Canha’s decision came after he did not make the Opening Day roster and agreed to remain in the Rangers’ system in the minors, hopeful of a big-league return. According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, Canha asked to be released to pursue major-league opportunities elsewhere, a development that could accelerate his search for a new big-league landing spot.
The 2015 MLB debut with the Athletics established Canha as a versatile, steady outfielder, with his peak season coming in 2019 when he hit .273 with a career-high 26 home runs and 58 RBIs. Since then, he has spent time with the Mets, Brewers, Tigers, Giants, and Royals, including a 46-game stint with Kansas City last year in which he batted .212 with one homer and six RBIs.
Texas signed Canha to a minor-league contract over the offseason, and he has not appeared in a game this season as he aimed for another chance in the majors. With no clear path back to the majors within the Rangers’ current plans, the organization appears ready to move on from Canha now that he has requested his release.
Losing Canha would remove a valued depth piece from Texas’s minor-league ranks, but the Rangers would likely grant the request to allow him to pursue immediate opportunities with another club that could use outfield depth at the major-league level. While Canha could still contribute right away for a new team, the Rangers are left to weigh the long-term impact against the current roster needs.
