PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic — Cue Aretha Franklin with, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,’’ the Major League Baseball version. Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz made it clear Friday the Yankees will miss Robinson Cano.
Ortiz agrees with Cano that the Yankees disrespected their former superstar second baseman, and late Friday night, A-Rod noted that Cano is on a Hall of Fame path.
“Cano is my little brother,’’ Rodriguez said after the pairings party for the David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic. “I’m obviously happy for him and his family. I think he is going to have a fantastic career over there. Robby is like Rod Carew with power. I think the Northwest is going to be very happy with Robby Cano.’’
Is Cano is a Hall of Fame player?
“I think so, I think he is on that path,” Rodriguez said. “If he stays healthy, Robby Cano is a very special person, a very special player.’’
“Hey look,’’ Ortiz, the Red Sox slugger said of the Yankees’ $175 million offer to Cano. “This is business. Like I told him, the organization is always going to do what they are capable of. They tried, but it wasn’t what he deserved, that’s the way I see it. People are going to give you what you deserve. At least he got what he wanted. It was well deserved. He’s one of the best players in the game and you have to give one of the best contracts in the game.’’
The Mariners did that, shelling out $240 million to sign Cano.
Rodriguez was asked if he felt the Yankees disrespected Cano, as Cano has said. A-Rod backed away from controversy, saying with a big smile, “I’m not getting into that.’’
Rodriguez, though, has told people as far back as July he was fearful the Yankees would not give Cano the kind of contract that would keep him in pinstripes.
Ortiz was surprised the Yankees lost Cano.
“It surprised me that he went to Seattle, but it didn’t surprise me that he got the money,’’ Ortiz explained. “They are going to miss him, I’m telling you right now. When you are in that division and you don’t have to face Cano that many times, that’s a plus for you as a pitcher.
“This guy has unbelievable strength. He is in his prime. With the money that people are getting in baseball, the Cano contract, he got respected, that’s the way I see it. I just couldn’t believe that the Yankees, the situation that they are in right now, and being who he is, didn’t get closer to what he was asking for.’’
The Yankees did wind up with former Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and former Braves catcher Brian McCann. A-Rod really likes those additions.
“I think the team has made some great decisions,” Rodriguez said. “ I’m excited to be the right-handed bat in that lineup. I think we are going to have a very good team.’’
Rodriguez is hopeful he will get a favorable ruling in his 211-game suspension hearing.
“I’m optimistic,” he said. “It’s been a very tough several months, a very tough year, but I’m optimistic that a decision will come soon and we can get it behind us and take all this stuff off the back pages and focus on playing baseball and all the great things that are happening with the game, make the decision, whatever happens, let’s move forward. This is the best I’ve felt in any offseason in a long time.’’
As for the Yankees signing of Ellsbury, Ortiz said: “I’m going to miss my boy Jacoby, he’s a guy who was on base for me. A great player. He’s a good kid. He works. And that’s what paid off.
“The Yankees offered Ellsbury what he was looking for. Same thing with Seattle. They offered Cano what he was looking for. I know people get hurt feelings about the situation, but sorry, that’s how it is.’’
It’s all about respect.