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2013
Mets Should Take A Shot On Outfielder Russ Canzler
An article by 
To make room for newly-acquired slugger Travis Hafner, the Yankees designated outfielder Russ Canzler for assignment. Canzler is no stranger to being DFA’d. After spending last season with the Cleveland Indians, Canzler was claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays in December, reclaimed by the Tribe in January, and finally claimed by the Yankees two weeks after that. Now he is on the loose again and maybe it’s time for the Mets to jump in and see what all the fuss is about.
Canzler is no difference maker, so lets get that out of the way. But considering the dilapidated state of the current Mets outfield, beggars can’t be choosy, and this particular player does have some merits.
The first few things that jump out at you from a Mets-need standpoint is that he bats righthanded, has power, and plays the outfield.
Canzler, 26, was quite the popular player in 2011 when he was named the International League MVP after batting .314/.401/.540 with 18 homers and 83 RBI for the Triple-A Durham Bulls in the Tampa Bay Rays system. His 40 doubles and .938 OPS in 474 at-bats were very difficult to ignore. He made his major league debut during a brief September call-up, finishing the season 1-3 with an RBI single and a walk. But in January of 2012, the Indians purchased Canzler from the Rays for some dead presidents, thus ending his tenure with Tampa Bay.
He followed up his International League MVP campaign by batting .265/.329/.487 for Triple-A Columbus in 487 at-bats with 22 home runs, 36 doubles and 78 RBIs. His average and OBP took a hit, but his power numbers were still there and his .815 OPS was still very respectable.
Canzler got some sparse playing time with the Indians as well last season where he batted .269 with three doubles and three homers in 27 games. Nothing earth shattering at first glance, but then I checked his splits and discovered that he torched lefthanded pitchers at a .393/.414/.679 clip… this was when he piqued my interest. A little more research showed that Canzler has been killing southpaws throughout his entire pro career.
Defensively, he’s played mostly first base in the minors although he had over 100 games played in left field. But take my word for it, he’s not know for his glove, and where left field for the Mets is concerned it shouldn’t be a big issue anyway… You can only go up from Lucas Duda.
This kid can wallop a baseball probably harder than anyone we have from the right side of the plate right now. What makes him most appealing is the price – just a simple claim and that’s all it would take.
How well Canzler will do with extended play in the majors is difficult to say, he’s really untested. But it won’t cost that much to find out. Hey look, the Yankees were all set to proclaim Canzler the replacement for Nick Swisher before they signed Hafner, they must have seen something in him.
I say lets take a shot…
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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agree…at this point, why not?
Although, I’m inclined to let what they already have get the at bats. I think the Mets needs to know for sure what Duda, Kirk, Brown, and Cowgill can due given enough playing time.
The downside is they’re all cheap and if they or a combination of them actually have good seasons, then I can see this front office sticking with them next off season instead of getting much better players that’ll cost a lot more.
That said, either way I wouldn’t care what they did at this point concerning 2013. I’m not expecting to beat the Nationals or Braves.
As morbid and sad as this will sound….
I think the only way we wind up fixing this OF is if someone takes a shot at our GM.
And doesn’t miss!
In order to claim him the Mets would have to put him on the 40 man roster which is likely unrealistic.
He has very limited experience in RF which is the position we would need him for and the need for a RH hitting backup 1B is unnecessary since we start 3 1B in the lineup to begin with.
I would have no problem claiming him, but I don’t see the Mets thinking he’s any more of an upgrade than the RH bats they currently have…
Good post.
“Canzler is no difference maker, so lets get that out of the way.”
Then I’m not interested!!!
Why not. This whole team is a crap shoot so may as well just pick up some more.
Non Difference makers need not apply!!!
The more the marrier! Just like the bull pen lets sign as many out fielders as possible and throw them against the wall(or fence in this case) and see who sticks!! At this point what have the mets got to lose!!
Is Canzler ordained?
2011 International League MVP… Impressive. Tweak the Yankees’ nose…..priceless!
There may even be a spot open on the 40 man roster. Mets.com 40 man roster only lists 39 names.
Just do it.
They are still waiting to see about bourn.
Those minor league numbers sound good, im sure he wont last long, someone will scoop him up. BUT, let me get this straight, the Spankees are planning on putting Hafner in the field?? REALLY????
I thought he had DH written all over him.
I figured that they were planning to use this guy at DH/PH, and that Haffner will just replace him in that role.
Ok, that sounds better.
I will say one thing about you MMO, you always have new original stuff to read and you all are excellent writers unlike your big brother Metsblog. But I never heard of this guy in my life. I will say pass. But you made a good case. Sorry.
Canzler sounds like he could be a generic lefty-basher relacement for Hairstons abscence.
I think everyone said hey why dont we sign canzler the lAst 2 times he was available. While i still want us to sign him it shows most fans kno where not leaving the dollar store. I think he could be better than hairston. But back to what i was saying none of us are ever like we shld sign hamilton. We do skower the waiver wire.
I agree with you Joe- the more the merrier- it doesn’t hurt to take a look essentially for free in ST- although Sandy does have some 40 man roster issues- 39 spots are already taken and most likely a couple of non-roster invitees are coming north with the Mets- although I have no problem DFA Zach Lutz, Reese Havens and Justin Turner.
Although I have no problem DFA Zach Lutz, Reese Havens and Justin Turner.
I totally agree with that. Those three should not be holding this team back. Nobody will claim them anyway.
Im not so sure nobody would claim Turner, hes not as bad as a lot of people on here think.
I took a quick look at him.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/turneju01.shtml
You could do worse for a utility guy but I dont see someone here who other teams are going to put on their roster. Every team has players like this.
.269 AVG 2 HR 16 RBI 171 AB
.319 OBP .392 SLG. .711 OPS
Nobody is going to confuse him with Honus Wagner, but those numbers are not bad + he makes the pitchers throw 6,7,8,9 pitches to him per at bat and hes extra tough when he’s hitting in a clutch spot.
Might as well bring him in.
I mentioned him before but looks like Brown has this role.
I’d get him, he will be cheap. . .good right handed bat off the bench and maybe fill in for Duda in left field from time to time. Sort of the Jerry Hairston of 2013 perhaps. .
I would do it even if Bourn gets signed because not enough right handed power in the line up. .
The 1965 Mets highlight film was titled “Expressway To The Big Leagues” to appropriately show how the mets provided minor leaguer quicker advancement to the majors – not noting, of course it was because we were so bad.
I fear that might be the title of our 2013 video as well – the previous two could have easily been called “Expressway To The Door” for anyone successful and costing more than more $3.5 million.
Sure, he´d be worth a flyer.
However, honestly, I don´t see much of a difference between Canzler, Cowgill and Brown – with the exception that Canzler is probably the least defensive OF among the three.
The Mets already have already assembled enough fringe type player bodies who could platoon vs. LHP. Marlon Byrd also fits that profile with his somewhat extreme splits.
What the Mets need to do before they can be taken seriously again is to add at least one, if not two legit fulltime outfielders, i.e. players who don´t need to be platooned and can be penciled in for 450+ AB if healthy. Now, Duda & Nieuwenhuis have an outside shot to develop into that kind of outfielder. Maybe Valdespin or Den Dekker too with a bit more seasoning. However, ideally, you´d come up with one cheap platoon of one of these lefties with one of the several cheap righties going forward and bring in two regular outfielders from the outside going forward.