It’s been one day since the Mets decided to designate Robinson Cano for assignment and eat the remaining $44,703,297 remaining on his contract.

Some (me) might say it was a month too late but I’ll neglect the process with the Mets having a National League-best 18-8 record.

Instead of Cano taking up at-bats and playing time, general manager Billy Eppler put his personal opinions aside and made the “baseball decision” to give those opportunities to the current Met bench of Dominic Smith, Travis Jankowski, J.D. Davis, and Luis Guillorme.

Without money or legacy involved the choice was easy. Cano, 39, cannot play multiple positions defensively, nor could he provide value at the plate with a .195 batting average, one home run, three RBIs, and a .501 OPS in 43 plate appearances.

Unfortunately, not every aspect of baseball is in between the painted lines. Cano was a popular figure in the Mets clubhouse. Francisco Lindor said he wouldn’t be happy if Cano was the man let go.

Davis, whose role was threatened by Cano remaining with the Mets, even echoed support.

“He’s been around for so long in this game and he’s an icon here in New York,” Davis said. “He’s been a centerpiece in this clubhouse, been a leader. To lose him, it definitely takes a little bit of wind out of our sails.”

Cano didn’t seem like the likeliest candidate to be cut when rosters shrank from 28 to 26. Smith, Davis, and Guillorme all had minor league options remaining. Smith appeared to be the odd man out with Pete Alonso the full-time man at first base and as the Mets sixth-best outfield option.

Jankowski seemed to be the only one confident they’d still be in the big leagues when Monday came around.

“I know my role,” Jankowski said. “Fourth-outfielder type, where it’s just go in and be a defensive replacement late in the game, go steal a bag, score from first on a double. It’s one of those things that is vital in this game. It’s needed for a winning team. Hopefully it’s continuing to go in this game and trend in this direction.”

The Mets swept a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. They couldn’t have done it without the contributions of the four they chose to keep.

In Game 1, Jankowski batted leadoff and played centerfield. He reached base three times, scoring three times. He also stole his third base of the season.

“No one’s gonna be buying my jersey,” Jankowski said. “But I still think there’s a big part of what I bring to the table that is very important and needed to winning teams and championship teams, and that’s what we have in this clubhouse.”

Guillorme started at shortstop and batted eighth. He reached base twice and scored once. Guillorme dazzled with his glove as well.

In the nightcap, Smith was the star. A two-run double in the first inning would put the Mets up for good. He also pushed Alonso to the designated hitter spot where he homered for the fourth time in seven games this season.

“We’re all confident, no matter who’s on the field,” Smith said. “We all feel like we’re supposed to win the ballgame, and do the job, and get the job done.”

Dare I call this group the Replace-Mets 2.0? Remember that group of random players who scraped out a few wins in May last season before it all came crashing down?

Manager Buck Showalter has emphasized giving out playing time whenever he can. With the addition of the designated hitter to the National League the ability to spread out at-bats has been taken away. But, it’s no issue for Showalter who has spent as much time managing in the American League as anyone.

Jankowski and Guillorme have come in as late-inning defensive replacements multiple times. Now without Cano, Smith and Davis can split the DH role more evenly.

“Not only can they do that role, but they’ve embraced it knowing there’ll come a time this year where we’re going to need them to play,” Showalter said. “And shame on us if we don’t give them enough playing time to do it.”

Former Mets general manager and currently Cano’s agent Brodie Van Wagenen, who traded for Cano in 2018, says the second baseman still wants to play. Van Wagenen added that “given the right situation, he can still make a meaningful contribution for a team.”

Clearly, that’s not on a championship team.