Robinson Cano Wants To Be Paid

Now that the New York Yankees have been eliminated from playoff contention, the big story shifts to the impending free agency of their superstar second baseman, Robinson Cano.

Sep 22, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova (47) and second baseman Robinson Cano (24) New York Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson (14) and shortstop Eduardo Nunez (26) watch from the dugout in the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this season, the Yankees broke their long-standing tradition to not negotiate contracts in-season by offering Cano an eight year, $138 million deal – the same that David Wright got from the New York Mets. Cano turned down that offer, so the Yankees came back with a six year $144 million deal. Cano rejected that one too.

The Yankees, Cano, and Cano’s agents have not talked about a new contract since that point.

Earlier today however, Robbie and his agent announced that they will be seeking a 10 year contract worth $305 million.

Yes, you read that right. $305 million.

So obviously, both the Yankees and Cano are very far apart when it comes to negotiating a new contract.

But the fact is that Cano’s request is a pretty standard negotiating technique. It is typical in contract negotiations that the player requests high, and the team offers low. Then eventually, the two parties meet somewhere in the middle. So is Cano really looking for $305 million? Perhaps he is, but chances are that both he and his agents know that such a request borders on insane.

Despite all of this, we can’t ignore the fact that Robbie deserves to be paid. Cano will soon conclude his fifth straight season in which he had at least 40 doubles and 20 home runs. It’s also the third season in his career in which he has eclipsed 100 RBIs.

Needless to say, Cano is among baseball’s elite player and should be paid like one. But a $305 million dollar contract is not going to happen.

If it were up to me, I would offer Robbie a five year deal worth $125 million, averaging out to $25 million a year. Sure, some teams may offer more years, but if there is one thing that should be taken away from the contract that Alex Rodriguez signed back in 2007, it’s that typically, long contracts given to a player on the wrong side of 30 do not work.

Cano is great, but nobody should expect his asinine request to actually go through.