3 potential Mets waiver wire pickups to watch closely in August if teams offer some freebies

3) Mark Canha

Not too many teams have any reasonable additions to add to the waiver wire before the month is through. Clubs like the Chicago Cubs don’t have any intriguing enough cases. Conforto’s teammate and fellow ex-Mets outfielder, Mark Canha, just might.

Less expensive than Conforto, we do know the Giants were allegedly eager to dump some payroll for next season. This sparked rumors of them selling Blake Snell only for him to come back and throw a no-hitter in his first post-trade deadline start. Canha isn’t under contract for next season, but if the Giants fall too far back in the Wild Card race, placing their recently acquired outfielder on waivers isn’t too farfetched.

Canha hit .231/.337/.350 with the Detroit Tigers this season while belting 7 home runs and driving in 38 in 377 plate appearances. The performance was less than what he did for the Mets in 2023 prior to him getting dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers when he suddenly rediscovered the best he had to offer. In 99 fewer plate appearances, Canha had only 8 less hits for the Brewers and drove in 4 more runs. The Giants are hoping a change of scenery and an injection into a more competitive situation can fuel a similar outcome.

Waiving Canha would closely resemble what the Angels did last year with players they acquired. Despite it being a homecoming for the San Jose native, we shouldn’t put it past the Giants to make any attempt to get out from under luxury tax penalties which extend beyond financial punishment.