Robinson Cano and the Yankees were a perfect marriage. Cano was the best player on the team, but not built to be the leader, and New York afforded him the chance to play among spotlight-hogging stars. $240 million and a re-location to Seattle changed his scenario, and he’s over it, according to reports.
A friend close to Cano leaked that he’s not happy in Seattle and wants to go back to the Yankees, according to The New York Daily News. Cano’s power numbers have dropped significantly since joining the Mariners, and in 2014 he couldn’t crack a .253 batting average for the first three months of the season. Last year Cano salvaged his numbers with a huge second half, and that performance may have been good enough to get the Yankees interested in bringing him back.
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The problem is money. Cano signed a 10-year, $240 million contract two seasons ago and the Yankees obviously did not value him at that price, or they would have kept him. Cano is 33 years old, so paying him $24 million a season through 2023 is the antithesis of the direction the Yanks are trying to go in. One major league exec summed up the issue with Cano’s contract to the Daily News.
“He’s, what, 33 now, and he’s not an elite defender at second base anymore. I think the Yankees would see him as being worth about five years and $80 million. So if Seattle is willing to eat about $100 million, they could probably work something out. But good luck with that.”
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The Yankees need help at second base, however, and Cano’s power numbers would likely surge again if reunited with the short porch in right field. The Yankees could potentially make it worth Seattle’s while to eat the contract. They can offer veteran outfielder Brett Gardner to the Mariners; it was rumored earlier this month that the two sides discussed a swap involving Gardner and left-hander James Paxton.
The Yankees have MLB-ready prospects like catcher Gary Sanchez, first baseman Greg Bird, and outfielder Mason Williams, to offer. Right-hander Luis Severino, and outfielders Aaron Judge and Slade Heathcott are presumably off-limits for Cano. Then, they have lower-level prospects that have major upside should Seattle decide to enter a rebuild.
Infielders Cito Culver, Tyler Wade Jorge Mateo and Abiatal Avelino could all conceivably be moved, especially considering current shortstop Didi Gregorius is only 23, and Cano would be the everyday shortstop for the next eight years.
The Yankees don’t want to add beefy contracts to their already blown-up payroll, but if the Mariners are willing to provide financial relief then this could work for both sides.
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