The New York Yankees are heading into what should be one of the craziest and toughest off seasons in recent memory, as the team will likely miss the playoffs, will have to deal with A-Rod's suspension and of course, the impending free agency of second baseman Robinson Cano.
According to ESPN New York, Cano and the Yankees may end up parting ways if he asks for a number on his contract like A-Rod did or if it is very high, as the team may not want to have their payroll explode over the next few years. The article speaks with Yankees president Randy Levine and while it might be a negotiation tactic, the executive sent out a warning to Cano, saying that no player was a "re-sign at any cost" for the team and those quotes may be the first ones to precede a departure for the second baseman from the Bronx, which many have speculated is a possibility since he likely will command a very high yearly salary and new contract.
Cano recently signed with Jay Z's new agency and dismissed Scott Boras and while many saw that as a good sign that he might sign with the Yankees again, clearly there is some trepidation on the part of the team in getting involved in another contract that is over $200 million after what happened with A-Rod and his deal over the past few years and especially this year as his suspension appeal is looming for his connections to the Biogenesis scandal.
Cano is the best second baseman in baseball and he will be 31-years-old later this year, making the prospect of a long-term deal with the star scary, especially with the way that Rodriguez has broken down and he still has over $100 million on his deal. Cano is the best Yankees player overall and while he will command a high salary, he could try and work with the team to find a number and other ways to make money so that it is still lucrative.
Levine said that he wants to bring back Cano and hopes that he is a Yankee and that they will talk to him this offseason, but like it mentioned earlier, he is not considered a player they will try and re-sign no matter the cost and the obvious reason is after what happened with Rodriguez. Cano has been one of the best players in the league again and is leading the Yankees in a number of categories, including RBIs, home runs and batting average and he also has been one of the best second basemen in baseball over the past few years.
Cano has not commented much on his impending free agency and while most assume that the Yankees will be able to figure out a deal, some teams that have been mentioned include the Chicago Cubs, NY Mets, Phillies and Dodgers, as they all have the money to sign him. The team has had talks with Cano during the season, but so far no major movement has happened. As September turns into October, if the Yankees miss the playoffs A-Rod and Cano's contract will be the biggest stories around and depending on what happens, both may not turn out well for the Yankees.
