When looking at the Tigers’ potential trade candidates, the majority of focus is understandably on starting pitchers Jack Flaherty and Tarik Skubal. (The former seems likely to move, the latter does not.) But for all the deserved attention on those arms, Detroit’s roster has several other pieces who could pique the interest of contending clubs. ESPN’s Jeff Passan writes that outfielder/first baseman Mark Canha, for instance, has a “robust” market and could change hands between now and next Tuesday.
Canha, 35, is earning $11.5MM this season and will be a free agent this winter. He’s hit .236/.341/.361 in 358 plate appearances, checking in about 3% better than league average, by measure of wRC+. Canha’s 19.8% strikeout rate is lower than average, and his 11.2% walk rate is comfortably north of average. He’s played both outfield corners and first base in 2024, not necessarily excelling at any one spot but providing a capable hand at each position.
It’s not an eye-catching skill set, but Canha is thriving in one key area: his right-handed bat is pummeling left-handed pitching. In 276 plate appearances against fellow righties this year, Canha carries a tepid .218/.319/.328 slash. In 82 trips to the plate against lefties, however, Canha is hitting .299/.415/.478 (150 wRC+). Canha has had roughly even splits against lefties and righties in his career, with productive lines against both, but over the past couple seasons he’s begun to see a more conventional platoon split. In 248 plate appearances against southpaws dating back to last season, Canha boasts a .275/.379/.469 slash.
Canha still has about $4.2MM of this season’s salary yet to be paid out. That number will drop to $3.83MM by Tuesday’s deadline. A potential trade partner might not want to cover the full freight of that salary in exchange for a 35-year-old who could be used as a platoon option down the stretch, but if the Tigers cover some of the salary, it’s easy enough to see why contending clubs would want to add a productive righty who can play multiple spots on the diamond.
Canha isn’t going to fetch the Tigers a major prospect even if they pay him down to league minimum for his new club, but he’s still appealing in the right role. The Cardinals, Reds, Royals and Mariners are among the playoff hopefuls who have struggled against left-handed pitching this season. The Braves (Ronald Acuna Jr.), Astros (Kyle Tucker) and Padres (Fernando Tatis Jr.) all have star outfielders on the injured list (and Canha could also play some first base in Houston). The Phillies could pair Canha with Brandon Marsh in an outfield platoon. There ought to be several clubs with interest, and as a pending free agent on a team widely expected to sell, Canha has a good chance to move.
bjhaas1977
I like him back to the Mets with a reliever for cash money $$$
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
I think his relationship with the Mets is ruined
deweybelongsinthehall
Would love for the Red Sox to make Cahna their under the radar move for a right handed bat. He hits well at Fenway (or he just hits Sox pitching) and he plays the wall as if he grew up there. Tigers what do you want in return?
Attystephenadams
I agree with BJHaas.. They can take on the rest of his salary and not even have to give up a prospect. He would certainly be an upgrade over Stewart and Taylor in the lineup and could platoon in RF with McNeil until Marte returns. He was also a positive influence in the clubhouse and dugout last time he was with them. Not sure what Sad Tormented is talking about, Canha left under good terms.
Rexhudler86
@atty he’s thinking about the other white guy with a green and blue eye. That was upset about canha being trading was moved the next day, and launched a anonymous investigation on eppler
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
I’m not talking about max, there was just so much turmoil with the Mets last season where I don’t think any player from the 2023 Mets wants to go back there
Canha doesn’t have a no trade clause though so it’s still possible
Rexhudler86
@blackpink canha wasn’t starting anything and it upsetted max when he was traded check out his last Mets interview before he got shipped out. He said it was bs, and he’s going to talk to the front office after the interview and was immediately shipped out. I haven’t seen or heard anything from canha. Once again it’s some conspiracy of yours, and trout is going to the phillies
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
I guess I’m a 40 year old talking to other 40 year olds on an alt account woohoo
Rexhudler86
@sad feel like you revealed it when you said he didn’t have a ntc. Since I said that 200 times when you mention the trout trade to the Phillies. I’m about to be 40, and I never called you a child another reveal. That was angels1972. You do troll and are relentless, but do you really have to have multiple accounts and say annoying stuff to piss people off over and over.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
You sure you are 40? (Normal) men don’t get angry about other people’s opinions on the internet and accuse them of using alt accounts
If you don’t agree say you don’t agree in a civilized manner, you wouldn’t talk like this in public would you?
