*Photo from the San Francisco Chronicle*
Oh, you thought Eduardo Escobar was the only hitter heading to Queens? Rethink that one. The New York Mets and OF/1B Mark Canha have agreed to a two year, $26.5 million deal, with an option for a 3rd year, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The Mets have confirmed the deal.
Canha brings additional right handed balance to the Mets lineup, and is an everyday outfielder, as he can hit fairly well against both right handed and left handed pitchers, which he proved in his 7 seasons with the Oakland Athletics. Canha will likely be the every day right fielder with the Mets, with the potential to draw starts in left field or first base whenever necessary.
Last season with the A's, Canha hit to a .231 batting average with a .746 OPS, mashing 17 home runs with 61 RBI's, stealing 12 bases while playing 141 games for the A's. It's a new career high in stolen bases for Canha, breaking his old record of 7 in a season, set during his rookie season of 2015, when he played 124 games for the A's.
Across his 7 big league seasons, all in an Oakland uniform, Canha has a lifetime .244 batting average and a .776 OPS, slugging .431 while mashing 89 home runs, driving in 294 runs while stealing 29 bases, playing in 645 regular season games. In 9 career playoff games, Canha has one home run and 4 hits in 29 at bats, drawing 4 walks.
Canha is well regarded in baseball circles for his on base strengths, with his over .750 OPS lifetime as a validator. He also seems to have an ability to get hit by the baseball as well, finishing first in the AL last season when he got hit by a pitch 27 times. He's also been in the top 10 league wide in on base percentage twice, and came in 5th in the AL in walks in 2020, when he drew 37 of them.
The signing of Canha does not mean the Mets are done. His ability to play all 3 outfield positions gives the Mets added flexibility, and they are also said to be in on top free agent pitcher Max Scherzer, making him a very competitive offer.
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