Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Robinson Canó was designated for assignment Monday morning by the New York Mets as the team had to trim its roster from 28 to 26 players. Yoan López was sent down to Triple-A Syracuse, as well.
Canó’s release ends a tumultuous three-plus years with the Mets that started in 2019 with a trade from the Seattle Mariners. Former general manager Brodie van Waganen traded top prospect Jarred Kelenic to acquire Canó–van Waganen’s former client–along with Edwin Diaz.
Canó, who was fresh off a suspension in 2018 for performance-enhancing drugs, struggled to the tune of a .736 OPS in 2019. He rebounded in the COVID-19-ravaged 2020 season, posting an .896 OPS over 182 plate appearances, but that was for naught, as he soon tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs once again in November 2020. He was suspended for the entire 2021 season.
Performance aside, the Mets traded for Canó with five years and $120 million left on his contract. Though the Mariners paid down that deal by about $4 million per year, the Mets were still left with a 36-year-old owed around $20 million per year over the next five years. He was designated for assignment with just under two years and $40 million left on his deal.
Surely the Mets didn’t cut Canó because he wasn’t getting any playing time. Canó was given 43 plate appearances during April 2022 to show he could rebound from a year off. He produced just eight hits–seven singles–and a .501 OPS. He mainly played second base and designated hitter, batting sixth in the lineup ahead of Jeff McNeil and Mark Canha. His power just wasn’t there anymore between his performance this season and in the Dominican Winter League. He had four extra-base hits over his last 117 plate appearances, all while producing well-below-average defense and speed.
Although Canó struggled, the Mets had a handful of other players, namely Dominic Smith, who also started the year struggling. However, Smith had a four-hit, three-RBI game Sunday night while playing first base that likely solidified his roster spot ahead of trimming.
Because the Mets are designated Canó for assignment, a team will have 10 days to either claim Canó or trade for his full contract. That won’t happen. Once he clears waivers, he can sign with any major-league team. The Mets are on the hook for his full contract, minus any money he’d make from another team if he signs with them. Canó already received about $4 million of his $20 million owed this season, so the Mets are on the hook for about another $36 million between this year and next year.
There’s no word if the Mets approached Canó for a buyout ahead of his release.
Updated Post, 5/2/22, 4:15 PM EST
In a press conference ahead of Monday’s game against the Atlanta Braves, general manager Billy Eppler said owner Steve Cohen gave him the green light to “make the baseball decision” with regards to Canó. That means money wasn’t a factor, as it should be at this point.
“We just weren’t going to have the plate appearances,” Eppler said, calling the conversation with Canó “pretty difficult.”
J.D. Davis, who will benefit from Canó’s absence with regards to more plate appearances, said, “It’s unfortunate that we had to say goodbye to him.” Canó was clearly appreciated in the clubhouse, and Davis said losing him “definitely takes a little bit of wind out of our sails.”
