Oakland A’s will have difficult decision to make with Mark Canha

Mark Canha should be a difficult decision for the Oakland A’s this offseason. As an impending free agent, he is eligible to receive the Qualifying Offer, which is likely to be close to $19 million for the 2022 campaign.

For almost any other team, Canha receiving that offer would seem to be a given. He has posted a 122 OPS+ with 12 homers and 19 doubles in his 457 plate appearances. He has even chipped in a career best 11 steals this season, helping jumpstart the offense from the leadoff role. While that production may not seem significant, Canha has also saved an American League leading eight runs in left, while slotting in at center, right, and first as needed.

Mark Canha likely not staying with Oakland A’s

There is no question that Canha has been a valuable part of the A’s. His presence atop the lineup, and his excellent defense, have made him a key part of their roster. He is the type of player that the A’s should look to keep, either with the Qualifying Offer or with an extension.

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But that is not how the A’s operate. They have refused to open the vaults in the past, allowing such players as Marcus Semien and Liam Hendriks to walk without receiving the offer. The thought that one player could make close to, if not more, than $19 million per season with the A’s is almost laughable.

Normally, this would not be a question – Canha would not receive the offer. However, the A’s and the City of Oakland are reportedly getting close to agreeing to the terms for a new ballpark. Spending some money, either in free agency or on extensions, would be a great way to generate some goodwill amongst the community.

That is where the question lies with Canha. At 32 years old, he is not likely to receive too long of a deal in free agency. He may well have just this one payday as teams tend to shy away from aging free agents these days. Canha may well be enticed by that guaranteed payout, if the A’s were to make that offer.

Chances are, Mark Canha is in his final weeks with the Oakland A’s. The odds of his receiving the Qualifying Offer are remote.