Robinson Cano was last year's best free agent. In 2013, he hit .314, 27 HR, 107 RBI, .383 OBP, and massive 7.6 WAR for the Yankees.
Cano took the biggest money deal and wound up in Seattle.
Never to heard from again.
In most sports, there is an East Coast bias based upon a) New York and b) the early time zone. People can't stay up long enough to catch West Coast night games. Even in the Midwest, the 2 hour difference is enough not to watch the left coast contests.
So how is last year's great free agent doing?
Well, Seattle as a team is 42-37, in third place in the AL West, a very competitive division. So, that is good, right?
Cano himself has played in 75 games (about half the season). He is hitting .324, .384 OBP and 2.3 WAR, but his power numbers are way down: 4 HR, 43 RBI.
It may be a combination of not having the Yankee power line up ahead of him in the order to drive in runs, or solid bats behind him to protect him in the order, and the fact that Seattle plays in one of the biggest, pitcher friendly ball parks in the majors.
It appears that Cano is still driving the ball the same as last year with average and on-base percentage.
It is just the new team just does not fit into his power stroke.
And that is what many free agents do not take into consideration --- how a new team could affect their legacy and future statistics. But for most athletes, respect is spelled R-E-$-P-E-C-T.
Many players will take in account a better franchise over a losing one if the offers are similar. That was the alleged excuse for the Cubs missing out on high tender guys like Tanaka, who wanted to pitch for a consistent winning organization and not be part of a rebuild.
Showing posts with label Cano. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cano. Show all posts
June 28, 2014
December 6, 2013
RECOIL
The saga of the best free agent this off-season is almost operatic in its current twists and turns.
Robinson Cano dropped his baseball agent for a celebrity-rapper turned agent, Jay-Z. One would think that a superstar player changes an agent because the new agent will be able to provide better counsel and a bigger contract.
Well, things have not gone well, according to media reports.
The new Cano camp went to the Yankees and demanded a $310 million deal. The Yankees went on their business to spend large dollars on Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury, and two free agent infielders. Some writers believe that with the three holes in the Yankees starting rotation to fill, including re-signing starter Hiroki Kuroda for more than $15 million/year, the Yankees have no money to sign Cano. The NY free agent budget has already been allocated to fill needs. The Yankees did make an offer, but it was reported to be at least $150 million less than what Cano demands.
So, there was only one mystery team to play off against the Yankees. It was the Mariners. Apparently, negotiations were getting close, but things soured in a nuclear way, according to today's report at MLBTR:
The Mariners talks with Cano have broken down after Seattle made an offer of nine years and $225MM, two sources told the New York Daily News. The Mariners are no longer in the mix to sign Cano, reports Feinsand. According to the report, Cano and his representatives from CAA and Roc Nation Sports arrived in Seattle with an eight-year, $200MM offer in hand from the Mariners and eventually received assurances that the Mariners would go to nine years and $225MM. However, a late change by agent Jay-Z in which he once again demanded $252MM over 10 years caused Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln to "explode," prompting the meeting to end.
It is never a good idea to tick off the man, the CEO of the team, who has to approve spending more than $200 million.
The Yankees have reported offered a $150-160 million package. Based on Ellsbury's contract of $153 million, Cano's "market" value now in a one bidder (Yankee) market is significantly less than $200 million. The Yankees have held firm and have not bid against themselves. One reason is that ownership is demanding that the team be under the $189 million luxury tax threshold. At this point, Cano has priced himself out of even the Yankees budget.
So where does that leave the best free agent in baseball? On the sidelines, in a weak position, with no real options unless another "mystery" team comes to Jay-Z's rescue at the 11th hour. But that seems to be doubtful, as this off-season has been more about teams making trades than signing high-priced free agent veterans.
UPDATE: The Mariners agreed to kick in a 10th year at $15 million to sign Cano to a 10 year/$240 million deal. It is $70 million less than what Cano initially wanted from the Yanks, but about $90 million more than the Yankees were willing to pay. The Mariners overpaid for Cano, who went to Jay-Z to up his non-baseball endorsement appeal. However, being in Seattle as opposed to New York is a significant marketing down grade. Seattle is not a major national television draw, and West Coast games are not relevant on the East Coast.
Robinson Cano dropped his baseball agent for a celebrity-rapper turned agent, Jay-Z. One would think that a superstar player changes an agent because the new agent will be able to provide better counsel and a bigger contract.
Well, things have not gone well, according to media reports.
