The Case against re-signing Robinson Cano

***Originally written on 11/4/13***

Four silver slugger awards, two gold glove awards, five all-star appearances, one home run derby championship and a World Series ring are only some of the accolades Robinson Cano has as a member of the New York Yankees. And for the Yankees, that should be all they need of him.

Cano is widely considered one of—if not the best—second baseman in baseball. His numbers through half a career strongly suggest he will one day be a Cooperstown candidate. The Yankees would be crazy to let go of a guy who puts up .300+ BA, 25 home runs and 90+ RBI every year. He’s been in the top six of MVP voting the past three seasons and will undoubtedly be there again this year as he carried an injury-plagued Yankees team into playoff contention.

The question about Cano is how much he really cares. If you watch him in the field he makes impossibly difficult plays look like second nature. The guy is unbelievable with an arm that produces double plays at will. He’s quick and he’s got great range and he acts like a vacuum cleaner on anything that is close with a nonchalance that has become so typical. He never seems to give the great effort that is needed at such an integral position.

Comparing anyone to Derek Jeter is a fool’s task but it’s fair to compare the person who—according to his own father—says he could replace Jeter as the team’s captain in a few years. Cano has one of the sweetest swings in baseball. And he benefits greatly from the short right field fence at Yankee Stadium, the stadium is tailor-made for him, just like the Yankees like it. But why can’t the guy hustle to first? Jeter busts it down the line 100% of the time, he goes hard always, even with a broken ankle.

Cano busts it down the line too…occasionally. But how many doubles has he lost out on because he’s admired his hit that falls short of the fence and he ends up at first? How many bobbled infield grounders has he lollygagged his way to first only to start running once he realizes he might make it has he been thrown out on? How many times has he barely made second base on a sure-fire double because he trotted out of the batter’s box? Whatever the answer is, it’s way too many times.

Cano reportedly asked for a 10-year deal worth somewhere between 300 million and 310 million dollars. Next year he enters his age 31 season. A 10-year contract would put him at 40 by the time it expires. Teams realize now—after A-Rod and Pujols—that 10-year contracts to someone in their 30’s is not a good idea. Cano won’t get that much money from anyone. But if someone offers it the Yankees should thank them.

For all of Cano’s strengths—which are many—he consistently shows he puts himself above his team. The Yankees won’t find someone that can replace Cano, it’s nearly impossible. The guy is in his prime and is going to put up incredible numbers for the next three years but his lack of hustle is a real concern. And the truth is he’s not going to change. Girardi can’t pull him out of the lineup anymore because he’s the franchise player.

With everything the Yankees have been known for over the years from a “no nonsense clubhouse” to a “very professional” organization they can’t keep a guy that doesn’t care. They can’t let him be the face of the franchise. How can you let a player with a lackadaisical attitude be your guy? Some teams could get away with that, the Yankees can’t afford that. If they do that they will have abandoned everything that Jeter stood for. And everything every other captain, from Mattingly to Gehrig, stood for.

The Yankees are known for winning and doing whatever it takes to win. Cano does not encompass that Yankee attitude. For as good as he is, he hasn't proven he has the heart of winner; that he’ll do whatever it takes to bring the Commissioner’s Trophy back to New York.  Cano will do a lot of great things as a baseball player but until he learns to hustle it will never be enough.

Cano’s production will be tremendous, the Yankees know that and 29 other teams know that too. But that doesn't make him a no-brainer re-sign at-all-costs player. At this point, and it’s early, the Yankees are long-shots to win the World Series next year with or without Cano.

The Yankees don’t need another big contract that will cause more harm than good in the end. Re-signing Cano will give them a great player with lousy upside. It’s time for the Yankees and Cano to part ways. Cano wants money, the Yankees want championships and the two can’t mix in the foreseeable future.

The Yankees need to re-build starting now. Cano won’t let that happen because of the money he will demand. If he proved to be a workhorse Cano could have had the Yankees and the rest of the baseball world at his fingertips this off-season but instead he decided to jog to first. And because of that jogging, he should be walking away from New York.