1 hot NY Mets spring training performance to buy, 1 to sell, 1 to let marinate

Sell the idea of Griffin Canning being a this fantastic

Predicting how Holmes would translate into a starter was a fool’s errand. Griffin Canning, on the other hand, has way too much of a history of starting MLB games for us to not look at him and have some immediate thoughts. A lifetime 4.78 ERA and fresh from a season where he gave up more earned runs than any other American League pitcher, adding Canning into the rotation battle was equally as head-scratching as the Holmes choice.

Canning has blown away those lowered expectations early on. His recent start against the Tampa Bay Rays improved his overall spring numbers which now sit at 1 earned run (on a solo home run) and 6 hits in 10 innings. He has struck out 16 batters, showing off an ability he never did in his five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. This is a guy who struck out less than a batter per inning in his major league career.

Could the Mets have turned his career around for the better? Perhaps. He’s coming from an organization that seemed to get the least possible results from many young pitchers in recent seasons. It wasn’t just a change of scenery he needed. Canning needed different tools and coaching.

Still, the Mets weren’t completely sold on having him in the rotation to begin the season. It was originally going to be a battle between him and Paul Blackburn, a skirmish that has evolved due to multiple injuries. If Canning can continue to make hitters look foolish this spring, maybe he’ll be worth buying into. For now, sell the idea of him being really good. At best, expect something more along the lines of average.