Mets continue to sell, trade Canha to Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers acquired outfielder/first baseman Mark Canha from the New York Mets in exchange for pitching prospect Justin Jarvis, the teams announced.
The Mets are paying down the remainder of Canha's 2023 salary (approximately $3.8 million) to the major-league minimum, according to Martino. Milwaukee will be responsible for paying either his $11.5-million club option for 2024 if the team elects to exercise it, or the $2-million buyout cost.
Canha gives the Brewers another much-needed bat with some pop and versatility on the diamond. The 34-year-old is hitting .245/.343/.381 with six homers, 29 RBIs, and seven stolen bases over 89 games with the Mets this year. He's displayed some power in the past, hitting 30 total homers over the 2021 and '22 seasons, and a career-high 26 in 2019.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell will be able to deploy his new weapon in any number of ways. Canha's splits are relatively even against both left-handed and right-handed pitching, allowing him to potentially start in different spots on the diamond based on matchups, or even in a multi-positional platoon. An outfielder by trade, Canha's started games at both corner outfield spots, first base, and designated hitter this season while also filling in at third base four times.
The Brewers, who enter play Monday a half-game back of the Cincinnati Reds in the NL Central, have once again struggled offensively overall this year. One of their most important power hitters, first baseman Rowdy Tellez, remains sidelined with an injury.
This is Milwaukee's second deal for a bat in the last week, after the team acquired veteran first baseman/DH Carlos Santana from Pittsburgh on July 27.
Jarvis, 23, was ranked as the Brewers' No. 30 prospect by MLB.com prior to the trade. The 23-year-old enjoyed a solid start to his season at Double-A Biloxi, posting a 3.33 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with a 10.8 K/9 rate in 14 starts at the level. However, he's struggled since being promoted to Triple-A Nashville earlier this month, allowing 14 earned runs in three starts at the highest minor-league level.
Canha is the latest Mets player to be sold off ahead of the deadline, following the trades of David Robertson and Max Scherzer.