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Last winter, the Mets opted against signing a top free agent starting pitcher like Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell, or Max Fried, choosing a less risky approach instead.
One of those beneficiaries was Griffin Canning, coming off a rough season with the Angels, who arrived on a one-year contract worth $4.25 million.
The right-hander will take a 2.90 ERA in 12 starts into his scheduled outing against the Nationals on Tuesday at Citi Field.
Canning was asked on Sunday what it said about the organization that the big names were bypassed for pieces such as himself and Clay Holmes.
“It just shows their confidence in their ability to develop guys and they feel like they can bring them in and say the right things,” Canning noted. “The organization as a whole is confident in the information they can provide to players to help them improve.”
Sean Manaea and Luis Severino were two such success stories last season for the Mets.
Canning, 29, pitched to a 5.19 ERA last season with the Angels.
This year he was encouraged by the Mets pitching coaches to rely on his slider and changeup, and has followed that advice to success.
“I think I just strayed from my identity as a pitcher a bit,” Canning remarked. “I have always been someone who pitches backwards, so hearing that [trusting the slider and changeup] served to reinforce my identity and restored my confidence that this should be my strategy, this is what leads to my success.”
against the Angels on June 4. Getty Images
Canning, who is living in Manhattan, said he doesn’t get recognized much away from the ballpark, but he isn’t complaining.
“New York is such a big city and everyone has got their own thing going on, and they don’t really care who is walking around,” Canning said. “But it’s cool. I love living there and I love the fans, playing in front of them has been pretty fun.”
The Mets have selected reliever Justin Garza to the major league roster and optioned lefty Brandon Waddell to Triple-A Syracuse.
Garza arrived from the Giants over the weekend in a trade for cash considerations.
He last pitched in the major leagues in 2023 for the Red Sox.
