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Promising NY Mets free agent flier from last season hasn't been the steal the Padres wanted

The Mets got a much better version.
May 31, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA;  San Diego Padres starting pitcher Griffin Canning (17) throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
May 31, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Griffin Canning (17) throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images | Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

After the New York Mets finishing up with the Seattle Mariners, they get to head down to Southern California to face the San Diego Padres. A team once again built on its pitching, not everyone who has toed the rubber for them has been successful. This includes a free agent flier for the Mets last season who was trending toward putting together a career year.

Willing to sign any bargain they could this offseason, the Padres threw a bone to Griffin Canning. Remember him? A summer Achilles injury ended his 16-start run with the Mets that included a 3.77 ERA. Fans were delighted even if a collapse often felt inevitable because of how hard he was hit at times.

Still, Canning was an important part of the early success of the Mets in 2025. It was around the same time they lost him that everything went awry. Padres fans might not feel as glum if he was to leave their roster. If not for lacking warm bodies, he might already be gone.

Griffin Canning hasn’t been the same kind of free agent steal for the Padres that he was for the Mets

Canning got a late start, making his season debut on May 3. He pitched well, striking out 7 in his 5 innings of 1-run ball. Then came the disaster. 6 earned in 4.1 innings can be expected from just about anyone. Then he got knocked around for 6 more earned in only 1.2 frames.

The last three starts have all been better, including 3 earned runs in 5-6.2 innings. Unfortunately for the Padres, they’ve still lost each of those games. The team is 1-5 when Canning starts and his 7.16 ERA on the season, while improving, isn’t winning over many fans.

Signed for only a million bucks this offseason, Canning was one of many Padres players who understood the assignment. The budget-conscious NL West contenders made multiple affordable contracts, several of which were minor league deals originally. Some have worked out, like Ty France hitting .286 or even Miguel Andujar with a .733 OPS. Others haven’t been worth it, Nick Castellanos on a league minimum deal to hit .191 and hammer a few home runs. He was DFA'd on Wednesday.

Transaction kings this past winter, 5 innings and 3 runs across is about the best the Padres can hope for from Canning on a regular basis. Projected to start against the Mets next weekend, we’ll get to see up close whether there are more promising days for him ahead.

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