Destined MLB trade deadline seller has interest in NY Mets free agent pitcher

Under entirely different circumstances, Griffin Canning on the 2026 New York Mets would have been welcomed. But the situation will not allow it. The Mets already have pitchers on their roster who are raising questions and doubts. Canning, despite a strong start to the season before a fluke injury knocked him out for the remainder of the year, just doesn’t match what this club needs.

It’s unfortunate and despite the strong campaign, teams aren’t buying much into his success.

There are exceptions. One of the teams allegedly eyeing Canning are the Chicago White Sox. An ideal situation for Canning to prove himself once more over the course of a fuller year, it’s a realistic landing spot for the 29-year-old righty who’ll rent on the Southside of Chicago rather than buy.

The White Sox are having a sneakily productive offseason, but signing Mets free agent Griffin Canning is merely for midseason trade purposes

In case you haven’t been up to date, the White Sox have done some nice things this offseason. They’ve invested two years into Anthony Kay who is coming over from Japan after an awesome year. They picked up Sean Newcomb, in a lot of ways an Atlanta Braves version of Kay, after he pieced together a strong year in relief.

Not settling on just those fliers, the White Sox became the winners in the Munetaka Murakami sweepstakes. Could Canning fit any better onto their staff?

If you like low-risk moves with a payoff, you’re probably enjoying what the White Sox have done. Last year’s Rule 5 Draft pick Shane Smith was a good addition to their rotation.They took advantage of that silly little way to pick up minor leaguers by adding former Mets prospect Mike Vasil in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. Vasil was taken by the Philadelphia Phillies, traded to the Rays, and then to the White Sox. Forced to keep him on their roster for the duration of the year or offer him back to the Mets, they got a strong performance from a bullpen longman.

The White Sox will be lucky to win 70 games, raising the victory flag for 60 in 2025. They’ve come a long way from their disastrous 2024 season when they were 41-121.

A strange team that has yet to go into full rebuild mode quite yet continues to hold onto Luis Robert Jr., the White Sox are an attractive spot for pitchers like Canning because of how much leash they’re sure to receive. Canning won a spot in the Mets rotation last spring in part due to injuries but also a strong showing in Florida. A 3.77 ERA in the regular season plus one of the league’s best ground ball rates should have teams considering him for the back of their rotation, or in the case of the White Sox, someone who could battle for a more important placement.

There hasn’t been much of a peep about Canning this offseason much like some of the other Mets free agents who ended the year on the IL like Jesse Winker, Nick Madrigal, and Max Kranick (who might be out for all of 2026). Based on the track record of the Mets at the trade deadline, a strong first few months for the White Sox could put him squarely on their radar for a reunion. More ironic would be to join the Atlanta Braves who cut him within weeks of acquiring him last offseason. While it’s a Jeremy Hefner reunion, it’s not exactly a place with fond memories.