Detroit Tigers acquire outfielder Mark Canha in trade with Milwaukee Brewers

The Detroit Tigers acquired outfielder Mark Canha, a nine-year MLB veteran, in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for minor-league reliever Blake Holub.

The Tigers and Brewers completed the trade Saturday, just three days after the trade market opened following the finale of the World Series. Canha has an $11.5 million team option for the 2024 season — the final year of his contract — that the Tigers will pick up.

Canha, who turns 35 in mid-February, represents the Tigers' first notable move in the second offseason under president of baseball operations Scott Harris.

"One of our goals for the offseason was to add a right-handed bat who could helps us on and off the field," Harris said Saturday. "I think we did that today with Mark. I think Mark is going to make us better."

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In the 2023 season, Canha hit .262 with 11 home runs, 49 walks and 79 strikeouts over 139 games with the New York Mets (89 games) and Brewers (50 games). He posted a .355 on-base percentage and .755 OPS.

Simply put, Canha has an expert understanding of the strike zone. His 15.6% strikeout rate ranked in the 87th percentile, his 18.3% whiff rate ranked in the 86th percentile, and his 23.9% chase rate ranked in the 78th percentile.

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His 9.7% walk rate ranked in the 65th percentile, as well.

"On the field, Mark is an on-base machine," Harris said. "He goes up to the plate with a plan. ... He has been one of the biggest on-base threats in our game over the last four or five years, so I think he immediately makes us better that way.

"Off the field, we feel really good about what he's going to add to our clubhouse. ... I think adding this type of bat with this caliber of approach at the plate can only help the young players. I hope many of our young players emulate this type of approach. I also think approaches at the plate can be contagious."

The Mets traded Canha to the Brewers on July 31 in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Justin Jarvis. Canha has played 14 games in the postseason throughout his career, including two games with the Brewers in 2023.

Canha, a right-handed hitter, has experience on defense in left field, right field, center field, first base and third base. He primarily played left field, right field and first base with the Brewers.

The Tigers plan to use Canha in the outfield and at first base.

"We also get the DH spot back this year," Harris said, "so if A.J. (Hinch, manager) wants to get (first baseman Spencer Torkelson) off his feet, but he wants to get all of our outfield bats in the lineup, he can put Tork at DH and not miss a beat with Mark at first base."

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To acquire Canha, the Tigers parted ways with their 15th-round pick in the 2021 draft.

Holub, who turned 25 in late October, logged a 3.03 ERA with 17 walks and 76 strikeouts over 65⅓ innings in 48 relief appearances with High-A West Michigan and Double-A Erie. He had a 3.79 ERA in 40⅓ innings for the SeaWolves.

The Tigers traded from a surplus, thanks to the player development department, to acquire a need.

"I think that's important in every market," Harris said. "Maybe it's a little bit more important in our market given the constraints that we have, however, there's always a tradeoff when you're making these deals. Trading Blake away makes us a little bit worse and acquiring Mark makes us a lot better, in my opinion."

Holub's repertoire consists of three pitches: a 95 mph fastball with natural cut, a 85 mph sweeper and a below-average changeup. The fastball, thrown from a higher release point, plays up because of his above-average extension, and the sweeper tunnels with the fastball.

Holub projects as an MLB-caliber reliever, possibly as soon as this season, but the Tigers were willing to trade him to the Brewers for a veteran outfielder with above-average plate discipline.

Canha, meanwhile, has a .250 batting average and a 115 OPS+ (with 100 being league-average) over 924 games in nine seasons with the Oakland Athletics (2015-21), Mets (2022-23) and Brewers (2023).

"I didn't want to trade Blake," Harris said. "He's a talented young reliever who has a chance to pitch in a major-league bullpen in the future, but in this game, you have to give up something to get something."

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers acquire OF Mark Canha in trade with Milwaukee Brewers