out, but you gotta let them play to see what you have.
I guess you’re shocked
I am. That’s a lot of 32 year olds! Lineup is solid. Pitching is still lacking.
Me 3 hours ago: Eppler is a disaster
Now: Eppler looks like he might be good
Both acquisitions are good, but what happens with pitching, farm system, and even manager, are big picture.
C McCann
1B Alonso
2B Squirrel
SS Lindor
3B Escobar
OF Canha (Right)
OF Nimmo (Center)
OF Smith (Left)
DH Cano or Davis (either Davis gets traded or Cano gets cut)
SP1 deGrom
SP2 [P Stroman?]
SP3 P Walker
SP4 [P Jon or Sonny Gray]
SP5 [from in house]
SP Depth ?
I see strodog going somewhere else. I could see them landing Gausman or Rodon. Maybe Jon Gray would be a good get too. Having 3 Righties and 2 lefties would be gangster.
deGrom
Gausman
Rodon
Gray
Walker
What?
That’s an ugly OF defense
that’s a lot of Cahna
He makes more per year than Harper which seems absolutely insane.
why do you keep saying this, no he doesnt
He absolutely does. Harper has a 25 AAV.
And canha is making 13 mil a year… 2 years 26 mil (ie 13 per) …
@A’s Yea. I misread the contract like an idiot. You’re right.
@Out_of_line Yea. Not sure what happened. My bad. I say 26.5 and thought it was annually for a second, but at the same time I knew it was 13. Just a weird brain fart. I apologize and deserve ridicule
Wilpon moves today. Promise Báez and Bryant and go for Canha and Escobar bahahaha. Life must suck to be a Mets fan
I’m a met fan and I like both signings. Bryant is declining and wants a lot of money and Baez is gonna get shortstop money to play shortstop. I’d rather spend big on pitching. Life as a Met fan is okay. Not great, but not sucky. Thank you for your concern though
You have to fill your roster somewhere. Canha’s SLG plunged to .387 and his slash line last year was an uninspiring .231/.358/.387, but the Mets are desperate and are going to have to overpay even for mid-tier FAs for a while.
Hey, at least he has a respectable OBP, and they’re keeping the deals short for now. That’s good. They’re not contending in 2022 and appear to recognize that.
NOoOOooooOooo!! Billy ball no why ! So sad the As could not give him a contract. Great player. Will miss him.
Mr. Cohen is angry right now … Money man Cohen. Lol
JD Davis to Bmore for Sluser now
That’s like fair value for jd davis ! Truly
Mets need to overpay to get guys to play, but they need pitching more than anything
Canha signing has great value, extremely underrated player. his value for 2018- 16.7m 19- 32.2m 20-13.9m (prorated for short season) 21- 20.7 m. Wheres the over pay?
Overpay? False narrative. Dumb, LOL Mets nonsense.
I think it’s an overpay for sure. But I don’t think it’s necessarily dumb.
Not crazy to see it as an overpay. Completely presumptuous and wrong to claim that the Mets MUST overpay just go get free agents. That’s the false narrative that folks have, quite unscientifically, seemed to land on. The Mets may deserve a lot of the flack they get, but that’s fans, players don’t care about such insignificant drama.
Absolutely. The idea that FA didn’t want to come to the Mets was always ridiculous. but tonight should completely debunk that silly notion.
Not a fan of this guy, but let us see how he has done when 2022 is over. Good luck on this signing.
Huge overpay. And they still haven’t addressed any of their real needs: starting pitching, lefty relievers, centerfielder. New GM, same old mismanagement.
Canha is surprisingly decent in CF FYI
The other owners may be getting nervous. Cohen seems destined to show the REAL disparities in MLB; i.e., it isn’t that teams like the Mets can afford a 200M payroll, it’s that they really afford a 500M payroll and still keep the doors open. And they’re not the only ones.
Mets are singlehandedly increasing the market for free agents, its hilarious.
Good for Canha to make some money there. Kept track of him since the Marlins drafted him, solid guy. Wish they gave him a chance.
Replacing Conforto with a lesser player is definitely not gonna make them better
Are the Mets replacing Conforto? Or possibly trading Smith to make room for Cahna
When do teams ever do this? Sign a free agent and THEN trade a player that he replaces? Fans always think this but it’s just not done that way. And there’s plenty room for Canha and Smith. Plenty.
I mean technically you’re not wrong. Smith is definitely gonna get traded no matter what. But they’re still not bringing back Conforto. He’s signing with the Marlins. You heard it hear first.
I wouldn’t be sure about trading Smith
I mean nothing is guaranteed. But if I was a betting man I’d say he won’t be coming back. Even when he hits the value is completed nuked by his defense. I can’t see any scenario under which they trot him out into the outfield for another year
Yea he doesn’t really have a solid spot but I still hope they hold onto him until his value at least goes back up
Trash loves trash.
