Failed NY Mets rumors of an offseason reunion are looking acceptable

The New York Mets had every chance to stick with the old recipe. Luis Severino made it known he wanted to return, and it would’ve been easy to run it back with a familiar face. But David Stearns went off-menu. He brought in Griffin Canning, a pitcher coming off a few bland seasons, whose track record didn’t exactly whet the appetite. Now, a few starts in, Canning’s serving up better results than anyone expected. Call it a little luck, a little timing, and maybe a dash of something new. He’s been the kind of dish Guy Fieri might stumble upon in a quirky diner, where the menu doesn’t scream “specialty,” but after one bite, you realize it’s surprisingly good.

Before the Mets took the field in Oakland on Friday night, word got out that Luis Severino was interested in staying in Queens, reportedly for two years and $40 million. Stearns didn’t bite. The Mets’ top offer didn’t clear $34 million, and Severino took a surprising three-year, $67 million deal with the Athletics’ instead. Two weeks later, Stearns added to the rotation, signing Griffin Canning for just $4.25 million on a one-year contract.

Griffin Canning has quietly become a key piece in the Mets’ rotation, helping anchor one of MLB’s top pitching staffs.

Canning entered Friday night’s start with a 2.79 ERA and a 1.345 WHIP across 9 2/3 innings, numbers that point to a little good luck mixed in with steady execution. He’s walked five and struck out ten, working around traffic while avoiding the big blow. His outings against the Blue Jays and Astros weren’t smooth, hitters reached, and pitch counts climbed, but he never let things unravel. Whether it’s bending without breaking or just finding the right pitch at the right time, Canning has done enough to keep the Mets in every game.

In California, where he spent his first five seasons with the Angels, Canning kept leaning into his early-season theme: navigating trouble without sinking. Over the first five innings against the A’s, he danced around baserunners again—one earned run on four hits, three walks, and three strikeouts. Nothing dominant, but enough to keep things under control. But after the Mets gave him some breathing room with three runs in the sixth, Canning gave it right back, three loud hits, capped by a two-run homer that ended his night. His final line: four earned runs, three walks, seven hits, and three strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.

While Canning’s luck may have run out a bit in this start against the A’s, there’s still reason for optimism. Friday night’s hiccup doesn’t change that Stearns’ decision to go off the beaten path and take a chance on Canning has paid off. Despite the occasional rough patch, Canning’s been a reliable piece in the Mets’ rotation, keeping them in games and giving them a chance to win. In a season where consistency is key, Stearns’ choice to bet on Canning over a more familiar name like Severino looks like a move that still has a lot of upside.