Analysis of Mark Canha's addition to the Detroit Tigers outfield

Analyzing the Detroit Tigers trade for Mark Canha.

The Detroit Tigers went out on Saturday and made a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. While it may have been a smaller trade, the Tigers were able to bring in outfielder Mark Canha in exchange for former two-way player, now pitcher Blake Holub.

Even though the Detroit Tigers deal is not swapping any major names, Canha is a proven veteran of the big leagues and has a chance to bring some real value to the organization. The Tigers traded for Canha, picking up the $11.5 million club option for the 2024 season, keeping him in Detroit, which is good for several reasons.

Canha will play a role with the Tigers outfield that is very beneficial. With a younger crop of outfielders, as well as lots of left-handed hitters, it's going to be a good move. Canha is a right-handed bat with a chance to have some value squeezed out of him in his tenth season in the big leagues.

Canha spent the 2023 season between the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers organizations, where he accumulated 139 games played. The 34-year-old slashed .262/.355/.400 with 25 doubles, a triple, and 11 home runs. He managed 62 RBI while performing to 49 walks and 79 strikeouts.

Looking at what Canha does best, it's working at-bats, controlling the strike zone, the box that Scott Harris aims to check off with players he likes. Canha can do that. He does a good job being selective but also not too selective.

Canha had a 23.9% chase rate and a 20.6% first-pitch swing % during his time with the Mets & Brewers during the 2023 season. His whiff rate was just 18.3% in 2023 as well. He can work counts and be someone who takes good at-bats for the Tigers in 2024.

The takeaway is that, statistically, even with a regression, the Tigers did a good job bringing in someone who will provide solid at-bats. But it goes deeper than that. The Tigers picked up the option for 2024, which means he will be a free agent after the 2024 season.

This means that Detroit could possibly shop Canha if he is someone that a contender may be interested in. He could become a rental, similar to what he was for the Mets before trading him to the Brewers. Detroit might be able to do something similar if things work out well.

On top of all this, he will serve a role in the Tigers outfield that could wind up being very beneficial. Going into year ten of the big leagues, it'll be an excellent addition to have Canha working with the younger players that make up Detroit's outfield.

The Tigers have a slew of lefties in the outfield, with Akil Baddoo, Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, and Parker Meadows. So mixing in a righty will be good, plus with the youth of these players, it just really does work out.

The Tigers' deal to acquire Canha may not sound like a big deal, but it's a great first step in the Tigers' off-season.