Griffin Canning – San Diego Union-Tribune

GRIFFIN CANNING

Position(s): Right-handed pitcher
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
2026 opening day age: 29
Height / Weight: 6-foot-2 / 180 pounds
How acquired: Signed as a free agent in February 2026
Contract status: Will make $1 million with an additional $1.5 million available via performance bonuses; the guarantee includes a $1.5 million buyout against a mutual option for 2027.
fWAR in 2025: 0.9 WAR
Key 2025 stats: 7-3, 3.77 ERA, 70 strikeouts, 35 walks, 1.38 WHIP, .240 opponent average, 76⅓ innings (16 starts)

STAT TO NOTE

7.8 — The average launch angle, in degrees, on batted balls in 2025, nearly half his career average (14.3 degrees). Canning allowed a career-high average exit velocity of 91.2 mph, which ranked in the bottom 5% of the league, but the best groundball rate of his career (51.6, well above career average of 41.7%) allowed him to post the lowest ERA of his career before his season-ending injury.

TRENDING

Up — The Southern California native prepped in Rancho Santa Margarita, went to UCLA and began his career as the Angels’ second-round pick in 2017. An up-and-down stay in Anaheim included a low back stress fracture and multiple setbacks costing him all of 2022. He had an 4.78 ERA in five years with the Angels when he was traded to the Braves after the 2024 season for OF Jorge Soler, but the Braves DFA’d him before the end of November and he quickly signed a prove-it, one-year, $4.25 million deal with the Mets. He went on to win seven of his first 16 starts, had an ERA under 2.70 through the first month of the season, was averaging fewer hits per nine innings (8.3) than he had since his rookie season (8.0) and was keeping the ball in the yard (0.9 homers per nine innings) better than ever when he exited a start on June 26 after 2⅔ scoreless innings after rupturing is left Achilles.

Peoria, AZ – February 19: Griffin Canning #17 of the San Diego Padres throws a bullpen session during a spring training practice on February 19, 2026 in Peoria, AZ. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
2026 OUTLOOK

Because of the injury, the prove-it deal didn’t amount to being a springboard, leading to another prove-it deal in San Diego. Canning is expected to start the season on the injured list before he’s given a chance to take over a spot in the back of the rotation.

ROSTER RANKINGS

1. OF Fernando Tatis Jr.
2. 3B Manny Machado
3. OF Jackson Merrill
4. RHP Nick Pivetta
5. RHP Michael King
6. RHP Mason Miller
7. OF Ramón Laureano
8. SS Xander Bogaerts
9. LHP Adrián Morejón
10. RHP Jeremiah Estrada
11. RHP Jason Adam
12. 2B Jake Cronenworth
13. RHP Joe Musgrove
14. RHP Randy Vásquez
15. RHP Griffin Canning
16. INF Miguel Andujar
17. OF Gavin Sheets
18. LHP JP Sears
19. RHP Yu Darvish
20. RHP Bradgley Rodriguez
21. RHP David Morgan
22. C Freddy Fermin
23. LHP Wandy Peralta
24. C Luis Campusano
25. LHP Yuki Matsui
26. INF Sung-Mun Song
27. RHP German Marquez
28. RHP Matt Waldron
29. OF Bryce Johnson
30. OF/1B Nick Castellanos
31. RHP Ron Marinaccio
32. RHP Bryan Hoeing
33. LHP Kyle Hart
34. INF Will Wagner
35. RHP Garrett Hawkins
36. RHP Miguel Mendez
37. RHP Daison Acosta
38. RHP Ty Adcock
39. RHP Alek Jacob
40. INF Mason McCoy

Removed from 40-man roster

OF Tirso Ornelas (designated for assignment)
RHP Jhony Brito (60-day injured list)