Well, at least there’s nothing trashy about Florida (cough, cough).
Not sure how these players compliment each other and what style of play this will be. Seems like they are collecting players with the plan to figure out a team later. Certainly there will be a trade for pitching.
In baseball players rarely compliment each other. They either get on base, or they don’t. They either hit with power, or they don’t.
The Mets needed cheap stopgaps, so they got 2 win players, one for the IF in the Villar role, and one for the OF. They got a bit older, but that’s the cheap, stopgap FA market. Both could be out of baseball before their deals are up, as that’s the nature of 33 yo ballplayers.
It’s just a couple of signings, of guys who’ll bring a little something to the team next year. Canha’s OBP helps. Escobar’s does not.
Team construction hasn’t been a strength under Alderson but I don’t see these guys as being a bad fit together.
Wow Mets making moves? Only happens in Bizarro World.
You’re just acting surprised about something that isn’t at all surprising.
I really think the Mets are off to a great start. I’m sure there are a lot of posters who will say otherwise just to pile on the Mets but these are bench moves and they’re really good ones. If it turns out that these players are starters, I will adjust my opinion but these are bench signings.
$23 million per season for two 33+ year old bench players? That is not “really good”.
A good corner OFer in significant decline, the Mets just added two 33 yo’s to their roster. They seem to have some clue that they’re not contending in 2022 or 2023, and have room to get back under any LT penalty threshold in 2024 with today’s two two-year deals, before really going for it (assuming the farm arrives) in 2025.
Escobar was unwise but not absurd, assuming he takes Villar’s role and isn’t there as the new, full-time 3Bman; and it’s undeniable the Mets need at least one corner OFer.
Do they know they need three-four starting pitchers, yet? They don’t seem to. Could be worse though—these are the Mets. They actually improved the team without handicapping it for 2025 and after. That’s a win.
The Mets are back baby!
I thought for sure he’d end up on the Giants, since Farhan loves high obp guys… I’m not a Mets fan, but it’s nice to finally hear something other than bad news about them. Two good acquisitions in a row! The Mets are on fire!
Meh. Paying $23M for two plus players for ages 33 & 34? Cahna & Escobar are decent+ players, but barely above-average.
@JoeBrady Meh describes this aptly. There ages and modest talents all but guarantee decline, but these Mets don’t have much choice. At least they didn’t hamstring the 2025 team with foolish deals for the likes of Baez and Bryant.
These are exactly the types of deals the Mets did for years before Brodie as brought in as GM.
Signings to mollify the fans that something wonderful was being done. Think Jay Bruce, Asdrubal Cabrera, even Yoenis Cespedes (and yes, I know about the injuries there).
It continues to be a mish mosh of players as opposed to constructing a team to primarily play in your home ballpark (note the lack of speed playing in a big yard – particularly in the OF outside of Nimmo).
I like both of the players they signed. At this point they’re part-time role players….which the Mets already had plenty of. The Brewers had it right – Escobar was a great addition for the stretch run after a good year, then let him go. Same applies to Cahna.
Much ado about nothing.
You can expect all kinds of stuff going down between now and Tuesday night. Free Agents signing, teams trying to get something for players before they non-tender them….looks like everybody thinks the ground isn’t the only thing that will be frozen this winter.
The A’s got everything they could out of him. Good to see him get paid; but I think he’s a 4th OFer by the summer and on the trading block.
Who invited an A’s fan from the sorry UK into this chat? Worry about your royal family, not American Baseball.
Why does it matter where baseball fans are from?!
No kidding. ABCB is a royal jerk.
Another example of why other countries don’t bloviate about how great America is as much as we do.
Another 33-34 year old player signed to an above market contract. With this deal the Mets are already at last season’s luxury tax threshold. That is without signing a single pitcher. Going to be an ugly season in Queens.
I get the Marte signing, but I think they overpaid on Canha
The only signing today that made sense was Escobar. The Mets now have a 3rd baseman.
Canha is a decent player but big overpay and a downgrade from Nimmo/Conforto.
And 78 mil for 4 years for a 33 year old Marte is a huge overpay in my book. He’s a good player coming off a career year. But at his age this contract may very well make Lorenzo Cain’s contract look good.
I know Mets fans are happy that Cohen is spending money but it seems like he’s overreacting to not signing Matz.
Marte to the Phillies made too much to actually happen. Maybe DD empties the farm for Mullins?
Well love what they’ve done with the SP. But let’s look at the glaring obvious here. Offense
-wise the Mets have downgraded.
2021
Nimmo
Lindor
Baez
Alonso
Comforto
Smith
Davis/mcneil
McCann
2022
Nimmo
Marte
Lindor
Alonso
Cahna
Escobar
Davis/Mcneil
Mccann
You can’t tell me the 2022 lineup looks better? Baez>Escobar
Comforto > canha
Yes marte is great but he is a on-base guy not someone who drives in runs. Go get Bryant !