MLB

Hal ready to break routine to keep Cano

BREAKING THE BANK: Robinson Cano, running the bases during drills yesterday, could be in for a big payday — before hitting the free-agent market. Owner Hal Steinbrenner said the Yankees are willing to offer a “significant long-term contract.” (
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TAMPA — Hal Steinbrenner says the Yankees are serious about keeping Robinson Cano away from next offseason’s free-agent market.

Scott Boras, an agent who almost always takes his clients into free agency, has informed the Yankees he isn’t going to ignore a lucrative offer.

Is this the ground floor of a monstrous extension for Cano or chatter that immediately drifted into the blue sky that bathed George M. Steinbrenner Field yesterday?

“We expressed to Scott what a great Yankee [Cano] has been and we hope he continues his career here for a long time to come. We indicated to him on a very preliminary basis that we were willing to consider a significant long-term contract,’’ Steinbrenner told three reporters after the team’s workout yesterday. The talks were held before camp opened. “Nothing has happened and there is nothing to report since then.’’

Boras informed the Yankees their interest in keeping Cano in The Bronx won’t be ignored.

“I told Hal, Randy [Levine] and Cash [Brian Cashman] it’s something we will have a conversation about,’’ Boras said.

Of course, it’s a long way from the team being serious about making a significant offer and the player being willing to forgo free agency at a time when there is plenty of money outside of The Bronx.

“The main purpose of the conversation was to let [Boras] know that we want Robby to continue to be a Yankee and that we appreciate all of his contributions,’’ Steinbrenner said.

If the Yankees get to the point of offering Cano a long-term deal it will be a move away from their policy of not extending contracts.

Bernie Williams and Mariano Rivera had to wait until they were able to sign elsewhere. Ditto Jorge Posada and Mike Mussina.

The biggest exception was Derek Jeter, who signed a 10-year, $189 million deal prior to the 2001 season. That was one year before he was eligible to become a free agent. Ten years later Jeter became a free agent and experienced a tough negotiation process.

With Alex Rodriguez possibly missing the season and Jeter coming back from a broken ankle, Cano is easily the Yankees’ best player.

He has been in that chair for several seasons, but if Cano doesn’t produce an All-Star type year the Yankees will be hard-pressed to make the postseason.

Based on a .308 career batting average, and having hit 115 homers and driven in 406 runs across the past four seasons when he batted .316, some expect Boras to ask for Prince Fielder-type money. Fielder, a free agent, signed a nine-year deal for $214 million with Detroit before last season.

The likelihood of a deal getting done is remote based on Boras’ business model of taking clients into free agency. And a deal certainly isn’t going to get done before April 1 when the Yankees open the season against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.

While the Yankees’ goal is to get next year’s payroll to $189 million from this coming season’s $207 million, they have insisted they have the money to retain Cano and Curtis Granderson, who can also become a free agent at the end of the year.

In order to keep Cano focused on the field, Boras explained that if the situation progresses to contract talks, don’t expect daily public updates.

“If we do talk, it will be done very privately,’’ Boras said. “There will not be something to report until it’s reported. Robby wants to play without distractions.’’

george.king@nypost.com