When the Mets passed on two of the biggest names on the free-agent pitching market last winter, fans were stunned. For a franchise known for splurging big, it felt oddly quiet. Around the league, front offices were cutting nine-figure checks like it was Monopoly money. The Diamondbacks committed $210 million to land Corbin Burnes. The Dodgers went in with a five-year, $182 million deal for Blake Snell. The Mets? They kept their wallets mostly shut. No offer for Burnes. No talks with Snell. Just a quiet roll of the dice on a former Angels righty who barely raised eyebrows at the time. But as the dust settled and the season began, it wasn’t the biggest name that made the difference.

It turned out to be Griffin Canning, the $4.25 million afterthought who’s now pitching like a $100 million ace. With each pitch, he chipped away at doubts and won over a restless fanbase, proving that sometimes, the smartest gamble isn’t always the flashiest one. Midway through the season, Canning has flipped the narrative, delivering a 6-2 record with a sharp 3.22 ERA. He’s not just holding down the rotation. He’s leading it.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. Last season, Canning got shelled with the Angels, posting a 5.19 ERA and leading the AL in runs allowed. He looked like a pitcher in need of a reboot. But the Mets saw something buried beneath the box scores: untapped upside, a cleaner delivery, and a slider that just needed the right tweaks.

And here’s the twist: while Canning thrives, Burnes is now out for the season recovering from Tommy John surgery, and Snell has barely touched the mound with only two starts all year. That’s $392 million committed to pitchers who can’t even take the ball every fifth day. Meanwhile, Canning, on a bargain contract, has become one of the Mets’ most reliable arms, quietly filling the void left by the stars they didn’t sign.

It’s a masterclass in low-risk, high-reward strategy. The Mets didn’t chase headlines; they chased value. And that value is now giving them a shot at October. Canning’s command is sharper, his pitch mix is tighter, and most importantly, he’s confident. That belief, both from the front office and himself, has sparked the best run of his career. Forget the flashy contracts. The best free agent pitching pickup of the winter might just be the one no one saw coming.

From AL’s most hit pitcher to Mets’ NL standout

Last season, Canning didn’t just struggle; he wore the bruises to prove it. By August, opposing hitters had turned him into a piñata. He gave up a league-worst 99 runs, coughed up 27 homers, and looked like he was pitching with a neon sign that read “Hit Me.” On July 25 against the Tigers, he couldn’t escape the third inning, surrendering seven earned runs while walking three and watching balls fly off bats like missiles. The next outing? The Mariners teed off for five earned runs, three homers, and barely a whimper from Canning’s breaking ball.

Everyone assumed the story was written, another talented arm buried under inconsistency. Everyone except the Mets. They didn’t scout the disaster; they dug beneath it. They saw a guy with live stuff and poor sequencing, not a lost cause. So they handed him a one-year deal and gave him something rare: belief and a clean slate. Since then, Canning’s flipped the script. Against the Phillies in May, he blanked them for seven scoreless innings, scattering four hits and carving up their lineup with confidence no one saw coming a year ago.

Canning isn’t just surviving, he’s attacking. He’s working ahead in counts, elevating the fastball with purpose, and using that sharp slider to finish at-bats instead of just hoping for weak contact. The home runs have dried up. The walks are down. The body language? Different guy entirely. What once looked like a pitcher spiraling out has become one of the most controlled, poised arms in the Mets’ rotation.

And just like that, the AL’s most hit pitcher is now one of the NL’s biggest surprises.