Robinson Cano was officially introduced as a member of the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, and he did not exactly take the high road when discussing his former team. Cano told reporters that the Mariners “showed me love” and made it clear that they wanted him from day one. As for the New York Yankees, the 31-year-old said he felt disrespected.
“Honestly, I would say no,” Cano said when asked if he felt the Yankees wanted him back, via David Lennon of Newsday. “I didn’t feel respect. I didn’t get any respect from them and I didn’t see any effort.”
Cano is probably right. The second baseman was one of the best hitters in the American League for the last several seasons, but the Yankees wanted him back at a price that was reasonable for them. The last thing they need is another massive contract like the one Alex Rodriguez is currently still working under, which is why New York offered Cano seven years and $175 million — a higher average annual salary than he got from Seattle.
Cano shouldn’t take it personally. Sure, the Yankees were quick to give Jacoby Ellsbury a seven-year, $153 million deal. But again, it’s more about the length of the deal. New York is done paying players $25 million when they are 40 — at least for now. That’s why we previously wrote that the Yankees proved they learned a lesson by letting Cano walk. Given the current state of the Bronx Bombers, Cano simply hit free agency at a time that gave him virtually no chance to remain in pinstripes.
