Alexander Canario did not start the season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he was their first in-season addition. The Pirates acquired Canario from New York after the Mets designated him for assignment.
For Canario, it was his third MLB organization in a matter of months. After the Chicago Cubs traded him to New York, also a deal that netted them cash considerations.
Canario only spent spring training with the Mets, where he slashed 306/.419/.611 with three home runs and eight RBI in 43 plate appearances, but he failed to make the team out of camp.
I will admit, I was totally cool with bringing Canario in at first. He has showed a lot of power performing in the minor leagues. Canario mashed 18 home runs in 64 games at Triple-A Iowa and was only three years removed from a 37-home run season that spanned three levels of minor league ball.
The Pirates, even back when we still had hope for this season, they still had several gaps in their roster, and needed some help in the outfield. Maybe, in a change of scenery and a slightly easier outfield to crack would finally unlock the potential that teams have seen in Canario. Plus, at 24 (now 25), he was certainly young enough to see if he could have a real impact on Pirates teams of the future.
But that would involve the team actually playing Canario consistently, something that hasn’t happened in a while.
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