There are many storylines in this Mets-Braves series. Over the remaining part of the season, this should be the most fun divisional race in baseball.
Here is a twist no one saw coming a couple weeks ago: Robinson Canó, a former Met, has joined the Braves in time for a crucial three-game series. Despite his struggles in limited time in the majors this season, Canó is confident he is still the great hitter he was earlier in his career.
“I know the work that I put in in the offseason,” he said in the Braves’ dugout before Monday’s series opener. “I always believe in myself and in the stuff that I do to prepare myself. I feel that I can still play this game.”
Canó had two hits in the Braves’ 4-1 loss.
The Braves acquired Canó from the Padres in a minor-league transaction. Atlanta immediately moved the veteran second baseman to its big-league roster in time to face his former teammates. To make room on the roster, the Braves designated infielder Phil Gosselin for assignment. Gosselin was 6-for-23 in limited time with the club. He made a few starts and the Braves also used him as a pinch-runner.
The Braves adding Canó doesn’t have anything to do with playing the Mets. It’s a move that comes with no risk.
He is a left-handed bat that had recent success at Triple A in the Padres organization, batting 333 with an .854 OPS over 21 games and 96 at-bats. He hit three homers and drove in 20 runs. The Braves liked his exit velocities down there. He has hit righties well.
Plus, the Braves will pay him the minimum while the Mets pay almost his entire salary from the large contract he signed with the Mariners years ago. The Braves can cut the cord on the experiment at any time.
“Just hoping maybe that you get what Robinson Canó is capable of,” manager Brian Snitker said. “I think it’s worth the try after he’s been playing a month in Triple A and doing well.”
Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@
Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@
In bringing in Canó, the Braves figured: Why not take the chance? There is probably more upside in Canó than in Gosselin. Like Orlando Arcia, Gosselin was a right-handed bat. But he couldn’t hit or defend as well as Arcia. He was only a better runner.
There are a couple ways you could view Canó's situation.
At 39 years old, he is far past his prime. He could be done. His Triple A success has come from facing poor competition. Canó, an eight-time All-Star who has won five Silver Slugger Awards and two Gold Glove Awards, has hit .149 with a .371 OPS over 74 at-bats for the Mets and Padres in the big leagues this season.
But you could look at it this way: He missed a year in 2021 after testing positive for PEDs – for the second time in his career – and then had a short spring training. He had a short opportunity with the Mets, then played sparingly for the Padres. He hasn’t had a decent run of playing time to establish a rhythm.
“As you guys know, I didn’t get a chance to play every day,” Canó said. “I didn’t get that many at-bats. I went down (to Triple A). I know that I can still play this game, and will go out there and work.”
The Braves don’t know how this will go. But they’re willing to take a chance because they don’t lose anything if it doesn’t work out.
Canó simply must be better than Gosselin. With Ozzie Albies out due to a fractured foot, Arcia has been the starting second baseman. Arcia has cooled significantly, hitting .143 over his last 63 at-bats at the bottom of the lineup.
Before joining Atlanta, Canó played in the majors for four different teams. He won a World Series with the Yankees in 2009. He’s seen everything.
“Any question that they have, any advice they need, I’m always going to be willing to help,” Canó said. “But I think the guys here, they’ve got good coaches, guys that have played the game before and guys that have been successful. I don’t think there’s much for them to ask.”
His new teammates are happy to have him.
“Guy’s seen every pitcher, taken every swing, had every play possible in the books,” Matt Olson said. “The experience that he brings is going to be (useful) right away. Obviously, he’s a hell of a player. You add a guy like that to the lineup and it’s going to be good.”
“Experience,” Austin Riley said. “He’s had a phenomenal career. You know the glove is there. Just the presence that I think he brings in the lineup that’s deep already, it’s going to be nice to have.”
The accomplished second baseman who accepted playing in the minors so he could still play is happy to be back in the majors.
“Blessed,” Canó said. “I feel blessed to be back and to be able to step on a major-league field again, especially with this team, with this organization.”
Connections to Canó
Canó has a couple of Braves connections.
His father, Jose, played for Snitker in Durham in 1984. So Snitker and Robinson had that in common.
“Seems like a really nice guy,” Snitker said of Robinson. “Very talented, as we know.”
Canó trains with outfielder Marcell Ozuna in the offseason. Canó and Guillermo Heredia also talk a lot.
Adam Duvall returns from paternity list
The Braves on Monday reinstated Adam Duvall from the paternity list.
They optioned Mike Ford, who took that roster spot for the Nationals series, to Triple A following Sunday’s game.
