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Jorge Castillo, ESPN Staff WriterDec 18, 2024, 10:23 PM ET
- ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.
The New York Mets and right-hander Griffin Canning have agreed on a one-year, $4.25 million contract, pending a physical, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Wednesday night.
The deal includes $1 million in potential performance bonuses.
Canning, 28, posted a 4.78 ERA in five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels before he was traded to the Atlanta Braves in October. The Braves nontendered him in November, making him a free agent.
The right-hander recorded career highs in starts (31) and innings pitched (171 ⅔) in 2024. He finished the season 6-13 with a 5.19, leading in the American League in earned runs allowed (99) for the last-place Angels.
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He registered his best season in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, pitching to a 3.99 ERA over 11 starts and earning a Gold Glove award.
Canning is the third starting pitcher the Mets have added on a major-league contract this offseason, joining Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes. Montas signed a two-year, $34 million deal with an opt-out after next season. Holmes, a reliever since 2018, agreed to a three-year, $38 million deal with an opt-out after the 2026 season.
The Mets’ other options for the rotation include Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Paul Blackburn, Tylor Megill and Jose Butto.
The club lost Luis Severino from last season’s rotation in free agency to the Athletics.
Left-handers Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana, two other key starters for the Mets’ run to the National League Championship Series, remain free agents.
The Athletic first reported Canning’s signing.
