The New York Mets have acquired outfielder Alexander Canario from the Cubs in exchange for cash considerations. The 24-year-old was recently DFA'd by the Cubs after the team signed Justin Turner. Canario has some major league experience, going 12-for-42 (.286) with a pair of home runs during his two stints in the big leagues between 2023 and 2024, but struggles with strikeouts. The right-handed hitter has a 42.2 percent K% in his limited service time (2:19 BB:K). He has, however, shown big-time power in the minors, blasting as many as 37 in 2022 across three levels, and another 18 last season at Triple-A in only 247 at-bats. The Mets have been bitten by the injury bug early this spring, so Canario will provide some depth in the event they need another bat. He's off the fantasy radar for now, though.
The Chicago Cubs designated outfielder Alexander Canario for assignment on Thursday to make room on the 40-man roster for newly-signed infielder Justin Turner, sources told ESPN Chicago's Jesse Rogers. Canario hasn't really gotten a fair shake in Chicago and has played in just 21 big-league games, so Rogers suggests he'll be a pretty good trade candidate this spring. The 24-year-old is also out of minor-league options, though, which could limit his appeal to other MLB teams. In his brief time with the Cubs in the last two years, he's posted a nice .857 OPS but with a strikeout rate over 40 percent. The Dominican outfielder's power upside along should attract plenty of interest from another team, where he could have a better shot at regular playing time at the major-league level. In 64 games for Triple-A Iowa in 2024, Canario had 18 home runs.
Alexander Canario Could Contend For Spot On Opening Day Roster
Chicago Cubs outfielder Alexander Canario could contend for a spot on the Opening Day roster. Patrick Mooney of The Athletic noted that the 24-year-old is out of minor league options, which provides him with the most leverage he has had. In addition, reports in the offseason have suggested that Canario will see work at first base and other infield positions in addition to the outfield. However, given the recent signing of Justin Turner, a path to being the backup first baseman is much tougher. The 24-year-old has logged just 21 games at the MLB level over the past two seasons but has been very productive when on the field. Across this stint, he has held a .286/.333/.524 line with two doubles and two home runs. Across 120 games at Triple-A, Canario has held a .252/.345/.521 slash line. If Canario does make the Opening Day roster, he will likely be an option off the bench and will only carry value in deeper formats.
According to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Cubs outfielder Alexander Canario saw time at first base on Tuesday. The team is exploring several options to serve as the backup behind Michael Busch. Infielders Jon Berti and Vidal Brujan are also expected to see time at first base during the spring. Canario has been exclusively deployed in the outfield throughout his professional career but could have another route to making the Opening Day roster. Currently, the Chicago outfield is quite crowded at the major league level and has several options in the system, including Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara. Over the past two seasons, Canario logged only 21 games in the majors but has performed well, holding a .286/.333/.524 line. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Canario's status during spring training as he could carve out a permanent role on the depth chart.
Vidal Brujan, Alexander Canario, Gage Workman Good Bets For Opening Day Roster
Because of the fact that Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (elbow) isn't a lock for Opening Day in 2025, utility men Vidal Brujan, Alexander Canario and Gage Workman are safe picks for the roster going into spring training, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. The Cubs acquired Brujan from the Miami Marlins this offseason, and the 27-year-old can play both infield and outfield. Canario is out of minor-league options and will give the Cubs a right-handed bat off the bench against lefties. Workman can play multiple infield positions, but as a Rule 5 pick, he must remain on the big-league roster or be sent back to the Detroit Tigers. Once a top prospect of the Tampa Bay Rays, Brujan has struggled offensively in the majors, but he certainly will give Chicago positional flexibility. Canario, 24, has an .857 OPS in just 52 major-league at-bats the last two years.
Alexander Canario Having Success In Dominican Winter League
Chicago Cubs outfield prospect Alexander Canario is hitting well in the Dominican Winter League, with his slashline now up to .321/.413/.604 with four home runs in 63 plate appearances. Canario finished 2023 as the Cubs 11th-ranked prospect, but has since fallen outside the top 30. The 24-year-old has briefly seen the majors in each of the last two seasons, and while he's 12-for-42 (.286) with a pair of home runs, the 42.2% strikeout rate that came with it is unacceptable. The good news is that the strikeouts might be something he's working on over the winter, currently with an 8:9 BB:K for the Cibaenas. The Cubs already have a crowded outfield, but with Cody Bellinger likely on the move, it could help free up the logjam a bit so that Canario could end up at least being a bench bat for the Cubs in 2025. If that were the case, he wouldn't move the needle for fantasy, but if he were able to somehow crack the starting roster, his power would be something for managers to consider.
Chicago Cubs Triple-A outfielder Alexander Canario is headed to Baltimore on Thursday to join the big-league roster, which could mean that outfielder Cody Bellinger (finger) is heading to the 10-day injured list after getting hit by a pitch on his hand on Wednesday. An injured-list stint for Bellinger would surely complicate his trade market with the July 30 trade deadline quickly approaching. The 24-year-old Canario made his big-league debut in 2023 and played in 13 games earlier this year before being sent to Iowa. He's hit .282 (11-for-39) with two home runs and eight RBI in 19 career games for the Cubs but will likely operate as outfield depth if Bellinger goes on the IL. Rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong figures to serve as the team's everyday center fielder if Bellinger needs time to rest his injured finger.
Alexander Canario Posts Second Multi-Home Run Game Of The Week
Chicago Cubs outfielder Alexander Canario launched two home runs on Thursday evening, a feat he has accomplished twice this week. The 24-year-old has been swinging a hot bat lately with Triple-A and is nearing a return to the major leagues. Since May 18, the young outfielder has posted a .326/404/.826 line with six home runs, 13 RBI, one stolen base, and a 6:12 BB:K ratio. Canario has gotten a small taste of the majors earlier this spring and last season and held an overall .282/.333/.538 line with two home runs. While he should be back in Chicago later this summer, the Cubs have a surplus of outfielders, which could limit his playing time once again. For now, Canario should be left on waiver wires but could be worth stashing if he is eventually given a full-time role.
Alexander Canario Launches Two Home Runs On Thursday
Chicago Cubs outfielder Alexander Canario launched his fifth and sixth long balls of the season on Thursday evening. Through 24 games with Triple-A Iowa, the 24-year-old has posted a strong .286/.375/.571 slash line. Canario spent 13 games in the major leagues this spring and performed quite well in his limited opportunities with a .273 average. Since returning to Triple-A on May 9, Canario has been swinging an awfully hot bat with a .304/.373/.674 line with four home runs and one swiped bag. The young outfielder should get another shot in the majors later this summer but may have to wait for an injury to occur, as the Cubs have four capable starting outfielders on their roster in Cody Bellinger, Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, and Mike Tauchman. Canario could be worth an addition in NL-only formats if/when he rejoins Chicago.
The Chicago Cubs are reportedly calling up outfield prospect Alexander Canario from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, according to a source. The team's No. 10 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, was off to a good start in Iowa before the promotion, going 14-for-52 (.269) with two home runs and seven RBI in 61 plate appearances over his first 13 games. The 23-year-old Dominican outfielder made his major-league debut with the Cubs in 2023 and went 5-for-17 with a home run and six RBI in just six games in 2023 and will now presumably serve in a reserve outfield role for the Cubs now that he's back in the big leagues for now. The right-handed hitter has plus power but probably won't hit for a high average in the majors because of his swing-and-miss potential. Canario has played all three outfield positions but has below-average speed and is merely an average defender.
Alexander Canario
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