Robinson Cano is closer to leaving the Yankees than ever.
If those words chill the spines of Yankees fans already reeling about the Red Sox becoming world champions in a year the Yankees failed to play in the postseason, relax.
Monday was the first day teams were allowed to talk to free agents. Cano is one of 147.
“He wants to be a free agent, so now he gets to go out into the marketplace,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said of the 31-year-old Cano, who hit .314 with 27 homers, 107 RBIs and had an .899 OPS this past season.
According to the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, teams and free agents can talk about everything but dollars until Tuesday. That is when they can begin negotiations involving money, and it’s the first day a free agent can sign with another team.
By 5 p.m. Monday, teams can extend a $14.1 million qualifying offer to their free agents who have until Nov. 11 to accept or decline it. Those declining and signing with another team will cost the signing club a compensatory draft pick in June.
As for Cano, the way to bet is he is staying in The Bronx. However, it only takes one owner seduced by Cano’s ability to remove him from a Yankees’ lineup that has many question marks.
Represented by Jay Z, Cano’s first volley consisted of looking for a 10-year deal for $310 million, which was easily dismissed by the Yankees, who are more comfortable with something in the area of seven years and $163 million.
So, where will the Yankees’ competition come from?
At those dollars the field isn’t overly crowded.
A person familiar with the Rangers’ thinking doesn’t believe they will be in the Cano Sweepstakes.
The Dodgers signing of Cuban second baseman Alexander Guerrero to a four-year, $28 million deal has many believing that deep-pocketed club is out on Cano. Others will believe that when they see it.
The Angels would have to move Howie Kendrick to open second base for Cano, and signing him would mean the underachieving Angels would be inking the highest-paid position free agent for the third straight year. Two years ago they gave Albert Pujols 10 years and $240 million. Last offseason Josh Hamilton took $125 million over five years from owner Arte Moreno.
“They don’t have a lot of money if Arte wants to get under [a $189 million payroll],’’ a person with knowledge of the Angels’ situation said. “If he wants to go over the cap, anything is possible.’’
The Tigers present an interesting situation. They could use an upgrade at second base and might be reducing payroll by trading pitchers Rick Porcello, Max Scherzer or Doug Fister and not picking up a $3.25 million option on reliever Jose Veras.
Porcello made $5.1 million this year, Scherzer, the favorite for the AL Cy Young Award, made $6.73 million and Fister $4 million. All are arbitration eligible. And there doesn’t appear to be a spot for free-agent Jhonny Peralta, who was paid $6 million.
Of course, cutting payroll isn’t necessarily an indication the Tigers are looking to make room for Cano because slugger Miguel Cabrera will be a free agent after the 2015 season.
The Cubs, Orioles, Nationals and Phillies also have the wherewithal to be suitors for Cano.
In other matters, the Yankees will make qualifying offers to Hiroki Kuroda and Cano and, probably, Curtis Granderson.
Outside of Cano, the Yankees will be in on free-agents Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran and Stephen Drew.
“I don’t comment specifically, but we have had significant communication at this point,’’ said the catcher’s agent, B.B. Abbott.
The left-handed hitting McCann, a seven-time All Star who will be 30 in February, is expected to draw strong interest from the Rangers and Red Sox, who can use fellow catcher David Ross as a recruiting tool. McCann and Ross were teammates in Atlanta and are very close friends.
Some industry sources expect McCann to look for the same five-year, $75 million deal Yadier Molina got from the Cardinals.
NOTES: The contracts of all Yankees coaches expired at midnight Thursday and the club didn’t announce any extensions. However, Joe Girardi’s staff is expected to return intact.
Additional reporting by Ken Davidoff