Could Robinson Cano return to the Yankees?
Nope.
But it's certainly a fun rumor to kick around in this time while we await the first big MLB offseason move, almost a month after the World Series ended.
How did this all start?
In a column defending Cano's work ethic in the New York Daily News on Monday, there was this tidbit:
(E)ven if Cano has had the best intentions as a Mariner, one long-time friend who spoke to him recently says the second baseman is not happy in Seattle, especially with a new regime in charge there now, and that he’d love to somehow find his way back to New York.
This is a tough connection to be sure, as we're talking a report of an anonymous friend saying how Cano feels. That wouldn't hold up in court, even if it might well be true.
Sure enough, though, the rumor mill starts churning. Cano spent his first nine seasons in the bigs with the Yankees and had loads of success. He's also owed $192 million over the next eight years by the Mariners.
At the very least, the Yankees would need a big contract to send back. Jacoby Ellsbury is owed almost $106 million over the next five seasons with a $21 million club option for 2021. That's not real close, but the Yankees could always pick up some of Cano's deal to even the scales.
Plus, the Mariners could use a CF/leadoff type and Ellsbury was born and raised in Oregon. He played for Oregon State.
Still, this a complete pipe dream.
While cano for ellsbury makes for a nice rumor (positions, geography work) I am told there's nothing going on now
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) November 24, 2015
And why would there be? Cano made his bed when he signed that 10-year, $250 million deal. You don't get to backtrack from those. It's possibly a "be careful what you wish" scenario, but I'm sure he's overall just fine with making $250 million in a decade to play baseball.
The shortfall on the Ellsbury deal is $80 million. The Yankees do have an extra outfielder, but are looking to deal from strength there to add pitching and are said to be content with Rob Refsnyder and Dustin Ackley at second. Sure, Cano's an upgrade there, but he's also already in decline and locked up for eight more years.
Further, Cano's already reached out to new GM Jerry Dipoto following the above report about his alleged unhappiness, via Mariners.com:
"He reached out to let me know that did not come from Robbie and that's not at all reflective of how he felt," said Dipoto, who replaced former GM Jack Zduriencik two months ago. "Shortly after the season ended, I sat down with Robinson in my office for two hours and we had a great talk and I think we left with a very clear understanding of who one another might be.
"Since the season ended, we've had a couple phone conversations and texted back and forth on a couple occasions. I don't have any reason to believe he has a problem. He has not expressed that to me. As we're moving forward, we believe he's going to have a strong season as our second baseman."
So what to take from all the discussion the past two days? Not much. Cano being traded back to the Yankees -- even for Ellsbury -- just doesn't make much sense.
In more realistic news, maybe the Mariners trade for Marcell Ozuna, who it seems the Marlins have alienated.
