Robinson Cano reportedly unhappy, wants to go back to New York Yankees
Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano is coming off the worst season of his career. In the second year of his two-year, $240-million pact with Seattle, the six-time All-Star hit below .300 for the first time since his rookie year (2005), struck out over 100 times for the first time in his career, tied his career low for doubles (34), and also posted his lowest RBI total since 2009 (79).
It was still a solid year for Cano, as almost every club would take his batting line out of their second base spot. But things didn’t go the way he hoped.
Former Mariners first base coach also ripped into Cano in a radio interview recently, saying he “cost the GM his job, the hitting coach got fired because of Cano and then the manager and coaches got fired because of Cano, because that’s how much impact he has on the organization.”
The story prompted former Seattle third base coach Rich Donnelly to defend Cano to the Daily News’ John Harper, who wrote of how injuries and ailments contributed greatly to the struggles of Cano. second baseman. But Harper also wrote that Cano reportedly has interest in a return to the New York Yankees.
After conceding that Van Slyke may have just been bitter when he ranted about Cano, Harper wrote this:
"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."
Oh.
So Cano apparently would like to go to the Yankees if possible. And conveniently, New York could use an upgrade at second base. Go figure.
While no reports have actually mentioned the Yankees discussing a Cano trade with Seattle, it wouldn’t be such an unthinkable thing. Freeing up some of Cano’s salary could allow the Mariners to go out and pursue another starting pitcher to bolster the starting rotation, or add a bat in right field so they can bat Nelson Cruz at designated hitter full-time.
The Yankees also seem to have Brett Gardner and Andrew Miller available, both of whom could appeal to Seattle. However, one would think Jerry Dipoto would be more interested in either adding a top young player like Aaron Judge, or targeting gems in the Yankees farm system.
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Whether Harper’s source took something Cano said too far or if this story has legs remains to be seen. But a Cano/Yankees reunion would easily jump to the top of the list of offseason transactions this winter if it comes into play.