The San Diego Padres have officially signed right-handed pitcher Griffin Canning, as first reported by Divine Sports Gospel. This deal is pending a physical examination, according to Robert Murray of FanSided. Following the recent signing of Nick Castellanos, the Padres currently have a full 40-man roster, meaning they will need to make an additional roster move to accommodate Canning.
This signing marks an exciting return for Canning, who hails from Mission Viejo and played college baseball at UCLA. The 29-year-old previously spent his initial Major League seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, where he recorded a 4.78 ERA over 508 innings across 99 games. Once considered a top-100 prospect, Canning was traded to the Atlanta Braves last offseason in exchange for Jorge Soler, but the Braves opted to non-tender him after they achieved their goal of shedding Soler’s contract.
Canning later inked a one-year deal worth $4.25 million with the New York Mets, posting an impressive 2.47 ERA through his first nine games. However, his success was cut short when he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in late June, which ended his season prematurely. Canning is optimistic about his recovery and aims to be ready for Opening Day, showing promising signs by reaching 93 mph during a recent showcase for scouts.
The Padres are in need of depth in their starting rotation, particularly after Dylan Cease signed with the Blue Jays and Yu Darvish is not expected to pitch in 2026 due to an injury. The return of Michael King provided some stability, but the addition of Canning adds competition among the pitching staff that includes Nick Pivetta, Randy Vasquez, JP Sears, and Joe Musgrove, returning from Tommy John surgery. If healthy, Canning is likely to secure a starting role, which may push others into relief positions.
While Canning’s small sample size from the 2025 season isn’t extensive, he demonstrated a significant improvement with a 50.9% groundball rate, contrasting sharply with his previous 39.5% groundball rate with the Angels. Although he faced challenges, including a high hard-hit ball rate, the Padres have a history of helping pitchers amplify their potential, as evidenced by Pivetta’s breakout in 2025.
The financial details of Canning’s contract have yet to be disclosed, but it is anticipated to be in line with the $4.5 million he earned with the Mets in 2025. The Padres are navigating a tight budget during this offseason, having a projected payroll of approximately $220.9 million, which surpasses the previous year’s $211.1 million. Canning’s signing does push them beyond the second-tier luxury tax threshold of $264 million, reflecting their commitment to strengthening the roster for the upcoming season. Overall, this addition has the potential to enhance the Padres’ pitching lineup while providing Canning a fresh opportunity in his career.