Though the Yankees are ready to pursue free agents such as Brian McCann and Shin-Soo Choo, they continue to wait for their top target to come back to them.
Robinson Cano is still awaiting his first offer from a team other than the Yankees, who countered his original 10-year, $310 million asking price with something closer to seven years, $160 million during the season.
Since then, Cano, like the rest of baseball, has been on hold until other teams show firm interest. That has yet to happen.
So, the Yankees sit by the phone.
“The ball’s in his court,” said someone familiar with the negotiations.
Cano’s search for a contract was expected to be a lengthy process, yet some people within the industry have expressed surprise teams haven’t already actively gone after the second baseman in the first week of free agency.
According to sources, the market for Cano has yet to take any form and they remain curious to see which team steps forward with a competitive offer that could force the Yankees to increase their initial numbers.
Other than Cano, there are a lack of big-name free agents this offseason, something that figured to work in Cano’s favor.
But as teams wait for players to make their decisions on one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offers by Monday at 5 p.m., they apparently aren’t banging down Cano’s door.
That’s one of the reasons the Yankees remain hopeful they will be able to retain the 31-year-old All-Star, although some within the organization are anxious that one unforeseen team might make a play to force their hand and head up to the $200 million range.
The market is becoming more clear on other free agents in whom the Yankees are interested.
Although Cano will certainly score the biggest payday, Choo is said to be looking for a contract worth more than $100 million. Choo could be a fit with the Yankees if Curtis Granderson rejects the team’s qualifying offer. The Mets may also end up in play for the Reds outfielder.
And McCann, with deep-pocketed teams such as the Yankees, Red Sox and Rangers, among others, interested, could see his demand reach nine figures as the premier catcher available and the Braves unlikely to be able to keep him around.
Carlos Beltran, another potential Yankees target if Granderson goes elsewhere, is reportedly seeking a four-year deal, a risky proposition for any team, considering the 36-year-old’s health history.
Still, as much as the Yankees would like to become involved in bidding on those players, Cano remains their first priority in an attempt to improve the offense.
They are hoping to get a read on what it will take to keep Cano in The Bronx, although even with the General Manager Meetings set to begin in Orlando on Monday, they are unsure of when progress will be made on that front.