Griffin Canning DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Athletic's Will Sammon and Tim Britton think that New York Mets right-hander Griffin Canning is probably ahead of someone like Tylor Megill for the sixth starter role to open the 2025 regular season because he doesn't have minor-league options left like Megill does. Canning, who has a 4.78 career ERA, said he expects to approach new assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel about tinkering with a two-seam fastball to help him improve. He all but ditched the pitch in 2024 and threw it 1% of the time. In general, the Mets want the 28-year-old to throw fewer fastballs, though, which means he'll likely lean more into his slider and changeup while also working to improve his curveball. If Canning does win the No. 6 spot, he could still be coming out of the bullpen more often than not in a piggyback role to help ease the early season burden on Clay Holmes and Kodai Senga, limiting his already low fantasy ceiling.

Free-agent right-hander Griffin Canning and the New York Mets agreed to a one-year, $4.25 million deal on Wednesday, pending a physical, according to sources. The deal includes $1 million in potential bonuses. Canning spent the 2024 season with the Los Angeles Angels before being traded to the Atlanta Braves in the deal involving outfielder Jorge Soler in October. Canning became a free agent when the Braves non-tendered him. The 28-year-old was once again underwhelming for the Halos this past season, going 6-13 with a 5.19 ERA (5.26 FIP) and 1.39 WHIP with 130 strikeouts and 66 walks in 171 2/3 innings over 32 outings (31 starts). His 99 earned runs allowed were the most in the league. In Queens, he'll likely compete for the final starting rotation spot with Tylor Megill. But even if he wins a spot, Canning won't draw much fantasy intrigue after posting a 17% strikeout rate with 31 homers allowed.

The Atlanta Braves non-tendered right-handers Griffin Canning, Royber Salinas, Huascar Ynoa, left-hander Ray Kerr, and outfielder Ramon Laureano on Friday, making them all free agents. Canning didn't last long with the Braves after the Braves acquired him from the Los Angeles Angels the day after the World Series ended for slugging outfielder Jorge Soler. In his final season with the Angels in 2024, he went 6-13 with a 5.19 ERA (5.26 FIP), a 1.39 WHIP and a 130:66 K:BB in 171 2/3 innings over 32 outings (31 starts). Canning's 99 earned runs allowed led the league for a bad Angels squad. The 28-year-old was once one of the Halos' promising young pitching prospects, but in his five years in the big leagues, he's had a 4.78 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 22.2% strikeout rate. At best, he'll land with a team that gives him a shot at a back-end rotation spot in spring training in 2025.