The New York Mets continued their selling spree on Monday, as reports broke that they would trade infielder Mark Canha to the Milwaukee Brewers. In exchange, the Mets will receive Milwaukee’s 30th-ranked prospect (per MLB.com), right-hander Justin Jarvis. The deal was first reported by Will Sammon of The Athletic.
Brewers are acquiring outfielder Mark Canha in a trade with the Mets, league source tells @TheAthletic.
— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) July 31, 2023
Mets Trade Veteran Infielder Mark Canha
The veteran Canha is on the move in the midst of his second season in New York. After six seasons with the Oakland Athletics, he became one of the Mets’ unsung heroes during their strong 2022 season. He slashed .266/.367/.403 with 13 homers, and interestingly, he led the major leagues in times hit by a pitch with 28. This year, Canha’s average has dipped to .245, and his OPS is down 45 points to .725. Still, he offers Milwaukee some versatility as they contend for a postseason spot. He can slot in at multiple spots in the lineup and can play the outfield as well as first base. Canha, who had a player option for next year with the Mets, will be paid by them for the remainder of this year, while the option falls into the Brewers’ hands.
In the Mets-Brewers deal, New York will pay Canha’s remaining salary for this year, per a league source. Milwaukee will handle option/buyout.
— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) July 31, 2023
The Mets continue their status as sellers ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. Within the last couple of days, they have traded away All-Star pitcher Max Scherzer and veteran reliever David Robertson. They appear to be looking ahead to next year, as they’ve vastly underperformed despite having the largest payroll in MLB history.
As for the Mets’ return, Jarvis is a 6’2″ 23-year-old hurler. In 2023, he sports a combined record of 6-6 with a 4.33 ERA between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville. He has struggled since his promotion, however, and the Mets would have to put him on the 40-man roster at some point this season to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. If he can settle down and the Mets give him a shot late in the year, he could still be in the mix for New York by next spring.
Photo Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned: Mark Canha, Justin Jarvis, Max Scherzer, David Robertson
