Griffin Canning demonstrated his potential during one impressive inning, leaving some in the Bronx curious about his performance. With the Yankees eyeing his development, Canning, a once-promising prospect who hasn’t quite hit his stride in five seasons with the Angels, became a free-agent option.
The Yankees expressed interest, with manager Aaron Boone mentioning that Canning was part of their plans if Juan Soto had stayed, indicating they wanted to talk with him. Boone noted, “He was the guy we were interested in.”
Canning recalled having a Zoom call with the Yankees during the offseason, but there wasn’t much follow-up from them afterward. Ultimately, he signed with the Mets on December 19th, entering into a one-year, $4.25 million deal.
This agreement came as the Yankees were finalizing other big contracts—including those for Cody Bellinger and Max Fried—after securing Soto’s massive deal, the largest in baseball history. Shortly after signing Canning, the Yankees also brought in Paul Goldschmidt.
The Mets seem pleased with their choice. After facing injuries to pitchers Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, Canning has emerged as one of the league’s stronger starters. Meanwhile, the Yankees appear satisfied with their alternative routes, as Bellinger hit a homer in one of the matches.
Despite significant winter deals, the Yankees’ scoring against the Mets was largely underwhelming, with only a couple of runs attributed to the new additions.
Boone remarked, “I think the Mets have done a great job optimizing him.” Canning entered the season with a lifetime 4.78 ERA, but adjustments to his pitching arsenal, including the addition of a cutter and a more effective slider usage, have made a notable impact.
The Yankees struggled against those sliders, missing several attempts during their at-bats. Canning himself stated, “I’m just pitching. It’s about mixing speeds and focusing on one pitch at a time,” emphasizing his present-moment approach in competitive situations.
