Report: Brewers agree to minor-league deal with Canha

Mark Canha is heading back to Milwaukee

The veteran outfielder/first baseman has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Brewers that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Canha, who turned 36 last week, spent part of the 2023 season with the Brewers after a midseason trade. He put up an .800 OPS over 50 games in Wisconsin down the stretch to help the Brewers win a division title.

He hit .242/.344/.346 with seven homers and 42 RBIs across 125 games split between the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants last year.

Canha adds some more outfield depth to the Milwaukee organization, which also reportedly signed veteran Manuel Margot to a minor-league deal this week. Both additions came after outfielder Blake Perkins suffered a broken shin in batting practice.

Canha becomes an immediate candidate to win a roster spot as a potential bench bat and platoon outfielder. He could start in left field against left-handers, with the lefty-hitting Sal Frelick drawing in versus righties.

In addition to Margot, his competition this spring will include fellow non-roster invitees Jared Oliva, Jimmy Herron, and Jake Bauers, righty-hitting outfielders Brewer Hicklen and Caleb Durbin, and rookie Tyler Black. Hicklen, Durbin, and Black have minor-league options remaining.

Canha is a lifetime .249/.349/.414 hitter with 120 homers and 459 RBIs across parts of 10 big-league seasons with the Brewers, Tigers, Giants, New York Mets, and Oakland Athletics. A corner outfielder by trade, he has experience manning all three outfield spots and has begun playing more first base in recent seasons.