LOOKING GOOD: It was a good day to be Robinson Cano yesterday. First, he signed a contract to become the first player to be represented by Jay-Z’s fledgling sports agency, then he hung out with Victoria’s Secret model Jessica Hart at an unveiling of the MLB Pink Collection at Victoria’s Secret PINK in Soho. (DC)
LOOKING GOOD: It was a good day to be Robinson Cano yesterday. First, he signed a contract to become the first player to be represented by Jay-Z’s fledgling sports agency, then he hung out with Victoria’s Secret model Jessica Hart at an unveiling of the MLB Pink Collection at Victoria’s Secret PINK in Soho. (Marion Curtis/StarPix; Xposurephotos.com)
Robinson Cano fired Scott Boras, dismissing the representative most renowned for taking clients to free agency in pursuit of the largest possible contracts. He hired a group recognized for keeping stars just where they are.
In the A-plus-B world, C should equal the Yankees and their second baseman finding common ground. And the likelihood Cano avoids free agency by re-signing with the Yankees in the next few months did rise with a revelation by Cano that all but screams: “Keep me in The Bronx.”
But there are potholes ahead.
For example, does anyone think Boras is giving up the No. 1 free agent in next offseason’s class without a fight? There is a better chance Jayson Nix wins the MVP.
Players abandon agents frequently — this is Cano’s third since he became a major leaguer — but Boras, at the least, will demand some or all of the commission on Cano’s eventual contract. Remember, general manager Brian Cashman revealed the Yankees made a “significant” offer to Boras and Cano, which was rejected. Thus, we can assume Boras put in quite a bit of time, energy and finances already to represent Cano.
In addition, Cano put out a statement saying he would be represented now by a partnership between the baseball wing of Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Roc Nation, an entertainment company founded by Jay-Z. CAA has a slew of certified baseball agents and a ton of history negotiating deals.
Roc Nation does not. Several, including Jay-Z, have filed paperwork with the Players Association to be considered for agent certification. But there are conflict-of-interest issues that could undermine Jay-Z or any of his associates from repping Cano in baseball negotiations with the Yankees or any team.
For example, Jay-Z is appearing in concert at Yankee Stadium in July. Can he be paid — even through a third party, Live Nation — by the team and then negotiate against the team for Cano? He also owns a stake in the Nets. Will the union let him serve in management in the NBA and against management in MLB when, for example, both leagues share the same outside counsel, Proskauer Rose.
These matters are usually resolved with a check because the union wants players repped by their preferred choices. As of yesterday, the Players Association had Cano’s paperwork authorizing this new group, called Roc Nation Sports, to rep him, so the union is honoring that — effective immediately.
Cano wants CAA, it appears, because he hungers to stay with the Yankees and was growing concerned Boras’ more contentious style would pull him away. CAA — with players such as Ryan Braun, Matt Cain, Ryan Howard, Andre Ethier, Adam Jones and Buster Posey — tends to get the best players in its stable contract extensions before they ever reach free agency.
CAA’s Brodie Van Wagenen said, “Is it possible to sign with the Yankees before free agency? Sure, [Cano’s] not a free agent until November.” The important inference there is Cano is not precluding discussions during the season.
But even if Cano is ready and willing to deal, are the Yankees? Heck, Snooki probably could represent Cano and get a contract that starts with a 2 — as in $200 million. However, it takes two to deal.
There is, for want of a better term, a George Steinbrenner wing of the Yankees that believes stars drive winning and attendance and thinks it wise to spend accordingly, especially to retain homegrown elites like Cano. There is another more data-driven faction that feels lessons from, among others, Alex Rodriguez’s deal, are about limiting contract lengths, particularly for players already in their 30s (Cano will be 31 in October).
Hal Steinbrenner will break the tie with the pressure of wanting to get under the $189 million luxury tax threshold next year (more difficult with a big Cano deal) weighing against the potential win-loss/attendance ramifications of letting one of the game’s best players leave.
Cano will want 10 years, the Yankees want six. A settlement in the eight-year, $200 million range feels feasible, especially if Boras is not around to chase his dream of making Cano the first $300 million player. Cano wants to be a lifelong Yankee and an off-field New York star. He sees a partnership with his friend Jay-Z helping in the endorsement/entertainment/lifestyle arena. You may recall Jay-Z counseled A-Rod not to leave New York, so when he truly can influence an outcome, will a lifelong Yankees fan (another conflict?) really let Cano go?
Ultimately, you hire Boras to do one kind of deal that leads to free agency, and CAA to do the kind to keep you around. Cano picked CAA. That is Cano’s move back toward the Yankees. Are the Yankees ready to move as well?
joel.sherman@nypost.com