PHOENIX – Ahead of the deadline to inform non-roster free agents if they had made the team or not, the Milwaukee Brewers sent one out in a trade.
The Brewers traded veteran first baseman/designated hitter Mark Canha to the Kansas City Royals on Friday in exchange for cash or a player to be named later. The news was first reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Canha, who was a part of the Brewers down the stretch in 2023, signed a minor-league deal with Milwaukee in February with the team in need of a right-handed bat. The 36-year-old had two hits in 23 at-bats this spring, but had a chance to make the team based on his track record against left-handed pitching.
Canha hit .275 with a .744 OPS against left-handed pitching last year, which figured to put him in prime position to make the roster when Blake Perkins, who primarily plays against southpaws, went down early in camp with a fractured shin.
A different right-handed bat without options, Vinny Capra, emerged as a serious roster candidate this spring, and the Brewers still have first basemen Jake Bauers and Tyler Black in big-league camp. Milwaukee must also make a decision on outfielder Manny Margot, another right-handed bat on a minor-league deal, soon.
The Brewers were not willing to guarantee Canha an opening day roster spot quite yet while Kansas City was.
“We thought it was a great opportunity for him,” manager Pat Murphy said. “…We hate to lose him. He’s been great for us in the past, but it made total sense.”
