WEST PALM BEACH — The Mets are taking an opportunity on a younger outfielder with uncooked energy, buying and selling money concerns to the Chicago Cubs for Alexander Canario on Monday evening. A nook outfielder out of the Dominican Republic, Canario was designated for task Thursday so the Cubs might make room for former Mets infielder Justin Turner.
An outfield prospect who was traded to Chicago by the San Francisco Giants within the deal that noticed Kris Bryant depart the staff that drafted him, Canario has performed 21 video games within the massive leagues, going 12-for-42 (.286) with an .857 OPS and two residence runs. Whereas his energy is intriguing, he has but to resolve his strikeout drawback. In 45 MLB plate appearances, he has struck out 19 occasions (42.2%), and his contact charges have been low in Triple-A and within the main leagues. His protection doesn’t charge excessive both, however he does have a powerful arm.
Canario wasn’t going to make the Opening Day roster and was buried on the depth chart. Since he’s out of minor league choices, the Cubs had little alternative however to designate him.
The Mets have an inflow of infielders on the massive league degree, however Jesse Winker and Starling Marte will primarily platoon on the DH spot, so including Canario provides them depth in Triple-A.
“He’s a young outfielder and a toolsy athlete,” mentioned supervisor Carlos Mendoza. “He’s got power, he’s only 24 and he’s put together some good numbers, especially in the minors from the power side… Excited to have him here in camp.”
The Mets have Brandon Nimmo, Tyrone Taylor, Jose Siri and Juan Soto, along with Marte and Winker on the most important league roster. Infielder Nick Madrigal was moved to the 60-day IL with a damaged shoulder to make room on the 40-man roster.
DIAZ’S DEFENSE
Regardless of their greatest efforts in spring coaching, the Mets did a poor job controlling the operating sport final season. The Mets are placing a heavy emphasis on it this spring particularly with the large league regulars. A type of is nearer Edwin Diaz, who took almost two seconds to get the plate final season, giving runners loads of time to get good jumps. Diaz is making an attempt to get his supply down 1.5 seconds, which may generally be tough for pitchers like him who depend on an enormous leg kick for energy and velocity.
“When he’s throwing live BP today back in Port St. Lucie, and when he gets on game action, those are some of the things that we’ll be looking for,” Mendoza mentioned. “He knows and he wants to work and picking bases too. He wasn’t as comfortable last year throwing over. So that’s something that in the off season, when he was in Puerto Rico, he worked on a lot.”
Diaz is hoping to ultimately use a slide step, however the Mets would fairly see the right-hander get his occasions to the plate all the way down to 1.5 earlier than implementing it.
FAMILIAR FACES
Carlos Beltran is in uniform with the Mets this week in camp as the subsequent visitor teacher on the listing. The particular assistant to president of baseball operations has been making visits to camp since becoming a member of the entrance workplace in 2023.
Initially Printed: February 25, 2025 at 4:54 PM EST
