CANO MUST DECIDE: MONEY VS. STELLAR REPUTATION

So it turns out that the Mariners DIDN'T offer Robinson Cano a 10 year deal worth $240 million.  But they are planning on offering a 9 year deal worth $225 million instead.  Oh... that's better.

Yup, according to David Waldstein of the New York Times, that's what's happening:

Source with knowledge of the Mariners planning said they are going to offer Cano 9 years/$225 million
— David Waldstein (@DavidWaldstein) December 6, 2013

Now look...we've hammered Robinson Cano pretty good here over the past few weeks. It may not be entirely fair, but we are correct when we break down what reputation means to an individual and what fan perception is right now for number 24. There is no question, people believe Robinson Cano's money hungry, selfish, greedy and disgusting. I've heard it all.  But we didn't invent that, he did.

Now a few days after the Jacoby Ellsbury signing, I am equally confused by the idea of still offering 7 years and $153 million to Ellsbury.   Many believe, me included, that that may even be too high.  Sure, when the guy is on, he's really on.  He's a great player, he's relatively young and the potential for him to be a superstar in New York in unquestionable. But we've seen big contracts turn sour quickly, and fans have become less than excited by big contracts.  Teams though, teams like to repeat history, suggesting that each player is different and Cano could be "that guy" that is so durable, so eager for the money grab, that his adrenaline will carry him through possible championships for the next 9 years in Seattle.  OK, well, they have a right to think that way. Seattle wants to make a big splash and they're willing to dump everything they have into this guy.  This guy, Robinson Cano, the talent we appreciated at 2nd for years in New York. But understand this... he's a moving part in a team of 25 and not a team leader like Seattle is attempting to prop him up as.

Cano's good. No, no... Cano is great! But Cano is not 10 year / $230 million great and not even 9 year / $225 million great. Put it in perspective... He's not Mick Jagger, or Keith Richards... he's not even Charlie Watts. Cano is Bill Wyman.  He's there, he's talented, but not the leader of the group.  I left out Ronnie Wood there, but you get my point.  

The Yankees still have "room" for Cano. Steinbrenner said it today. But now Cano, who clearly has no control of this whole mess has gone to daddy... and here comes the spin.    According to the New York Daily News, Jose Cano is alittle ticked off at the Yankees. The Daily News writes: "'The Yankees don't seem to want him,' Jose Cano told the Daily News when asked about his son’s status with the Yankees... General manager Brian Cashman said the Yankees have been trying to sign Cano, though he acknowledged that his club has “a lot of needs” he’s had to focus on at the same time."

I said weeks ago that this was about agent manipulating player. Cano's people are controlling this dude in his first big opportunity to make himself look real good in this great game. But he's not controlling his own contract negotiation.  Now, I know Cano's a smart guy and he makes decisions in his life, but when your "people" muck it up, there needs to be a fix.  Cano came out and denied his offer of $300 million last weekend.  He tried to squash the beef between he and the fans.  He was right to do that. But at that point, if he REALLY and TRULY cared about the Yankee organization and being part of the club, a club who has a much better shot than the Seattle Mariners at winning a championship, he should have made the call and took the money the Yankees were offering.  In reality, if he took out a calculator, he would find that he would make the same money each year being a member of the Yankees or Mariners.  

But to him, I guess he just sees numbers. "$225 million is bigger than $175 million.... I go with the bigger one"... like this is 3rd grade arithmetic or something.  Add is up Robbie:

• $175 million divided by 7 is $25 million per year 
• $225 million divided by 9 is $25 million per year 

If your really stuck on a nice yearly salary and you like big numbers... $25 million a year is a nice way to go. And if you'd like to win, the Yankees are where you want to be.  AND, and this is a big one... If you want to be a leader, you have 7 big years in the Bronx to transform into one. Derek Jeter will be gone, ARod will be retired, and you can stand on top with guys like Ellsbury, CC Sabathia, David Robertson and Brian McCann.  The fact that I'm even breaking this down for him is ridiculous, but you see what I'm trying to say.

One of my friends asked me the other day, "Why do you think the Yanks are playing such hardball with Robinson Cano?" Well, the answer is simple... when it comes to this particular negotiation, the players are faceless.  What I mean is, the Yankees hate the number 10, meaning 10 years and the idea of 9 probably isn't too appealing either. The fact of the matter is, the Yankees won't offer deals that long anymore because they've learned from ARod.  They will never, ever do that again.  They will offer Cano more money per year, because he's been productive, and that's a nice olive branch, but Cano for some reason doesn't see that and I don't get it.

I was thinking about the "source" from Anthony McCarron's story HERE yesterday suggesting Cano could be "a baseball legend in Seattle." Not the brightest line I've ever heard, but he said it. But there is one thing interesting about legends in the game...

(In Photo: Yogi Berra with Ted Williams)
The great ones, the truly great legends played the game hard, they played it right and they were always known as great teammates, respectful, presented good sportsmanship on the field and had good reputations among each other. They also weren't rich back then.  Now, some of those legends, Ty Cobb comes to mind, was known as a real S.O.B., but they were few and far between.

Reputation followed these legends.  Remember, a lot of the greats didn't get nearly what the players get today, money, lodging, etc,  but they loved the game and weren't babied and over time, after retirement, there was a respect for the other man they played against years and years later.  They formed bonds... they had good reputations.  It's an important part of this whole thing being under-reported.  Thank goodness we have an outlet to express it here, because there is no better example right now than looking at what's happened to Mr. Robinson Cano.

Look, at the end of the day, Robinson Cano can do whatever he wants, he's allowed. I'll still like him as a great Yankee 2nd baseman.  But as I predicted here, his reputation is in shambles and if he doesn't care about that, that's sad.  I've said it before and I'll state it again;  I would rather have a stellar reputation; likable, hardworking and dedicated to my craft than perceived as a selfish, greedy and ignorant human being.  In the end, the money runs out, but a positive reputation lasts forever. Money can't buy that, you need to earn it to be great.

Come home Robbie... we're want you back kid.

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