KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mark Canha became the latest casualty of the Mets’ “repurposing” Monday in a trade that brought a needed young arm into the organization.
The veteran outfielder was dealt to the Brewers for right-hander Justin Jarvis, the Mets announced.
Canha’s departure was the third in five days from the Mets’ major league roster, following deals that sent David Robertson and Max Scherzer to the Marlins and Rangers, respectively.
The Mets, according to a source, will pay the remainder of Canha’s $10.5 million salary for this season.
That financial commitment by owner Steve Cohen helped the Mets to secure Jarvis, a 23-year-old who was ranked as the No. 12 prospect in the Brewers’ system, according to Baseball America.
The Brewers are responsible for Canha’s $11.5 million team option for next season.
The Brewers can also buy out that option for $2 million.
Jarvis has started 17 games between Double-A and Triple-A this season and pitched to a 4.33 ERA with 102 strikeouts in 87 ¹/₃ innings.
Everything to know about the Mets' historic sell-off
After a disappointing season, the Mets are selling off their historically expensive roster.
The Amazins dealt out some big name players before the MLB trade deadline — including now-former co-aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
Below are the players the Mets have shipped out:
Tommy Pham
The Mets traded the outfielder minutes before the 6 p.m. deadline to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Arizona is sending back 17-year shortstop Jeremy Rodriguez, who has a .751 OPS rookie ball this season.
Justin Verlander
The Mets traded out Verlander, a sure-fire Hall of Fame pitcher, back to his former team, the Houston Astros.
The Amazins reportedly will receive top Astros prospect Drew Gilbert, a Double-A outfielder, and 20-year-old outfielder Ryan Clifford, who owns a .919 OPS through 83 games in Low- and High-A this year.
Max Scherzer
Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young winner that was a co-ace with Verlander, was sold off to the Texas Rangers.
The Mets landed one of the Rangers’ top prospects, Double-A infielder Luisangel Acuña, brother of Braves star Ronald Acuña.
Mark Canha
The veteran outfielder was dealt to the Brewers for Justin Jarvis, a promising 23-year-old pitcher that was ranked No. 12 in the Brewers’ farm system.
David Robertson
The Mets traded closer David Robertson to the Miami Marlins, a move that started off the club’s deadline dismantle.
In exchange for Robertson, who is having another terrific season, the Mets received a pair of minor leaguers, infielder Marco Vargas and catcher Ronald Hernandez, from Miami.
He is Rule 5 eligible after this season, meaning the Mets will have to place him on the 40-man roster or risk losing him.
Canha, 34, owned a .245/.343/.381 slash line with six homers and 29 RBIs in a part-time role this season.
He was a favorite of manager Buck Showalter, who appreciated Canha’s steady approach to the game and professionalism.
After the trade was finalized, Showalter and Canha had what was described as an emotional phone conversation to say goodbye to each other.
The Mets have several other players who could be moved before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline, but most of the intrigue Monday surrounded the status of the remaining component in the team’s once-heralded 1-2 pitching punch.
Justin Verlander would provide a boost to any team in need of pitching, and the Mets remained engaged in trade talks that included the veteran right-hander, according to sources.
The Dodgers, Astros and Orioles have been talking with the Mets.
It’s believed Verlander, who holds a no-trade clause, would accept a deal that returns him to Houston, where he was part of a World Series winner last season.
But talks between the Mets and Astros weren’t showing signs of progress as of Monday night, according to sources.
On Saturday, another three-time Cy Young award winner, Scherzer, departed in a deal that sent him to the Rangers for infield prospect Luisangel Acuna, who has been assigned to Double-A Binghamton.
Following his Sunday start, Verlander planned to speak with team brass about the direction in which the organization is headed.
Last week the team traded closer David Robertson to the Marlins for 18-year-old prospects Marco Vargas and Ronald Hernandez.
The Post’s Jon Heyman reported the Mets were hoping to have the framework of a deal in place for Verlander by Monday, giving them all of Tuesday to work out potential obstacles to a trade.
Verlander is in the first year of a two-year contract for $86.6 million (with a vesting option for 2025).
Besides the no-trade clause there is also the issue of how much money the Mets would be willing to pay toward the vesting option worth $35 million.
The Mets completed the Scherzer deal after the right-hander exercised his player option worth $43.3 million for next season.
The Mets are paying about $36 million of the roughly $58 million that Scherzer is still owed.
Mets general manager Billy Eppler has labeled the Mets’ activity in recent days a “repurposing” of team assets with an eye toward bringing young talent into the organization.
The trade-off is a diminishing of the team’s already faint postseason chances for this season and — especially if Verlander is dealt — a lessened probability of 2024 success.
Verlander, 40, missed the first month-plus of the season rehabbing a strained teres major muscle near his right armpit, but has rebounded strongly in his last seven starts, pitching to a 1.49 ERA and displaying the form that in 2022 earned him a third Cy Young award, pitching for the Astros.
But Verlander is hardly the only player the Mets might trade.
Tommy Pham, Daniel Vogelbach, Omar Narvaez, Jose Quintana and Brooks Raley are among the others who could be moved by 6 p.m. Tuesday.
