I was surprised to read earlier today that the Yankees have made Cano an offer to keep him in the fold for an unspecified number of years and for an unspecified (although “significant,” according to Cashman) amount. There have been so many players and managers who’ve been told, “We don’t negotiate until after the season,” and yet here’s Cano warranting a break with precedent before the season has even started. Interesting.

Do we think:

1) Hal and company wanted to avoid the distraction to Cano and the team during the course of the season?

2) It’s really a significant amount for a significant period of time?

3) There’s a chance in hell that Scott Boras won’t take his client to the open market this fall instead of negotiating with the Yankees?

4) Cano has such strong feelings of love and commitment to the Yankees that he’d reject the advice of his new agent and the promise of more money elsewhere?

5) Cano deserves a mega-deal that would tie up payroll for years – the very thing the Yankees seem reluctant to repeat after giving contracts to A-Rod, etc?

6) Is Cano the best player in the game, last year’s inconsistency and poor postseason notwithstanding? Is he the best second baseman the Yankees have ever had?

So many questions. I assume that Hal and company would answer “yes” to 1 and 6. I also assume they’re hoping the answers to 3 and 4 are “yes.” But 2 and 5 are tricky. What’s “significant” is 2013? How does an expensive, long-term deal for a superstar affect the team’s ability to go after other free agents this fall? Let’s say they let Hughes go elsewhere. Pettitte and Kuroda are probably done. Won’t they need a starting pitcher, not to mention a power-hitting outfielder to replace Granderson should they let him walk too?

Meanwhile, I’d like to see the current team start beating other teams in spring training, just for fun.

 

I was surprised to read earlier today that the Yankees have made Cano an offer to keep him in the fold for an unspecified number of years and for an unspecified (although “significant,” according to Cashman) amount. There have been so many players and managers who’ve been told, “We don’t negotiate until after the season,” and yet here’s Cano warranting a break with precedent before the season has even started. Interesting.

Do we think:

1) Hal and company wanted to avoid the distraction to Cano and the team during the course of the season?

2) It’s really a significant amount for a significant period of time?

3) There’s a chance in hell that Scott Boras won’t take his client to the open market this fall instead of negotiating with the Yankees?

4) Cano has such strong feelings of love and commitment to the Yankees that he’d reject the advice of his new agent and the promise of more money elsewhere?

5) Cano deserves a mega-deal that would tie up payroll for years – the very thing the Yankees seem reluctant to repeat after giving contracts to A-Rod, etc?

6) Is Cano the best player in the game, last year’s inconsistency and poor postseason notwithstanding? Is he the best second baseman the Yankees have ever had?

So many questions. I assume that Hal and company would answer “yes” to 1 and 6. I also assume they’re hoping the answers to 3 and 4 are “yes.” But 2 and 5 are tricky. What’s “significant” is 2013? How does an expensive, long-term deal for a superstar affect the team’s ability to go after other free agents this fall? Let’s say they let Hughes go elsewhere. Pettitte and Kuroda are probably done. Won’t they need a starting pitcher, not to mention a power-hitting outfielder to replace Granderson should they let him walk too?

Meanwhile, I’d like to see the current team start beating other teams in spring training, just for fun.