Griffin Canning Gave the Mets More Than They Bargained For - Now They’re Eyeing a Reunion
When the Mets signed Griffin Canning ahead of the 2025 season, they weren’t buying a stat line - they were betting on a blueprint. The $4.25 million deal didn’t turn many heads at the time, and with a 5.19 ERA in 2024, it wasn’t hard to see why.
But the Mets weren’t chasing past performance. They were chasing potential - and, for a while, they found it.
Betting on the Process
Canning came to Queens with some question marks, but the Mets saw something in his pitch mix that suggested untapped value. The plan?
Flip the script. Instead of leading with the fastball, they had him pitch backwards - leaning on his slider and breaking stuff early in counts, then using the fastball as more of a punch-out pitch than a table-setter.
It wasn’t the kind of overhaul that makes headlines, but it worked. Hitters started chasing more.
When they did make contact, it wasn’t loud. The tempo of his outings changed, and so did the results.
In 16 starts, Canning tossed 76.1 innings with a 3.77 ERA. He looked like a pitcher who had figured something out - not just in terms of mechanics, but mentality. He looked like a guy who belonged, and in New York, that’s half the battle.
Then came the setback. A ruptured Achilles in late June ended his season prematurely, and the Mets lost one of their steadiest arms just as things were starting to click.
Why the Mets Are Still Interested
Now, with the 2026 season on the horizon, the Mets are once again in the market for rotation help. And according to reports, they’re considering bringing Canning back - with the expectation that he could be ready by Opening Day.
No, Canning’s not the frontline ace this rotation still needs. He’s not the guy you hand the ball to in Game 1 of a playoff series. But he is something important: proof that the Mets’ pitching infrastructure can take a mid-tier arm and turn him into a contributor.
That kind of success isn’t just a happy accident. Even with pitching coach Jeremy Hefner no longer in the building, Canning’s turnaround offers evidence that the process works - and that matters when you’re deciding whether to reinvest in a pitcher coming off a major injury.
How He Fits Into the Rotation Puzzle
If Canning returns, he’d slot into a rotation that includes Kodai Senga, Nolan McLean, David Peterson, Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, Brandon Sproat, Jonah Tong, and Christian Scott. On paper, that’s depth. But in reality, it’s a group with more questions than answers.
Senga’s health remains a lingering concern. McLean has electric stuff, but asking a second-year arm to anchor a rotation is a tall order.
Peterson and Manaea are steady but not game-changers. The younger arms are intriguing, but they’re still unproven.
That’s where Canning fits. He’s not a savior - he’s a stabilizer.
A guy who knows how to pitch in New York, who’s already shown he can handle the market and the moment. He doesn’t need to carry the staff.
He just needs to give it a floor.
Rotation Building Is About Layers, Not Just Aces
Let’s be clear: Bringing back Canning doesn’t mean the Mets are done shopping. They still need a frontline starter - someone who can shift the balance of power in a postseason series. That need was exposed down the stretch last season and hasn’t gone away.
But building a rotation isn’t just about landing the big fish. It’s about depth.
It’s about having guys who can take the ball every fifth day and give you a chance. Canning did that - and did it well - before the injury.
If his recovery stays on track, bringing him back would be a smart, under-the-radar move. One that adds stability now, and gives the Mets more flexibility to chase the bigger splash later.