Robinson Cano was officially introduced as a Seattle Mariner on Thursday after departing the Yankees to sign a 10-year $240 million deal with the Mariners, and the wealthy second baseman had some parting shots for his old team, which he felt didn't respect him with their offer.
"I didn't feel respect. I didn't get respect from them and I didn't see any effort," Cano told ESPN about the Yankees offer of $175 million over seven years.
The Yankees never came close to matching the offer that the Mariners gave to Cano which he took in order to ensure he could play for the next decade and be more than financially secure.
"I was looking for a contract where I would just be able to play and focus on the game and wouldn't wonder when I'm 37, 38 would I have a job one day. Would I be able to play?" Cano said per ESPN. "The one thing in Seattle is I get the chance. Am I going to keep working hard? Yes. Even harder? Yes. I'm going to do my best and play the same way I was playing in New York and go out there and do my business and win games."
Thank you for such a great welcome, Seattle. pic.twitter.com/85BsubQfbT
— Robinson Cano (@RobinsonCano) December 12, 2013
I’m looking forward to the future and joining the @Mariners in Seattle! Thank you New York & my amazing fans for the support thru the years. — Robinson Cano (@RobinsonCano) December 12, 2013
Cano, 31, was excited to land in Seattle and said "honestly, no" when asked if he thought he would leave New York. Cano said that he was glad he won't have to go through another contract negotiation.
Cano's Roc Nation agent and rap mogul Jay Z was in attendance after landing his client a deal that was tied for fourth-largest in MLB history as Cano netted the fifth deal in MLB history to top $200 million. Jay-Z reportedly declined interviews to keep the focus on Cano.
"Today isn't about me. It's about him," Jay Z said via ESPN.
ESPN reports that the agreement was reached after the Mariners brass met with Cano and his team for three hours last Thursday night
"It started early in the free-agency period. We had multiple conversations, multiple meetings, lots of trips back and forth cross-country; ultimately I think we had four trips in a span of 12 days before we finally reached an agreement," Cano's representative Brodie Van Wagenen said.
Cano was a five-time All-Star with the Yankees and won the World Series with them in 2009. He hit .314 with 27 homers and 107 RBIs through 160 games last season.
The Mariners will now look to build their team around Cano while the Yankees will continue their search for a new player up the middle after their franchise second baseman felt disrespected and left town for 10 years and $240 million.
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