Brewers bring back Canha on minor-league deal

Mark Canha is heading back to Milwaukee

The veteran outfielder/first baseman joined the Brewers on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, the team announced.

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 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 bench bat. Although an outfielder by trade who could start in the corners against left-handers, manager Pat Murphy said Monday that the Brewers plan for Canha to be deployed primarily at first base and DH, in addition to pinch-hit opportunities.

"It's a good sign on our part," Murphy said, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "He's a baseball player. He cares about continuing to play. And I think he'll be a great example for these young kids. Great personality."

In addition to Margot, Canha's 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. He has experience manning all three outfield spots and has begun playing more first base in recent seasons.