The Mariners are giving this their best shot. Robinson Cano’s representatives met with Mariners officials Tuesday in Seattle, according to an industry source.
“The meeting went very well,” the source told the Post Wednesday.
The Yankees want Cano to return to The Bronx, but they are not willing to go near Cano’s asking price. The free-agent second baseman’s latest ask was for nine years in the $250 million-$260 million range. The Yankees countered with a seven-year offer for $160 million-$175 million. The Mariners, desperate to land two big bats, have targeted Cano as one of them.
With the signing of Brian McCann (five years, $85 million) and agreement with Jacoby Ellsbury (seven years, $153 million), the Yankees have sent the message they once again expect to be among the American League’s elite teams, and having Cano in the middle of the lineup would create a monster offense.
Cano likely will have to make the decision to stay with the Yankees or go for the extra millions, and at present that points to the Northwest. The Mariners have a painful history of coming in second on big free agents and want to do everything in their power to come up a winner this time around.