Newest Kansas City Royals player opens up about difficult offseason that led him to KC
Newly added Royals outfielder Mark Canha didn’t know what to expect. His life had been a roller-coaster in recent days.
The 36-year-old major-league veteran was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. He was thrust into the starting lineup Saturday, playing first base after Vinnie Pasquantino strained his right hamstring.
New team, different city. It seemed pretty ironic to Canha that his first team-bonding experience with his new KC teammates took place at Six Flags Over Texas.
The Royals headed to the Arlington amusement park on Sunday. And Canha couldn’t resist.
“That was fun,” he said with a smile. “You know, you don’t get a chance to do stuff like that too often. So I kind of just jumped at the opportunity and knew it would be a good chance to get to know my teammates and get some kind of team bonding early in the year.”
The Royals like what Canha brings to the table. He has a track record of getting on base. He has a career .349 on-base percentage and can play multiple positions.
Canha has been impressive in two spring games with the Royals, with five hits in six at-bats. KC has added him to its 40-man roster, as he is expected to occupy a role on the bench this season.
“It means a lot to me,” Canha said of making the team. “(I am) especially kind of getting chills as you ask me this, just because of how difficult and frustrating it was for me this offseason in trying to get a job and not knowing if I was going to be on a roster.
“It means everything that the Royals had faith in me.”
Canha entered free agency after spending time with the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants. He is looking to continue his professional career after proving he can still play.
Last season, Canha hit .242 with seven home runs and 42 RBIs in 125 games. He showcased good plate discipline, drawing 51 walks in 462 plate appearances.
Interest on the open market was minimal, however. A few teams inquired about him, but there wasn’t any real progress toward a deal.
“It was just a lot of indifference from a lot of teams when you call and ask,” he said. “It was weird. I thought, ‘I didn’t have a great year last year, but I had a decent year.’ And I was a nine-year veteran and still had a pretty good on-base percentage. It was proof that I’m still capable of doing what people are used to seeing me do. It was just kind of unsettling to see the lack of interest.
“I kept kind of telling myself, ‘Oh, it’s going to happen. It’s going to happen.’ It just never happened and it was frustrating.”
Canha signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers in February. He received an invitation to spring training with an opt-out clause in case he didn’t make the team.
The Brewers played him sparingly this spring. He appeared in nine Cactus League games, recording just two hits in 23 at-bats. It became clear he wasn’t going to make Milwaukee’s roster ... and that’s about when the Royals reached out to make a deal.
In trade, the Royals received Canha in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. The arrangement has given him something of a reset ahead of the 2025 season.
Canha’s job as a bench option for KC will be to provide quality at-bats in late-game situations. He also could earn some playing time spelling teammates in the outfield or at first base.
“Hitting, especially in spring, is a process,” he said. “I just feel like I was at the point where I had made all the mistakes and everything and got the learning curve out of the way. I think it’s a testament to that and me getting my swing going.”
Royals manager Matt Quatraro is already raving about Canha’s veteran experience. He believes Canha will produce productive at-bats when called upon.
“He’s a professional hitter and we know that,” Quatraro said. “That’s part of the reason why we acquired him. He’s got a simple swing, he knows what he is doing, he’s balanced and he sees the ball well.”
Canha hopes to carry his spring momentum into the regular season. He looks forward to playing at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians.
Another opening day to close the books on a challenging offseason.
“I think it’s just important to stay sharp and do all the work because I feel like during the season, you don’t know what’s going to happen,” Canha said. “You might have a stretch where you play a lot of infield or a stretch where you play a lot of outfield. You just have to stay prepared for whatever.”
This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 2:38 PM.
