February 15, 2013
For Yankee fans like myself, this is a tad frightening. And the two most frightening things about this negotiation is: Scott Boras and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Why, the L.A Dodgers?: If Cano and the Yankees fail to sign an extension and he hits free agency, Cano will be a Dodger. You can pretty much lock it up -- if, he hits the open market.
If the Dodgers have a chance to get the best second baseman in the game, and to pry him away from the big, bad New York Yankees, they're gonna do it. Also, this is not just any player, this is one of these best all-around hitters in baseball. They saw their crosstown rivals the L.A Angels sign Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton in the last two years -- why wouldn't they counter that by signing Cano ... Whose younger.
Why, Scott Boras?: He would force Cano out of New York just so he can get his money. Boras will not tell Cano: 'think about the team, first' ... No. It's more like: think about the team who offers you the most money.
Boras gets all his clients what they want. When you think it's impossible for a certain player of his to get sign for 'this' or 'that' amount of money, he makes it happen. He got the Detroit Tigers to sign Prince Fielder, a DH/1B, to a nine-year, $214 million dollar contract. Boras got Michael Bourn -- who looked as if he was going to get only two-years, ended up getting four-years, $58 million, from the Cleveland Indians.
With or without the Yankees, Boras will get Cano to the $190-225 million dollar range.
Will Cano Resign with the Yankees: Yes. I think so. It could get done during spring training; which I hope. If we're in July and the deal isn't done, then things can start to get a little antsy.
It's amazing how Cano has now become the best hitter on the team. In the mid 2000's we'd kinda figure he'd be, but now that it's actually come to reality, it's unbelievable to witness. In 2009 when the Yankees won the World Series, he wasn't even consider to 'the guy' on the lineup.
With Alex Rodriguez's tragic downfall, and Mark Teixeira getting older and not playing like he once was, Cano has become the hitter you want up in a big spot. If he goes elsewhere, Yankees have no one in the lineup. I know Teixeira is still good, but not the all-around player Cano is.
Should Yankees Trade Cano, If Deal Doesn't Get Done: Might be a little too late for a trade. Yankees are just gonna have to show the money .... And that's why they want to do; they don't want to trade him. Yankees want Cano to be their next Derek Jeter for the next ten years.
And most importantly, Cano wants to be a Yankee. Yankees just have to cough the green. Cough it up and get it over with.