Texas Rangers Release 11-Year Veteran
The 37-year-old signed a minor league deal with Texas back in February and had a respectable spring, slashing .286/.318/.500 during the Cactus League.
That wasn't enough to crack the roster. The Rangers had a competition for their final position player spot between Canha and Andrew McCutchen, and McCutchen won out.
Rather than accept a minor league assignment that would have required him to travel with an affiliate, Canha worked out an arrangement with the club to remain at their extended spring training facility in Surprise, Arizona, close to his home in nearby Scottsdale.
It let him stay sharp while staying with his family, and it gave Texas some veteran depth insurance in case of an injury. That insurance never got activated.
The Numbers That Hurt His Case
McCutchen has not exactly made the decision look smart in the early going. He is slashing .207/.250/.379 with 14 strikeouts in just 32 plate appearances, with a 42.9 percent strikeout rate that is hard to overlook.
Theoretically, that opens a door for Canha to step back in as the right-handed bat in the designated hitter platoon with Joc Pederson.
Veteran OF Mark Canha asked for his release today from the Rangers to seek big league opportunities elsewhere
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) April 17, 2026
The problem is that Canha's own recent track record makes that a tough sell. With Kansas City last season, he posted a .212/.272/.265 slash line in 46 games, a 49 wRC+ that ranked among the worst in the league among qualified hitters.
He was released by the Royals in August and did not sign anywhere else before the season ended. He also has not appeared in any official game action since spring training, meaning there is no current tape to evaluate.
What Comes Next
Canha requested the release himself, per Heyman, which shows he believes a big league opportunity exists somewhere. Whether that belief is grounded in reality is a separate question.
Based on his 2025 production and the lack of recent game reps, a major league offer does not feel imminent. Minor league deals will likely follow.
Canha is a career .248 hitter with 121 home runs who has suited up for six organizations, and his best attribute at this stage of his career has been his ability to handle left-handed pitching and play multiple positions.
At 37, with his last full big league season now two years in the rearview, this release has the feel of a final chapter being written. He has not given any indication he is ready to retire, and requesting the release rather than accepting it passively suggests he still wants to compete.
It just will not be happening in Texas.
Photo Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
