Oakland Athletics: Who Was the 2015 A’s MVP?
Mar 31, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics first baseman Mark Canha (20) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
The Rookie: Mark Canha
Casey Witt: Canha get a hit? A home run? How about the Oakland Athletics 2015 Most Valuable Player award? I think he can… uh.
The Cal product was a Rule 5 draft pick in the Miami Marlins organization before former general manager Billy Beane made the transaction for Mark Canha last December – ultimately sending pitching prospect Austin House and cash considerations to the “Sunshine State”.
Typically, Rule 5 picks must remain on the club’s 25-man roster for the whole season, or be returned to their previous team. In 2014, the San Jose native posted an impressive slash line of .303/.384/.505 with 20 home runs in 537 plate appearances for the New Orleans Zephyrs. With Canha’s raw power at the dish, there was no question that the green and gold found their man – and thought highly of him prior to being selected in the 2010 Amateur Draft.
Canha did not disappoint; in 485 plate appearances, the right-hander finished the 2015 season with a .254 batting average, slugging percentage of .426 – along with 70 RBI and 16 round-trippers. Compared to his counterpart Billy Butler, Canha recorded a 1.5 WAR compared to -0.9 WAR in fewer journeys to the batter’s box (112) and is doing so at a fraction of the cost ($507,500 in retrospect to Butler’s $6,666,667).
For a platoon-heavy organization such as the Athletics, Canha’s impressive statistics versus right-handed pitchers (.271 batting average, 13 home runs and 54 RBI) caused him to find his name on the lineup card on a daily basis. Despite being a pull-hitter, the 26-year-old isn’t afraid to go up-the-middle, or slap the ball to the opposite field for extra base hits.
At first base, Canha is a picking machine and has respectable range when covering his position. In 537 2/3 innings, Canha’s outstanding fielding percentage of .993 and .982 in left field (413 1/3 innings) is something to be proud of – considering his “work-in-progress” status.
Typically, you never know what you’re going to get with a Rule 5 pick; however – his hard work, determination and presence at the plate has convinced the Athletics that maybe, just maybe – they’ve captured “lighting in a bottle” and with his consistent numbers, along with high ceiling, deserves to be the Oakland A’s everyday first baseman and 2015 team MVP.
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