Rexhudler86
@sad never said I was angry, and I called you out for trolling because i don’t get the point, I replied back with saying simply he has a ntc, and has never said he wants to leave sounds reasonable also true, and it’s a done deal. The reason why I caught on is because you say the same stuff on different articles. The other guy told you to give it a rest, maybe switch up your points or say something new.
metsoptimist
Would love to see him back with the Mets.
Seaver rules
Mark Cahna is going to play for a winner be it the Braves, Dodgers or Astros. Maybe Seattle.
WestVillageTiger
He’s this year’s Robbie Grossman. Consummate pro, he’ll help any team that signs him…
bhambrave
He’d be better than Eddie Rosario for the Braves.
Cody1981
Royals wanted him before the season makes a lot of sense
Rexhudler86
Holiday for canha
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Skubal for Mullins
ckc12537
Holliday for Bregman
deweybelongsinthehall
You want an elderly retired waitress? Bregman is worth more than Flo from Alice who if her grandkids are reading this would tell me to kiss my grits…
Tomas80
The Tigers aren’t going to pay any part of his salary if a team wants him.
For Love of the Game
They would in order to get a better prospect in return. This would be particularly important to teams paying the luxury tax.
deweybelongsinthehall
Boston has no luxury tax issue. What’s the cost?
ckc12537
I think Mark Canha would be a good acquisition for my Astros, which mean there’s a 0% chance he gets traded here.
westcasey
I also think Houston is a good fit for Canha, and I am not even an Astros fan.
Simm
The padres should kick the tires on canha. They need a right handed bat to fill in for tatis. They could use Peralta vs lefties and canha vs righties.
YourDreamGM
Canha will be brought in to hit LHP. He’s very average vs RHP.
ckc12537
Did you read the article?
the guru
If hes not going to fetch a valuable prospect why would the Tigers trade him? Pay someone to take him and not get a valuable return doesn’t seem enticing. Tigers might surprise everyone and stand pat and not trade anyone due to recent success. Could see them finishing 8-10 over with their current roster.
Airo13
Never know. Tigers did somehow get Reese Olsen for Daniel Norris a few years ago.
Melchez17
I miss Al Avila
chuckroast1
Good to know one person misses Al.
dkhits20
Al made some pretty bad deals (Zimmerman contract, Baez contract, Eugenio Suarez for Alfredo Simon are a few that come to mind) but also made a few really good trades that he doesn’t get enough credit for. Olsen for half a season of Norris is one. His son and Justin Wilson for Candelario and Paredes is another. Fulmer for Gipson-Long, etc.
tigerfan4ever
Of course you do, Melly Cheese, he’s your hero.
Motor City Beach Bum
Melchez…you are alone in missing Al.
Skiiggy
Avila was a very good scout and was more than fine as an asst, but he just didn’t have what it took to be a President of Baseball Ops. It takes someone who can see a big picture, can execute as a cold blooded executive, and understands how to use player profiles to make a team greater than the sum of its parts. There is a reason so few guys can do it. Al just wasn’t one of those guys.
Motor City Beach Bum
I agree. He was useful in other capacities but not as the big dog.
leylandpostgame
Good list. Wasn’t Suarez for Big Potato a Dombrowski move?
dkhits20
Yep. I stand corrected. DD made that trade a few months before he was fired.
YourDreamGM
He will get a valuable prospect. 20 to 40 guy young with high ceiling. If they do it right.
Brassroo
Expiring contract. Even an A+ prospect would be acceptable for a guy who won’t be here next year. Tiger fans have no baseball sense.
Swamp Donkey
Lumping an entire fan base together based on a few comments just proves that no fan base has any sense.
Any reasonable Tigers fan knows that Canha will only fetch a lottery ticket, at best.
This happens every year. For instance, Tigers fans want 15 prospects for Skubal, Orioles fans want to give them Chris Davis and JJ Hardy for Skubal. Meanwhile, nothing will probably even happen.
Old York
Why? League average offense (wRC+ of 103) and terrible defense.
Rexhudler86
@old york he does make a good point it’s probably a flier type prospect, that you can’t pull the trigger on if your still in the race.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Lots of players right now arent wrc+ or ops+ ing at the league average
Lots of teams would want to acquire a league average bat
Brassroo
They are NOT in the race lol
Rexhudler86
@brassroo their not out do you trade canha for a lottery ticket, when you only 8 games out. It’s not going to change anything is my point. You probably keep him because most likely they will try to stay competitive.
Brassroo
Keep the dream alive. Not enough hitting and terrible team defense. But keep the dream alive. Let him walk and get nothing for him. Good plan.
