Robinson Cano is headed to the San Diego Padres.
After hitting just .195 with one home run and posting a miserable -0.5 WAR, Cano was released by the New York Mets, but it appears he has found a new home.
Terms of the new contract have yet to be revealed, but reports from MLB Network insider Jon Heyman indicate that the two sides are close to a deal.
Padres insider Dennis Lin offered his thoughts on the Cano signing via Twitter, saying that Fernando Tatis Jr. who has been out due to wrist surgery, grew up in Pedro de Macoris, the same town in the Dominican Republic where Cano grew up.
He also noted that though there may no longer be space for Cano on the roster when Tatis returns, the Padres may be going for more than just “on-field factors.”
Fernando Tatis Jr. grew up minutes from Canó in San Pedro de Macoris. There might not be room for Canó on the roster when Tatis returns from the IL, but the Padres evidently are considering more than on-field factors here.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) May 12, 2022
A Veteran Voice
Cano would be a good veteran presence inside a young San Diego clubhouse.
He’s also a guy they can use as a potential DH option from the left side of the plate.
If that is the case, Cano would probably platoon there with Luke Voit.
Cano has had a solid career, hitting .302 lifetime with 335 homers and posting a 69.1 WAR.
He may be 39 years old, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still produce.
His time was limited with the Mets due to the emergence of Jeff McNeil and other young players, but perhaps the Padres could do for him what the Los Angeles Dodgers did for Albert Pujols last season, finding a specific role that suits him.
We’ll see how Cano fits into all of this and what his role will ultimately be as a member of the Padres.
NEXT: Robinson Cano Will Only Settle For A Specific Deal