If the Mets want to drop 300 million reasons on Robinson Cano to move from The Bronx to Queens, the Yankees won’t throw up a roadblock on the Grand Central Parkway.
Asked Tuesday whether he could envision Cano wearing the blue and orange instead of the pinstripes, Yankees president Randy Levine smiled and said, “For $300 million, yes.”
Cano’s representatives, headed by Jay Z, dined with Mets brass Monday night in Manhattan, and though it’s highly unlikely the Mets would be able to sign Cano to the 10-year, $310 million contract he is seeking, the meeting made for delicious theatre.
When asked Tuesday at a Manhattan restaurant about signing with the Mets, Cano declined to answer. Regarding being the center of attention, however, Cano insisted, “I’m not the guy. I’m not the guy.”
Levine, who later Tuesday testified at the Alex Rodriguez appeal hearing in Midtown, spoke in lower Manhattan in the morning at the Stroock government leadership forum on the impact of professional sports on New York’s economy.
Baseball’s economy is booming, and Cano is looking to take a big bite out of it in his first dip into the free-agency pool. However, the Yankees aren’t in the mood to give Cano what he is looking for.
“Robbie Cano is a great player. We would very much like to bring him back. I think we’ve made a very competitive offer, we are just waiting for him to come back,’’ Levine said of the Yankees’ best player,S who is 31, a five-time All-Star and has never won a batting title or been the AL MVP. “As Hal [Steinbrenner] said, ‘We have no interest in paying any player over $300 million.’ We hope he comes back to us. We want him. But there are really no reasons to have any discussions at this point.’’
The Yankees don’t have a meeting with Cano’s reps scheduled this week and Levine gave the impression the Yankees aren’t going to wait on Cano if other free agents are ready to sign.
“I think Robbie is a very smart guy. I think Jay Z and Brodie [Van Wagenen] are very smart, competent guys, and I am not here to tell them how to conduct their strategy or how to sell their player. They can do anything,’’ Levine said. “I’m sure they have a plan. They know we’re here. They know we’re very interested. But right now the money they’re demanding, is just too high.’’
Levine explained not knowing what Cano is going to do won’t hinder the Yankees’ pursuit of other free agents who could fill other holes the team has.
“We’re not waiting around for anybody. We have a list of about five or six major free agents. We’re heavily engaged with all of them, and we’re not waiting around,’’ Levine said. “The first guys who come off the board, those are the guys who we are going to sign.’’
Of course, it only takes one team to outbid the Yankees, who would prefer a seven-year deal in the $168 million range and possibly could increase the dollars and add a year. However, Levine has to see Cano get the offer he wants before believing a team will meet the second baseman’s wishes.
“You never say never, but I’m highly skeptical,’’ Levine said when asked whether Cano will get a $300 million offer from another team.
Though Cano is clearly the best player among the current free-agent class, he isn’t the only one who would help the Yankees.
Catcher Brian McCann is high on their list, even if it appears he will surpass Yadier Molina’s five-year deal for $75 million. The Yankees are also engaged with outfielders Carlos Beltran and Shin Soo-Choo and have interest in infielders Omar Infante, Jhonny Peralta and Stephen Drew. And, of course, they are ready to join the posting race for pitcher Masahiro Tanaka when or if Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball hammer out a posting process.
Playing in the shadow of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez, Cano never has been called on to be a leader. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t possess those skills, but they haven’t been needed. Nevertheless, the Yankees are comfortable giving Cano a long-term deal because they believe he can be a leader. As for Cano leaving agent Scott Boras for Jay Z, Cano has said he believes he can develop a brand on and off the field. Yet, what team markets itself better than the Yankees?
“I’ll be honest with you, I think the commitment we’ve already made to Robbie anticipates him being a leader, anticipates him being the new face of the Yankees,’’ said Levine, who added he believes the Yankees can field a championship club and stay under the $189 million luxury-tax threshold. “We view him as a baseball player. And value him as a great baseball player. We know how to do marketing ourselves.’’
So, does Levine think Cano remains a Yankee?
“I hope he is. I really hope he is,’’ Levine said.