ESPN Reveals $4 Million Mets Pitcher As Surprising Cy Young Frontrunner

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zach Kaplan | Last updated May 12, 2025 2:35 PM ET

The New York Mets made several high-risk, high-reward signings of pitchers in the offseason, with the signing of career reliever Clay Holmes to a three-year, $36 million deal being the most surprising.

One under-the-radar move was the signing of Angels pitcher Griffin Canning to a one-year, $4.25 million deal in December. Canning was coming off a 2024 season where he posted 0.2 WAR and went 6-13 with a 5.19 ERA.

Canning had never posted a full-season ERA below 4.32 (his 2020 season saw him pitch to a 3.99 ERA).

In 2025, Canning has exceeded even the highest of expectations.

Canning has gone 5-1 with a 2.36 ERA to start the season. The only thing left to be desired is more length, as only two of Canning's eight starts have exceeded six innings.

Canning has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his starts, and has been overall really sharp.

The concern is when Canning will come back to earth, because his historical stats could argue this early start is a fluke. However, ESPN's Cy Young predictor disagrees.

CY CANNING?!?! pic.twitter.com/3Yavb440l7
— Choco (@ItzChoco__) May 12, 2025

Canning is predicted to win the National League Cy Young, with Holmes and Kodai Senga ranking second and third.

A large part of the Mets' 26-15 record has been their starting pitching, and the Mets have an exceptional pitching staff even without Sean Manaea in the fold.

Manaea resumed throwing April 14th as he works his way back from an oblique injury.

All told, Canning is easily one of the biggest surprises in baseball this season, and has fueled the Mets' early success.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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