The new Cano camp went to the Yankees and demanded a $310 million deal. The Yankees went on their business to spend large dollars on Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury, and two free agent infielders. Some writers believe that with the three holes in the Yankees starting rotation to fill, including re-signing starter Hiroki Kuroda for more than $15 million/year, the Yankees have no money to sign Cano. The NY free agent budget has already been allocated to fill needs. The Yankees did make an offer, but it was reported to be at least $150 million less than what Cano demands.
So, there was only one mystery team to play off against the Yankees. It was the Mariners. Apparently, negotiations were getting close, but things soured in a nuclear way, according to today's report at MLBTR:
The Mariners talks with Cano have broken down after Seattle made an offer of nine years and $225MM, two sources told the New York Daily News. The Mariners are no longer in the mix to sign Cano, reports Feinsand. According to the report, Cano and his representatives from CAA and Roc Nation Sports arrived in Seattle with an eight-year, $200MM offer in hand from the Mariners and eventually received assurances that the Mariners would go to nine years and $225MM. However, a late change by agent Jay-Z in which he once again demanded $252MM over 10 years caused Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln to "explode," prompting the meeting to end.
It is never a good idea to tick off the man, the CEO of the team, who has to approve spending more than $200 million.
The Yankees have reported offered a $150-160 million package. Based on Ellsbury's contract of $153 million, Cano's "market" value now in a one bidder (Yankee) market is significantly less than $200 million. The Yankees have held firm and have not bid against themselves. One reason is that ownership is demanding that the team be under the $189 million luxury tax threshold. At this point, Cano has priced himself out of even the Yankees budget.
So where does that leave the best free agent in baseball? On the sidelines, in a weak position, with no real options unless another "mystery" team comes to Jay-Z's rescue at the 11th hour. But that seems to be doubtful, as this off-season has been more about teams making trades than signing high-priced free agent veterans.
UPDATE: The Mariners agreed to kick in a 10th year at $15 million to sign Cano to a 10 year/$240 million deal. It is $70 million less than what Cano initially wanted from the Yanks, but about $90 million more than the Yankees were willing to pay. The Mariners overpaid for Cano, who went to Jay-Z to up his non-baseball endorsement appeal. However, being in Seattle as opposed to New York is a significant marketing down grade. Seattle is not a major national television draw, and West Coast games are not relevant on the East Coast.
December 4, 2013
YANKING THE BUDGET
Robinson Cano may become a Mariner after all is said and done. The Yankees have refused to come close to Cano's original $300 million demand. AS of this week, the sides were still more than $100 million a part. But that has not stopped the Yankees from spending the money set aside to re-sign Cano into other workable free agent deals.
The Yanks signed catcher Brian McCann for $85 million/5 years. He was the best catcher on the market; clearly an upgrade at the position.
The Yanks signed outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury for $153 million/7 years. He was the second best WAR free agent on the market (just behind Cano); he is upgrade at the CF position.
The Yanks will sign second baseman Kelly Johnson to a $3 million/1 year deal. Johnson does not have the stats of Cano, but he has some power and is a veteran second baseman.
The Yankees have spend $206 million for three starting position players. This seems to make sense to diversify the payroll on three players rather than investing it all into one player, Cano. The Yankees can still add another second baseman, like Omar Infante, to the roster as well.
The Mariners have interest in Cano, but Cano may have only hoped for a second team to get top dollar from the Yankees. At this point in time, the Yankees really don't need to re-sign Cano in order to appease their fan base or local media. The Yankees have spent money this off-season on players, but have decided not to go overboard. I think even NY fans get that; bad long term dead money contracts kill franchises.
Cano winds up losing negotiation leverage as a result of the Ellsbury deal. He is back to one club, Seattle, really interested in his services.
The Yanks signed catcher Brian McCann for $85 million/5 years. He was the best catcher on the market; clearly an upgrade at the position.
The Yanks signed outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury for $153 million/7 years. He was the second best WAR free agent on the market (just behind Cano); he is upgrade at the CF position.
The Yanks will sign second baseman Kelly Johnson to a $3 million/1 year deal. Johnson does not have the stats of Cano, but he has some power and is a veteran second baseman.
The Yankees have spend $206 million for three starting position players. This seems to make sense to diversify the payroll on three players rather than investing it all into one player, Cano. The Yankees can still add another second baseman, like Omar Infante, to the roster as well.
