Mark Canha will always have fond memories of the Oakland A’s. They were the team that gave him a chance at the majors, acquiring him in a trade with the Rockies after the Rule V Draft in 2015. He became a key part of the roster, a strong utility man who played his way into a starting role.
On Thursday, Canha officially said farewell. He had a long, emotional post on Twitter, talking about how much he loved the city and his time with the A’s.
— Mark Canha (@outtadapakmark) January 6, 2022
Mark Canha officially says goodbye to Oakland A’s
It was a given that Canha was leaving Oakland even before he signed with the Mets. The A’s were discussing paring down their payroll and trading away those players that are already on the roster. There was virtually no chance, unless the Ghosts of Baseball Past, Present, and Future visited John Fisher and got him to change his ways, that Canha was coming back.
Obviously, that did not happen. The A’s leadoff man and left fielder departed for a much larger bank account, receiving a two year, $26.5 million contract with a team option for 2024 from the Mets. The A’s were never going to match that type of a deal.
On the baseball side, this leaves a gaping hole in the lineup. Canha has been an on base machine since becoming a regular in the A’s lineup in 2018. He has posted a .249/.366/.441 batting line in his 1776 plate appearances since the start of the 2018 season, drawing 215 walks while being hit by 65 pitches. Even if he is not a speed demon on the basepaths, he was a perfect fit as the A’s leadoff man.
There is also the human element to consider. Canha and his family had found a home in Oakland and embraced the community. While they are certainly set for generations financially, there is that feeling of sadness about missing the area they had come to call home.
Mark Canha has officially bid the City of Oakland and the A’s farewell. While he is being paid handsomely, there is still that feeling of loss.