MLB

A-Rod celebrity something Cano doesn’t bring to contract negotiations

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Alex Rodriguez hurt Robinson Cano’s negotiations with the Yankees last week — but not how you think.

Well, yes, it hardly helps Cano’s cause to get an extension of eight or more seasons when everyone is reminded yet again what a horror show A-Rod’s 10-year deal has become for the Yankees.

But what really harmed Cano this week wasn’t A-Rod’s contract. It was his star power. This was the most interest the Yankees have attracted in weeks, maybe all year, and it all was due to news arising about a player who is not physically with the team. Hasn’t been all year. In fact, might never be again.

Love him or hate him — and we know where the majority falls — Rodriguez draws attention. He is the “Jersey Shore” of humans. No one is proud of watching, yet bizarrely an overwhelming number do. Think of a car crash — “we shouldn’t look, shouldn’t look, shouldn’t look, oh my gosh, honey, look at that.”

It reminds me of the movie “Private Parts” when the program director is trying to fire Howard Stern and learns — to his horror — the people who hate Stern listen to him an hour more on average a day than those who love him. They wanted to know what he would say next in the way we are disturbingly fascinated by what happens next with Rodriguez — further descent, revival, more combinations of both.

Rodriguez remains more riveting in disgrace than nearly 100 percent of the players are through distinction. It is sad, but true. We are attracted to this fire.

Consider the report last week that Anthony Bosch was ready to tell MLB all about who obtained illegal performance enhancers from him involved approximately 20 players. Know that MLB, if it can nail just one player, probably would take down Ryan Braun. Yet the face of this story is A-Rod’s and pretty much his alone.

So you can understand what Hank Steinbrenner and the Yankees’ moneymen saw when they pushed to give Rodriguez those $275 million. Remember, baseball operations’ job is to assemble the best cost-effective roster possible. But others in the organization have to worry about fannies in the seats, eyes on the network, elevation of the brand.

In the fall of 2007, when Rodriguez opted out of his contract, he was — yes, laughable now — viewed as the clean guy who was going to break the all-time home run record while being a non-stop must-watch soap opera of ego, insecurity, riches and talent. Despite all the Scientology furor that circles around Tom Cruise, no studio would turn away his star power, believing it will open movies, and the biggest baseball studio in the world felt it had to retain A-Rod.

And here is the thing — even now after all of the mainly self-induced destruction to his character and accomplishments, Rodriguez still is a superstar, still moves the needle. I know now is the moment when you self-righteously proclaim you don’t care. But I am willing to make this bet: If Rodriguez rehabs his hip, avoids suspension and actually returns to the Yankees this year, it will produce the highest-rated game on YES this season. You say you won’t watch, but you will.

And this is where we get back to Cano. For years Yankees fans have proclaimed they would like a team less enslaved to stars, home runs and the overcompensated. Well, that is what they have in 2013, and the team still is contending despite the removal of about $100 million worth of talent. Yet attendance is down roughly 3,000 a game, and TV ratings have plummeted.

The prime-age star on this team has been Cano. And he doesn’t move needles. He can partner with Jay-Z, but he ain’t Jay-Z. He is a tremendous player, probably the best active second baseman, perhaps on a Cooperstown path. But in spring training when discussing how much to pay Cano, one Yankees official said something interesting to me: “Do you think anyone buys a ticket to see Robbie Cano?”

You can say that is a negotiating ploy. But I think it is just reality. He is a star, but not a superstar, not someone who demands that you see his at-bats or know whom he is dating.

I am sure the Roc Nation guys are going to package Cano up even further, put him in more commercials, put him in the arms of a starlet trying to open her movie. And maybe in 2013 we will buy that package. Heck, we bought Snooki.

But unlike A-Rod, to whom the Yankees gave the money knowing he was a product to sell beyond a baseball player, the organization very likely will end up making Cano the face of the franchise by default.

Because if not Cano for the Yankees, then who? Derek Jeter and A-Rod have the charisma — or anti-charisma — to demand attention by the force of their personas. But they have one foot in baseball graves, at the least. Mariano Rivera is retiring. Curtis Granderson is a free agent. Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia are good, but in the fade portion of their programs. There is no obvious elite prospect ready to take the mantle.

And before you say to take the $20 million-$25 million earmarked to retain Cano and apply it elsewhere, this is not theory, this is reality, so the question is: On whom? In this age when so many teams are willing to spend and lock up their young stars long term, the Yankees just can’t pluck another Reggie Jackson or A-Rod like in days of yore to remain uber-relevant.

Which leaves the Yankees in this tricky spot: They are now unable to fill the Stadium nightly and are no longer local Nielsen darlings. So are they forced to simply try to slow the fall in attendance and ratings by remaining a strong team? That is where Cano helps.

Over the next several years he should remain a star-caliber player. Maybe as he ages he could move to the less range-challenging third base, like A-Rod did, or DH and still be worth something on the latter half of a contract.

But the Yankees already know he is not A-Rod. Which generally is great news. Never-

theless, for the Yankees — though they would never admit so publicly — there is a downside, as well.

joel.sherman@nypost.com