The New York Mets have yet to make the big swing for the top of their starting rotation, but they added more depth behind it by signing Griffin Canning to a one-year, $4.25 million deal.
The 28-year-old righty started a career-high 31 games last season, going 6-13 with a 5.19 ERA while with the lowly Los Angeles Angels.
His traditional stats are as uninspiring as some of his more advanced analytics. His average exit velocity against ranked in MLB’s ninth percentile last season while his strikeout percentage was in the 11th. Batters recorded hard hits 41.9% of the time against him, which was in MLB’s 22nd percentile.
If the Mets’ offseason hopes go according to plan, Canning will spend 2025 in Triple-A. They need to sign one more top-tier starter to round out what likely will be a six-man rotation with Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Frankie Montas, ex-Yankees closer Clay Holmes, and Shane Blackburn.
However, recent moves and happenings have depleted the team’s starting-pitching depth. Jose Butto was moved to the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever, and Christian Scott is out for the entire 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Luis Severino signed with the Athletics in free agency, while Sean Manaea is still out on the open market.
The Mets are still in the running for a reunion for the southpaw and could also be in on the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes.
That left the organization with Tylor Megill as the only legitimate depth option that would be able to fill in should injuries strike the rotation.
Brandon Sproat, the organization’s top prospect, is forecasted to reach the majors this season but will need to improve at the Triple-A level. After making the jump to Syracuse, he went 1-2 with a 7.53 ERA.
