Just two years into his massive 10-year, $240 million deal, second baseman Robinson Cano may already be devising an exit plan from the Seattle Mariners.
Continue for updates.
Cano’s Agent Denies Rumors
Monday, Nov. 23
Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto spoke with Cano’s agent, and he assured Dipoto that Cano did not leak any rumors and is “very upbeat in all conversations,” per Greg Johns of MLB.com.
When asked if Cano was unhappy, Dipoto replied, “Quite the opposite.”
Cano Posts Workout Video Amid Rumors
Monday, Nov. 23
With speculation surrounding his future in Seattle, Cano took to Twitter to post a video of his offseason workout, tagging the Mariners in the process, with the team eventually retweeting the post, per Brett Smiley of Fox Sports:
“It feels kind of like a social media olive branch and perhaps a mutual realization that Cano’s monstrous contract—in light of his age and subpar defense—means they’re probably stuck together for a while,” Smiley said.
Mariners, Yankees Reportedly Not Discussing Deal
Monday, Nov. 23
Jim Bowden of ESPN, citing a source “directly involved in talks” between the Mariners and New York Yankees, reported there is “no truth” to any proposed deal involving Cano and Jacoby Ellsbury.
While the Yankees make sense from a roster perspective, the fact remains that if New York wanted Cano badly enough, then it never would’ve let him leave in the first place.
Cano Reportedly Prefers Return to New York
Monday, Nov. 23
According to John Harper of the New York Daily News, Cano is becoming dissatisfied with his current situation, and the Mariners’ new hires, manager Scott Servais and general manager Jerry Dipoto, haven’t lessened his desire to leave: “But even if Cano has had the best intentions as a Mariner, one long-time friend who spoke to him recently says the second baseman is not happy in Seattle, especially with a new regime in charge there now, and that he’d love to somehow find his way back to New York.”
Cano Has Not Lived Up to Lofty Price Tag in Seattle
Signing Cano was supposed to usher in a new era in Seattle following a string of losing seasons, but the Mariners finished third in the American League West in 2014 and then fourth in 2015.
Not only has the team failed to meet expectations, but the All-Star second baseman’s numbers have dipped a bit since his move to the spacious Safeco Field. He remains one of the best at his position but not quite the offensive force he was with the Yankees.
Here’s a look at how Cano performed between 2010—the first of his five straight All-Star seasons—and 2015:
Considering Cano will earn $24 million annually through 2023, few teams can feasibly trade for him or would even want to in the first place.
The Mariners could take on a large portion of Cano’s salary for a trade to be palatable for potential suitors. With so much money still left on the deal, though, the cost of making that happen will almost certainly be prohibitive for Seattle—at least for another few years.
Given Cano’s hefty contract, he’ll have to hope things can turn around for the Mariners going forward because he won’t be leaving Seattle for the foreseeable future.
Note: Stats are courtesy of FanGraphs.
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