The Mets have already dipped into the reunion pool once this offseason, bringing back lefty Richard Lovelady. But could another familiar face be on the radar? According to recent reports, New York has shown some interest in free agent Griffin Canning - though the fit, at least right now, feels more theoretical than practical.
Canning gave the Mets some solid innings last season before a season-ending injury cut things short. When he was on, he was dependable - not dominant, but reliable.
He posted a 3.77 ERA over 16 starts, with a ground ball rate north of 50%, which helped him work around some hard contact issues (he gave up a 46.2% hard-hit rate). The raw stuff was there in flashes, but the ceiling never quite reached that of a frontline starter.
And that’s the rub for the Mets.
This team isn’t in the market for “pretty good” right now. They’re chasing top-of-the-rotation impact.
They’re paying Bo Bichette big money for the next few years, and with that kind of commitment comes the expectation of contending - not just treading water. Adding Canning would mean reshuffling an already crowded rotation, and it’s not clear that the upside justifies the disruption.
Let’s talk about that rotation. Kodai Senga and David Peterson are the two names that seem most expendable if the Mets were to make room.
Sean Manaea, despite being on a tougher contract to move, is likely staying put. Clay Holmes?
He was too good last year and is locked in. So, where exactly does Canning fit?
And even if the Mets could make room, there are lingering concerns about his ability to go deep into games. He was effective through five innings, but the sixth was a different story.
In 4.2 total innings pitched in the sixth across nine outings, he posted an 11.57 ERA. Opponents slashed a 1.024 OPS against him the third time through the order.
That’s not just a red flag - that’s a warning siren.
Canning was always a bit of a calculated risk. Last offseason, the Mets had the flexibility to stash him in the bullpen or use him as a spot starter if things went sideways.
That’s not really the case anymore. The roster’s tighter, the expectations are higher, and the margin for error is smaller.
Could he still help in a swingman role? Sure.
But as a rotation mainstay? It’s hard to see that happening unless a couple of dominoes fall first.
For now, a reunion feels like more of a “nice idea” than a realistic move.