A city known for rain is producing smoke around Robinson Cano.
According to a person with knowledge of the Mariners’ involvement with the free-agent second baseman, the club’s ownership doesn’t have the stomach to pay one player $200 million across eight years even though they are doing the tango with Cano’s camp.
For about 10 days the Yankees have believed the Mariners eventually would get in on Cano, but Seattle’s ownership not giving general manager Jack Zduriencik the funds to make a legitimate run at Cano plays into the Yankees’ plan to retain the ultra-talented second baseman on their terms or let him walk.
The cold feet however, haven’t kept the Mariners and Cano from acting as if each is serious about him relocating to Seattle, a jewel of a city which is a long way from his beloved Dominican Republic and houses a very bad baseball team.
Cano’s representatives met with Mariners officials Tuesday in Seattle. They have met with the Mets when neophyte agent Jay Z was present and the Yankees when he wasn’t.
There is a belief the Mariners are prepared to go eight years and $205 million for Cano, which tops the Yankees’ desire for a seven-year deal in the $170 million range. In a meeting the Tuesday before Thanksgiving with the Yankees, Cano’s reps asked for a nine-year pact worth $250 million-$260 million and a vesting option. The Yankees politely declined and haven’t met face-to-face with Cano’s people since.
Knowing the Mariners need to create a buzz around a team that has alienated its fan base, Cano’s representatives lured the Mariners into the picture.
One thought is the Mariners aren’t against spending big money, but they would prefer two players instead of one. That could lead them to signing free agents Shin-Soo Choo and Kendry Morales.
Choo, an outfielder who will cost the team signing him a draft pick in June because he rejected the $14.1 million qualifying offer, started his career with the Mariners and has played for the Indians and Reds since. Morales spent last season with the Mariners and also rejected the qualifying offer.
With second baseman Nick Franklin, a first-round pick in the 2009 draft who played in 102 big league games this past season, the Mariners might feel they can get by without Cano as long as they upgrade elsewhere.
The Yankees would like Cano to return to The Bronx, but they have made it clear they aren’t waiting for him to decide. Free-agent catcher Brian McCann signed a five-year, $85 million deal and will be introduced Thursday at a Yankee Stadium press conference. Free-agent center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury took a physical Wednesday in New York that included a MRI exam of a hip, and when the final language details are completed he will have a seven-year pact for $153 million. McCann and Ellsbury will cost the Yankees draft picks.
They also continue to talk to agent Scott Boras about Choo, as well as free-agent second baseman Omar Infante’s representative in case Cano doesn’t return.
Beyond that they have made a one-year offer north of $15 million to right-hander Hiroki Kuroda and will be major players for Masahiro Tanaka when the Japanese right-hander is posted.
With the addition of Ellsbury, there was speculation the Yankees would deal Brett Gardner to the Reds for second baseman Brandon Phillips if Cano leaves, but that isn’t likely to happen.
Minor league catcher Ryan Baker, who is on the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs roster, has received a 50-game suspension without pay for refusing to take an offseason drug test, a violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The ban will begin at the start of the 2014 season.