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.