Rexhudler86
@brassroo not a Tigers fan, but were talking about canha he’s not going to get a major return. Most teams around .500 stay pat or get a slight upgrade. Now if your last in your division you sell every expiring contract off.
ckc12537
Astros group of Singleton/Meyers/Loperfido/McCormick/Cabbage has a 90 OPS+ (albeit generally ok defense).
YourDreamGM
892 ops is why. Not average but all star bat. That’s all contenders care about. And he’s a solid enough fielder.
tigerdoc616
Canha isn’t going to net the Tigers much, but definitely can see him changing uniforms.
SewaldSwansonSwoon
Here come Tigers fans thinking he should net the top 15 prospects in Baseball America’s rankings in a 10-way trade
Melchez17
Stop it… Tiger fans aren’t like Yankee fans.
Rexhudler86
@seawald I see the Tigers being slight buyers getting the cheap targets instead of subtracting.
Melchez17
I really think they should deal Andy Ibanez. He rakes against lefties too and can play 2B or 3B.
tigerfan4ever
Melly Cheese just got hit in the head by yet another rake. Tigers aren’t trading their secret weapon Ibanez. That’s again why you got chased from motownsports, with stupid comments like that! Don’t deny it!
Brassroo
I would consider moving Andy for the right piece. He certainly isn’t untouchable. Call me stupid all you like 4ever, but depending on return, you consider it.
tigerfan4ever
I had no intention of calling you stupid, Brassroo. But glad you admitted you are! lol
AAATIGERS2020
Toxic comments as usual.
WestVillageTiger
They need Andy at 1B and 2B. It’s not like the Tigers have an overabundance of competent position players who can catch the ball and throw to the right base…
Melchez17
Canha is expendable now that Malloy is in the majors. Moving Canha gives Malloy more AB’s.
The Tiger rookies this year are making some noise… Keith, Perez and Malloy, Maybe there is hope?
Motor City Beach Bum
They should move him, Urshela and Kelly on the position player side and test drive some more young bats before the end of the season. The young guys have looked pretty good of late.
Swamp Donkey
Agreed. Really want to see Dingler get called up soon.
whyhayzee
Been used for almost every single sit-com.
Senor Smoke
Canha certainly has no future in Detroit, and is a playoff player at this point without a doubt. Guys like him always seem to have an outstanding playoff or World Series for their new team and make a GM look like a genius. Harris better get good value for him for what he cost Junior this year….a young A ball pitcher with a high ceiling would be nice but those deals come from a frantic GM at the deadline, not a week before.
WestVillageTiger
The Tigers need “innings eaters” badly. Expect deals for marginal MLB arms on expiring contracts and fliers on AAA and AAAA hurlers who are blocked or out of favor with their current organizations…
Motor City Beach Bum
Why not just let Hurter, Lockhart or Madden have a go even if they are only meh so far in AAA. Or let Brieske and Faedo get more innings. That costs nothing.
dkhits20
Those three are pitching so poorly in AAA that your second scenario seems far more likely. Miguel Diaz and Garrett Hill have been pitching well enough to be called up for bullpen help if needed.
WestVillageTiger
Hurter and Lockhart are risky bets. Hurter can be effective if he can consistently get ground ball outs. Lockhart isn’t having a good year but he looked good last time out. Madden needs a reset – he’s getting lit up often…
Motor City Beach Bum
I think Hurter gave up something like 9 runs last game? Waiver wire it is! Harris knows that trick.
MPrck
The Tigers will have to eat some of the money ? A fansided article yesterday arguing not to trade Skubal and Baez, because the owner will get the money cracked me up. The owner, the poor slob that owes Javy 80 million should eat that money because it would lessen the return from Skubal is insane.
Oh boy, why trade Canha when he’s in use, and no one is chasing him out ? Why trade Canha when he’s also playing first base ? The owner might need to pay money for someone not here ? Why ? When Carpenter and Meadows comes back perhaps they’ll need to do something, but not yet.
In less than 40 days they can add to the roster. The screams and howls when you suggest they trade Baez with Skubal are a hoot. Yes, the money goes to the owner who supplies everything for the Major and Minor’s. 110 million is a lot of money, and the Tiger system is pretty darn good without someone else’s players bumping them out. No need to trade Canha and pay money to do it.
Brassroo
Being buyers and standing pat is idiotic at this point. The Tiger’s asset pool is still incredibly lame, get prospects for players who WILL NOT be here in ‘25.
MPrck
And ? Do you think that’s what I wrote ? My comment was about money, nothing else.
Motor City Beach Bum
Their asset pool is improving, not lame. They have filled spots this year with you guys players who will likely stick.