The Mariners have interest in Cano, but Cano may have only hoped for a second team to get top dollar from the Yankees. At this point in time, the Yankees really don't need to re-sign Cano in order to appease their fan base or local media. The Yankees have spent money this off-season on players, but have decided not to go overboard. I think even NY fans get that; bad long term dead money contracts kill franchises.
Cano winds up losing negotiation leverage as a result of the Ellsbury deal. He is back to one club, Seattle, really interested in his services.
November 25, 2013
TOO GOOD
Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano is the best player available this off-season. No one will question that statement. His new agent, Jay-Z, is demanding a 10 year, $300 million deal for his client.
The Yankees recently said that they were not going to wait for Cano and his representatives to wake up to the reality of the new baseball model. The Yankees will explore alternatives to fill the second base position.
Likewise, the Dodgers quickly got out of the second base market by signing a touted Cuban defector, Alexander Guerrero, to a much more affordable $30 million deal.
In order for any agent to pump up his client's value, he needs to have two bidders in the process. Some agents have been daft to create a "ghost" second team to have one interested club bid against itself (as the Rangers did when they first signed A-Rod). But most front offices have enough street sense to not stumble on that ploy.
In addition, baseball clubs have become more realistic with their baseball payrolls. They have taken both the short term and long term view on player salaries. Owners are more wary about long term, dead money deals for veteran players nearing the end of their productive years. This may be a side effect of the steroid era, where 35 year old players put up numbers of 26 year old All Stars in years past.
If Cano is convinced he is worth $300 million, he will sit alone for a long time. There is no general manager in the game that has come out and said that Cano was worth that much money. And the longer Cano sits on his roost, the less likely there will be an 11th hour mystery bidder for his services.
Cano wants the Yankees to re-sign him. The Yankees are trying to cut payroll to get under the luxury tax. The Yankees are also an old team that needs to rebuild with younger players. It may be time to evaporate the Jeter-Cano double play combination.
Are there any real alternatives for Cano? His representatives want to meet with the Mets, another big market team. But the Mets still may have a Madoff hangover, the financial constraints of ownership placing millions in a pyramid scheme. The Mets had tried to sell minority stakes in the team to raise capital. It is doubtful that the team would commit $300 million on one player if it cannot raise that type of money in an equity sale.
The Angels are another big money spender, but the owner has to be concerned that last season's two big agent signings turned into megaflops. The Angels have a huge payroll and injured stars like Pujols. The Angels seem uninterested in going back to the big time free agent well.
The Rangers are another team not afraid to make big money deals like the Yu Darvish signing. But the Rangers have a surplus of quality middle infielders so Cano does not fit a need. The Rangers are probably more interested in spending money on starting pitching than infielders.
The Phillies were another big spender, but after a couple of weak seasons, they have cooled their jets. They signed Marlon Byrd and re-signed their catcher, Carlos Ruiz. Besides, the Phils still have Chase Utley at second base.
Hernan Perez and Danny Worth are the second base depth chart for the Tigers. The Tigers have given big contracts to their starting pitchers, Cabrera and Fielder, but it is not clear that ownership is willing to spend $300 million on Cano. The Tigers would rather spend money to keep Scherzer or add a third baseman to the lineup to move Cabrera to DH.
So there are very few landing spots for Cano in big market, big payroll teams. Unless he is willing to take an offer from a second tier ball club (say, a Toronto, Seattle, or a Cleveland) at a discount, he may lose money by sitting on the sidelines.
The Yankees recently said that they were not going to wait for Cano and his representatives to wake up to the reality of the new baseball model. The Yankees will explore alternatives to fill the second base position.
Likewise, the Dodgers quickly got out of the second base market by signing a touted Cuban defector, Alexander Guerrero, to a much more affordable $30 million deal.
In order for any agent to pump up his client's value, he needs to have two bidders in the process. Some agents have been daft to create a "ghost" second team to have one interested club bid against itself (as the Rangers did when they first signed A-Rod). But most front offices have enough street sense to not stumble on that ploy.
In addition, baseball clubs have become more realistic with their baseball payrolls. They have taken both the short term and long term view on player salaries. Owners are more wary about long term, dead money deals for veteran players nearing the end of their productive years. This may be a side effect of the steroid era, where 35 year old players put up numbers of 26 year old All Stars in years past.
If Cano is convinced he is worth $300 million, he will sit alone for a long time. There is no general manager in the game that has come out and said that Cano was worth that much money. And the longer Cano sits on his roost, the less likely there will be an 11th hour mystery bidder for his services.
