Well, this year’s MLB hot stove is off to a fiery start. The Seattle Mariners are currently discussing a potential trade that will bring 2B Robinson Cano back to the East Coast. Only this time, he won’t be in Yankee pinstripes. He would be donning the blue and orange of the New York Mets.
I’m sure if you’re reading this post, you already have an idea of what’s going on, so I’ll spare you every detail and just focus on the big picture: Cano is owed $120 million over the next 5 years, an annual value of $24 million. The Mariners want to dump this contract to whoever is willing to take it while also gaining back some decent prospects to begin their rebuild. As we know, the M’s have already traded away catcher, Mike Zunino, and starting pitcher, James Paxton.
For the Mets, it comes down to a few things before agreeing to such a deal: how much of this contract are they going to be picking up, what is Seattle hoping to get back, and what else they can they squeeze out of the Mariners. According to Andy Martino of SNY:
Per major league sources, here are the basic parameters of what the teams are discussing: Cano would go to the Mets, and Seattle would pay approximately $10 million annually of the $120 million owed to Cano over the next five years. That would take Cano’s annual salary down to about $14 million.
The Mets are also trying to get Seattle to take on a burdensome contract like Jay Bruce’s, and obtain a player like Edwin Diaz or Mitch Haniger.
Note: these are just discussions according to sources. Nothing is set in stone or agreed upon.
So, let’s think about this for a second: Seattle covers $10 million of Cano’s $24 million annual salary for the remaining 5 years, giving the Mets only $14 million to cover per year. Seattle would also most likely want a top prospect back as well. Potentially guys like SS Andres Gimenez or P Justin Dunn, two of the Mets top farm hands. Because the Mets are taking on so much of the contract, they also want to dump Bruce’s contract ($28 million over 2 years) and get Seattle to sweeten the deal by throwing in their All Star closer or outfielder, who are both under team control through the next 4 years.
To be honest, this trade with these parameters makes no sense for Seattle. Essentially, they would pay $50 million of Cano’s remaining $120 million contract while also losing either Diaz or Haniger, two guys they should rebuild around. Not to mention the idea of possibly taking on Bruce’s contract. It would almost be a steal for the Mets. A salary dump is one thing, but trading away a Diaz or Haniger just to get it done, I’d be shocked if Mariners’ GM, Jerry Dipoto, pulled the trigger on that.
On the flipside of things, new Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen, who helped Cano negotiate the monster contract he was awarded by Seattle, is showing the aggressive nature he promised Met fans he would bring to the table. I mean, if he could get Cano and only pay a portion of his salary while also getting a young controllable player, then it’s a win for New York. It’s even more of a win if he can pawn off Bruce’s contract. The latter part there is a long shot. I highly doubt Seattle would dump a bad contract in Cano’s just to pick up another one in Bruce’s.
I’ve seen a lot of Mets fans weighing in over the last 24 hours or so saying Cano is done. He’s 36, coming off a PED suspension and on the decline. Well, despite his only 80 games in 2018, Cano put up a wRC+ of 136 which is still pretty good. The weighted Runs Created, wRC, sabermetric attempts to quantify a player’s total offensive value and measure it by runs. Similar to OPS+, wRC+ measures how a player’s wRC compares with league average after adjusting for park effects. Given a league average of 100, Cano’s 136 wRC+ proves to be above average; we know he can still hit, and he is still an effective fielder.
Now, Cano alone will not entice the Mets. Seattle would have to throw in a kicker, like a Diaz or Haniger. In theory, that would be the centerpiece of the trade and I feel like Met fans are overlooking that. As a Mets fan myself, I say no to a trade for Cano, regardless of some salary relief. But, if you’re going to give me a young, All-Star caliber player who’s under team control for the foreseeable future along with Cano, then you have my attention.
The way it’s being talked about, a deal could potentially be in place shortly. The Winter Meetings begin December 9 in Las Vegas. Sounds like the chips may fall before then for these two clubs.
