By MATTHEW WOODS
Contributing Writer
Former Yankees star second baseman, Robinson Cano, has officially left New York to join, of all teams, the Seattle Mariners. Cano has reportedly accepted a deal worth $240 million dollars over the next ten seasons. This deal ties Cano with L.A. Angels first baseman Albert Pujols for the third largest contract in MLB history, behind only Alex Rodriguez who has the two largest contracts at $252 and $275 million with the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees respectively.
This blockbuster deal leaves two major questions: Is Cano worth that much money? And where do the Yankees move in filling the void left by Cano?
When it comes to sports, every player believes they are worth a ridiculous amount of money, so we can’t really blame them for wanting a lot of money if a team is willing to pay. This is a clear case of a player leaving a team for money over winning. Cano is clearly not worth the money the Mariners just gave him, by far.
If Cano had decided he wanted to stay in New York, it would be for a considerable amount less. During spring training the Yankees offered a contract for roughly $165 million over seven years, in which Cano declined, saying that he wanted $310 million over ten years. The teams were too far apart and decided to forgo contract negotiations until this offseason.
The Yankees brought up there offer to $165 million for seven years, while Cano replied wanting $252 for ten years. This led the Yankees to offer Cano a deal one final time with a 7-8 year deal worth $175 million.
Cano declined the offer and immediately agreed to a deal with the M’s. Cano and his representatives, which included Yankee fan Jay-Z, were not willing to accept the Yankees offer, given that the Yankees at the time were spending a large amount of money on other free agents, and in some cases, over-paying them.
Recent history has shown that players, who except major deals like Cano, don’t perform well; Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, and Alex Rodriguez are prime examples of that.
In Cano’s case, the Yankees were not willing to take the chance of shooting themselves in the foot by offering another gigantic contract to a player, only for the player not to perform. The Yankee organization has quickly learned from their prior mistakes.
However, this deal may be the best move for the future of the Yankees. By not offering Cano a giant deal, they have more money to spend on other players, while remaining under the 189 million dollar salary cap limit that will allow the Yankees a boat load of freedom next offseason, when players like Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Giancarlo Stanton will likely hit the free agent market.
The Yankees have already made some big free agent splashes this offseason, acquiring former Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann and frequently injured Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.
After Cano had agreed to sign with the Mariners, the Yankees countered by re-signing pitcher Hiroki Kuroda followed by signing big-time free agent and former St. Louis Cardinal Carlos Beltran to a three year deal.
And if you think the Yankees may stop there, you’re wrong. There are multiple reports that the Yankees will be very active during MLB’s winter meetings next week. A few players are on the Yankees agenda.
First thing they need is pitching. Cano’s signing means that the Yankees will be even more active when it comes to acquiring Japanese pitching sensation Masahiro Tanaka, if his Japanese club posts an offer for teams to start bidding. Tanaka has been highly rated as one of the best Japanese pitchers to possibly come to the states, and at 24 years old, has a long career ahead of him.
The Yankees also may have another trick up their sleeve to fill the void of Cano. Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips has been rumored to be a trade target for the Yankees. The Reds are in a tough situation due to the amount of big contracts they’ve dealt to players like Joey Votto and Jay Bruce, and are looking around for a possible trade partner to deal Phillips too.
The Yankees would most likely offer one of their multiple catching prospects who along with a player like center fielder Brett Gardner or infielder Eduardo Nunez, may be offered in a deal as well.
The other option the Yankees may look to do is bolster a Mariano Rivera-less bullpen, who is in desperate need of some help. David Robertson had a brief stint as closer a few years ago when Rivera injured himself shagging fly balls; during that time as closer Robertson was a bit shaky and really didn’t have his best stuff. So with Robertson a question mark, the Yankees need to strengthen the pen with quality arms to protect Robertson.
It’s hard to think of the last time a player left the Yankees in the way Cano did. The first person that comes to mind is Yankee great Reggie Jackson who left the Yankees after the 1981 season to join the California Angels.
But, like Reggie, the Yankees had Robinson Cano in the prime of his career and got a ring out of his stay. There is no doubt that Cano will be missed by the team. When you lose a sure-handed second baseman with perhaps the smoothest swing in the game since former Mariners great, Ken Griffey Jr., there is most likely going to be a bit of an adjustment period for the team, the organization, along with the fans.
Even though the Yankees lost perhaps their next great lifetime Yankee player, the organization is focusing on the future, which looks very bright for Yankee fans.
