Padres' new arm Griffin Canning battles Achilles recovery, eyeing a late April return to bolster a thin starting rotation.
The San Diego Padres came into the offseason needing starting pitching help, especially after losing star right-hander Dylan Cease in free agency. Instead of going out and grabbing one of the top free agent arms, the Padres were limited to signing several mid-tier starters in hopes that one takes the opportunity and runs with it.
One of those signees was right-hander Griffin Canning, a native of Southern California. Canning spent five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels before spending 2025 with the New York Mets, where he recorded a 3.77 ERA in 17 starts.
Despite being solid on the mound, Canning’s durability has been the question surrounding the 29-year-old. San Diego signed him this winter despite Canning still recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon from last year. He will start the 2026 campaign on the injured list.
Despite him not being able to throw in spring games, Canning has been throwing, but is not quite ready for game action. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Kevin Acee, canning could return to the bump as early as the end of April, although a May or June return is the more likely scenario.
Typically, a torn Achilles tendon has left players out for around a year, which seems to be the case for Canning. Even knowing that he likely won't be ready for months into the season, the Padres gave Canning a $2.5 million contract for the 2026 campaign.
It’s a worthwhile risk for San Diego, which still don;t have a clear option for the fifth spot on its starting rotation. When Canning is available to return, he could be that missing piece to complete the rotation.
He ranked in the 90th percentile in offspeed run value in 2025 before he went down in June with his injury. Canning also saw a huge increase in his ground ball percentage, from 41.3% to 51.6%. Though he may not have the deadliest arsenal, Canning finished in the top half of the league in pitching value in 2025.
With Nick Pivetta, Michael King, and Joe Musgrove leading the Padres rotation, they don’t need anything special to fill out their rotation. Canning can be exactly what they need – a reliable arm that can win any game he’s given the start. He may not be ready yet, but when he’s finally ready to return to the mound, the Padres will be in a much better place because of it.