The New York Mets knowingly took a gamble when they mortgaged part of their future in Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn to acquire an aging and incredibly expensive Robinson Cano — as well as 24-year-old right-hander Edwin Diaz — from the Seattle Mariners to kick off general manager Brodie Van Wagenen’s tenure at the onset of the offseason.
So far this spring, the 36-year-old second baseman has looked every bit the part of a still-elite offensive threat. Through 14 Grapefruit League appearances, Cano has gone 19-for-40 (.475/.512/.700) with two homers, three doubles, six runs batted in, and just five strikeouts over 43 plate appearances. Oh, and that swing remains just as gorgeous.
After playing in six consecutive Spring Training games (four at second, two as the designated hitter), Cano will get a well-earned respite. Mets manager Mickey Callaway told the team’s press corps on Tuesday that Cano “feels great” and will get a “couple of days off”, as per Mike Mayer of MMO.
A fair share of the concern that lied with the acquisition of Cano beyond his advanced age and high-end salary was his 80-game suspension last season for testing positive for a banned diuretic (furosemide), generally used as a masking agent.
Apparently, Van Wagenen saw the upside in the deal, as well as Cano’s impressive post-suspension batting line which had to, at least in some part, ease the Mets’ front office’s concerns is taking on such a massive contract.
Over 179 plate appearances from August 14 through the end of the year, Cano hit .317/.363/.497 with six homers, 27 RBI, 12 doubles, and 24 strikeouts.
If he can continue to put up those type of numbers over the course of his tenure in Flushing, or at least through the first couple of years here, in this writer’s opinion, it could go a long way in taking this Mets squad to the next level.
