Robinson Cano will be playing in New York again. Only this time in a Mets uniform.
The Mets acquired Cano along with closer Edwin Diaz plus $20 million in cash from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for outfielder Jay Bruce, relievers Anthony Swarzak and Gerson Bautista along with top prospects Justin Dunn and Jarred Kelenic.
Cano played in Yankee pinstripes from 2005 to 2013 before signing a 10-year, $240 million contract with Seattle prior to the 2014 season. Honestly I am surprised Cano stayed with the Mariners for as long as he did. He did make three All-Star teams, but the Mariners failed to make post-season during his time there and have not been able to reach October baseball since 2001. Of course, Cano would miss 80 games this season due to a PED suspension and in all honesty with the Mariners were better off without him.
There's no doubt Cano will put butts in seats at Citi Field especially when the Yankees come to visit, but at 36 does he realistically have five good seasons in him much less one? The Mets have added a quality closer in Diaz who led the AL with 57 saves in 2018. But will he save half that many with the Mets in 2019? How the Mets come out in this deal might have a lot to do with how they use the $20 million sent to them by Seattle.
What makes Mets fans skeptical about this deal is parting with Kelenic who was the team's first round draft pick this year. At 19, Kelenic might not see big league action for a couple of years. But Mets fans fear that by 2021 or 2022 Cano will be a shell of his former self and sit around collecting a paycheck while Kelenic turns into the second coming of Mike Trout.
For the moment, the jury will be deliberating on this trade for sometime to come. But despite Cano's credentials, the Mets are taking a far bigger risk in this trade than the Mariners.
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