I agree with you though that they should trade their rentals (Canha, Kelly, Urshela and Flaherty) for prospects. UNLESS they narrow the Wildcard gap to within a couple games between now and the 30th.
Swamp Donkey
Standing pat with Skubal is one thing. There’s no need to trade him unless there’s a big return. He has 2.5 cost controlled years left. The others on expiring contracts can go for a lottery ticket or cash, I agree.
And the Tigers certainly don’t have a lame asset pool. Go look at any site and it will show that the Tigers have a really good system with several players in every top 100 prospects list.
AL B DAMNED
Mark Canha is the Biggest cheater in MLB, well probably in all Professional Sports! Don’t throw an inside pitch to him. He will stick some body part (Arm, elbow, thigh, foot, anything) out into the path of the ball and even turn to let it hit him in the rear end,(All purposely!)to get on base! A lot of times he will step out of the batters box and closer to the plate to get hit on purpose! I don’t know why the Umps let him get away with it and don’t call him out!!
Motor City Beach Bum
You sound like Colavito when he talks about Hinch. Are you Colavito?
tigerfan4ever
I’ll bet he is, MCBB….cue the insults and death threats. lol
Diabetic Rockstar
What
The
F
Are you rambling about. Mark Canha is like a sweet old dog that still has puppy eyes lol. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him do any of the stuff you say, and he wears the same elbow pad every other ML player does now up to bat
Me thinks you are confusing Canha with some other aging white outfielder
TroyVan
I feel like Carson Kelly is more valuable than Canha. Catchers seem like they collectively took a step back in their hitting prowess over the last decade or so.
TroyVan
And Kelly is the first to go. Good luck in Arlington!
WestVillageTiger
Crazy talk:
Skubal and Tork for Mayo, Mullins, Montcastle and McDermott.
Beam them up, Scotty!
Motor City Beach Bum
Can’t say I like that one dude. McDermott is almost the same age as Skubal and unproven. Mullins is having a bad year and Mountcastle is a good player but just a 1B/DH. I can’t see them even getting Subal for that package right now.
Diabetic Rockstar
You shouldn’t be any villages Tiger the way you sacrifice your own kind
That’s a joke of a trade. They wouldn’t trade Skubal for those 4 alone
84LeFlore
In postgame tonight, asked who will start Thurs., AJ said, “I’m gonna talk to these guys in here (lockerroom). We’ll let you know.”
Someone traded? AJ’s reaction makes me wonder…
Motor City Beach Bum
It’s a bullpen game isn’t it? I thought someone said they had two this week.
Senor Smoke
Petzold proposed this trade that puts Skubal in a Dodgers uniform:
Dodgers receive: left-handed pitcher Tarik Skubal
Tigers receive: outfielder Andy Pages, third baseman Miguel Vargas, catcher/first baseman Dalton Rushing, outfielder Josue De Paula, right-handed pitcher River Ryan, shortstop Alex Freeland and outfielder Eduardo Quintero
This is why the FP had to turn off comments in their Tigers section. Whoever fed this list to Petzold proudly wears the Dodgers’ Blue. It’s why they never lose trades like I mentioned the other day here. It’s the classic dump of guys you’re leery of or done with for a superstar….ala the mess the Tigers traded the Fish for Cabrera. Pages and Ryan are supposedly the “gems” in this package (GONG!) and it’s fine for Flaherty, but for Skubal? get serious.
Motor City Beach Bum
I don’t hate that trade, although I’m not sold on Ryan. Jackson Ferris or Gavin Stone would be nice in there instead of Ryan along with the young Vargas kid who plays SS. It provides players for now (Pages, Vargas, Ryan) and players for next year (Rushing) and more for the future (Depaula, Freeland, Quintero). To me Rushing is the headliner there.
Getting Pages, Ryan and Vargas for this year lets them audition them for CF and 3B for next year, while still competing this year. Vargas has a history of hitting and plays multiple positions Freeland and Quintero have taken a step forward this year and Rushing fills a need next year at 1B or C.
Not the worst trade proposal I’ve seen.
Senor Smoke
BTW, the Tigers have no doubt approached Skubal about a contract extension and got the Boras treatment for it. He reminds me Jack Morris in that he knows who he is and what he’s worth, and while not aloof, he stands apart from the other guys…cold-blooded. I wonder if the front office will apologize for promising to compete this year, keeping the payroll in the Bowery section of the league, and then trading off their major star? I also wonder if Holliday is such a lollapalooza, why he’s not on the MLB roster?