Cano wants the Yankees to re-sign him. The Yankees are trying to cut payroll to get under the luxury tax. The Yankees are also an old team that needs to rebuild with younger players. It may be time to evaporate the Jeter-Cano double play combination.
Are there any real alternatives for Cano? His representatives want to meet with the Mets, another big market team. But the Mets still may have a Madoff hangover, the financial constraints of ownership placing millions in a pyramid scheme. The Mets had tried to sell minority stakes in the team to raise capital. It is doubtful that the team would commit $300 million on one player if it cannot raise that type of money in an equity sale.
The Angels are another big money spender, but the owner has to be concerned that last season's two big agent signings turned into megaflops. The Angels have a huge payroll and injured stars like Pujols. The Angels seem uninterested in going back to the big time free agent well.
The Rangers are another team not afraid to make big money deals like the Yu Darvish signing. But the Rangers have a surplus of quality middle infielders so Cano does not fit a need. The Rangers are probably more interested in spending money on starting pitching than infielders.
The Phillies were another big spender, but after a couple of weak seasons, they have cooled their jets. They signed Marlon Byrd and re-signed their catcher, Carlos Ruiz. Besides, the Phils still have Chase Utley at second base.
Hernan Perez and Danny Worth are the second base depth chart for the Tigers. The Tigers have given big contracts to their starting pitchers, Cabrera and Fielder, but it is not clear that ownership is willing to spend $300 million on Cano. The Tigers would rather spend money to keep Scherzer or add a third baseman to the lineup to move Cabrera to DH.
So there are very few landing spots for Cano in big market, big payroll teams. Unless he is willing to take an offer from a second tier ball club (say, a Toronto, Seattle, or a Cleveland) at a discount, he may lose money by sitting on the sidelines.
October 28, 2013
CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE
Robinson Cano's people have said they want their client to sign a new $305 million deal. This is on par with Alex Rodriguez's last fat contract.
Cano is the premier free agent this off season. But no one believes he is worth $305 million.
Part of the puffing could be that it appeared that the Dodgers were spendthrift West Coast sailors. The team had a hole at second base to add to their All-Star line up. Cano was hoping to use the Dodgers as leverage to squeeze another team, including the Yankees who are about to grow old and lose several players.
But the Dodgers did an interesting and smart move. They signed Cuban infielder Alexander Guerrero on a four-year, $28MM contract that could reach $32MM via incentives, according to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.
Guerrero, who will turn 27 this December, will be able to hit the open market entering his age-31 season, which should allow him to sign another strong contract if he is able to live up to his potential.
Guerrero batted .290/.402/.576 with 21 home runs in 328 plate appearances in his final season in Cuba's Serie Nacional. That line, along with the .316/.406/.586 that he slashed from 2010-12 in his age 23-25 seasons, was enough for his agent to compare Guerrero's power to that of Dan Uggla. While that comp should be taken with a grain of salt, the bar is set pretty low for Guerrero in the Majors, at least among his new peers; Major League second basemen slugged just .376 this year as a group.
This signing takes the Dodgers out of the Cano sweepstakes. It fills a need with another Latin player just as Yasiel Puig did this year.
Cano is the premier free agent this off season. But no one believes he is worth $305 million.
Part of the puffing could be that it appeared that the Dodgers were spendthrift West Coast sailors. The team had a hole at second base to add to their All-Star line up. Cano was hoping to use the Dodgers as leverage to squeeze another team, including the Yankees who are about to grow old and lose several players.
But the Dodgers did an interesting and smart move. They signed Cuban infielder Alexander Guerrero on a four-year, $28MM contract that could reach $32MM via incentives, according to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.
Guerrero, who will turn 27 this December, will be able to hit the open market entering his age-31 season, which should allow him to sign another strong contract if he is able to live up to his potential.
Guerrero batted .290/.402/.576 with 21 home runs in 328 plate appearances in his final season in Cuba's Serie Nacional. That line, along with the .316/.406/.586 that he slashed from 2010-12 in his age 23-25 seasons, was enough for his agent to compare Guerrero's power to that of Dan Uggla. While that comp should be taken with a grain of salt, the bar is set pretty low for Guerrero in the Majors, at least among his new peers; Major League second basemen slugged just .376 this year as a group.
This signing takes the Dodgers out of the Cano sweepstakes. It fills a need with another Latin player just as Yasiel Puig did this year.
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