The New York Mets had to trim their roster to 26 players, to accommodate for MLB’s mandate.
That meant they had to designate Robinson Cano for assignment, meaning he is immediately removed from the 40-man roster.
It was a somewhat shocking decision, but the right one: it wasn’t really fair for players performing better than Cano to be released from the roster or demoted to the minors.
Cano has one year remaining of his 10-year, $240 million contract with the Mets, who are now on the hook for almost $40 million.
They need to pay that to the 39-year-old Cano, and if he signs with another team, that organization will only have to pay the $700.000 league minimum.
Cano was hitting just .195/.233/.268 with one homer across 41 plate appearances.
The likely scenario has him clearing waivers and becoming a free agent.
Cano Couldn’t Get Going At The Plate
The player, who was suspended for the whole 2021 campaign after a second failed PED test, couldn’t really get going at the plate in April.
He remained classy all the way, however.
According to his former agent Brodie Van Wagenen (an ex general manager of the Mets, too), he understands it is a baseball decision.
“Asked Cano’s reaction toward the #Mets, Van Wagenen said, ‘Robbie is a true professional with a great deal of respect for the organization. He understands they had a tough decision to make. He wishes them well going forward’,” Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweeted on Monday.
Asked Cano’s reaction toward the #Mets, Van Wagenen said, “Robbie is a true profesisonal with a great deal of respect for the organization. He understands they had a tough decision to make. He wishes them well going forward."
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) May 2, 2022
Cano was a part of the trade that netted the Mets Edwin Diaz, while they infamously sent prospect Jarred Kelenic and other assets to the Seattle Mariners.
