I'm going to enjoy watching Cano strike out.

[Déjà Bru]

And years from now, when he's around 37, 38, I'm going to enjoy watching Mariners management and ownership squirm when this guy is batting .220 and they're still forking over $24 million a year to him.

A case of a bitter Yankee fan disappointed by free agency not going his way (for a change)? Not really. Look at this video for a clue as to what is bothering me:

New York Yankees not angry at Robinson Cano, felt sorry for him - ESPN New York

Why can't these fools just take the money and shut up? Why do they have to flap their gums to the media?

"It's not about the money," he says. Except in the next breath, he talks about the security of the extra three years that Seattle offered him, up to age 41. Because it IS about the money.

Oh, and the Mariners gave him love and respect. The Yankees treated him badly. Yeah, right. They offered him only $175 million for seven years, an average of $25 million a year (versus the $24 million per year he has now) and that was HIGHLY disrespectful. Yes.

Like the dumbass thought the Yankees should repeat the mistake they made with the A-Rod contract. Now it's the Mariners turn to learn that lesson.

Good riddance. He's a great ballplayer, no question. He used to knock my socks off with some of the plays he made, with the beautiful swing that he has. I will miss that, but I will not miss him anymore.

Not about the money? What a lying sack of you-know-what. At least take the money and don't look stupid talking about being treated badly at $25 million a year.

[Déjà Bru]

Just this, then I'll move on.

Hal Steinbrenner, the Yankees’ managing general partner, and Randy Levine, the team president, were at Ellsbury’s news conference, where he was presented with his new pinstriped jersey. Both Steinbrenner and Levine offered restrained but pointed rejoinders to Cano’s claim that the Yankees’ offer of seven years and $175 million demonstrated a lack of respect.

“I didn’t feel respect,” Cano said Thursday. “I didn’t get respect from them, and I didn’t see any effort.”

Levine said he could understand Cano’s disappointment at not getting the same kind of offer from the Yankees that he did from Seattle.
“I feel bad for him, because I think he was disappointed he’s not a Yankee,” Levine said. “But I respect him. He’s free to say whatever he wants to say.”

Steinbrenner defended the Yankees’ approach and expressed some dismay that Cano would take offense.

“I’m a little surprised,” Steinbrenner said. “There was nothing disrespectful about that last offer that was on the table, which was $25 million for seven. I’m not quite sure why he feels that way.”

Cashman also acknowledged that Cano’s representatives made a final offer to the Yankees on the night of their visit to Seattle. They told Cashman and Steinbrenner that for $235 million, the Yankees could keep Cano from going to Seattle. The Yankees, unwilling to budge from their last offer, said they could not even go to $200 million.

Cashman also mentioned Cano’s request for $310 million over 10 years, a request that was made earlier in the year and set a tone for a negotiation that would never bear fruit.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/14/sp...pw&rref=sports

I highlighted that last part. Remember now, it wasn't about the money. Yeah, right.

Cano is going to hit his homers against the Yankees for sure. But when he strikes out, I will be celebrating all the more because it's him. And when he doesn't run out a fly ball the way he should, as I've seen him do often, I will smile instead of frowning.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Just this, then I'll move on.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/14/sp...pw&rref=sports

I highlighted that last part. Remember now, it wasn't about the money. Yeah, right.

Cano is going to hit his homers against the Yankees for sure. But when he strikes out, I will be celebrating all the more because it's him. And when he doesn't run out a fly ball the way he should, as I've seen him do often, I will smile instead of frowning.

No matter who you root for, your average baseball fan has to be shaking his head when he hears this.......from your links.

Cano’s claim that the Yankees’ offer of seven years and $175 million demonstrated a lack of respect.

“I didn’t feel respect,” Cano said Thursday. “I didn’t get respect from them, and I didn’t see any effort.”

Then I think you mentioned something about the security of extra years. Security from what? I can honestly say I am glad he is gone.

[Questdog]

Hilarious to see Yankee fans upset that someone signed away one of their favorites......welcome to the world the rest of us have been living in for 35 years!

Bottom line: Yankees were probably smart not to go 10 years and Cano would be stupid not to take the Seattle contract.

I think baseball ought to make a rule limiting the length of contracts. If anything is going to kill baseball it is the old players who aren't worth a crap sucking millions and millions out of the baseball economy.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Oh, and the Mariners gave him love and respect. The Yankees treated him badly. Yeah, right. They offered him only $175 million for seven years, an average of $25 million a year (versus the $24 million per year he has now) and that was HIGHLY disrespectful. Yes.

I wish someone would disrespect me with a $175 million contract. I would work for 7, 10, or however many years they want.

I listened to Cano's news conference on MLB radio, and I thought he came across as arrogant and whiny. For whatever that's worth. 2 cents, I suppose.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Questdog

Hilarious to see Yankee fans upset that someone signed away one of their favorites......welcome to the world the rest of us have been living in for 35 years!

Bottom line: Yankees were probably smart not to go 10 years and Cano would be stupid not to take the Seattle contract.

I think baseball ought to make a rule limiting the length of contracts. If anything is going to kill baseball it is the old players who aren't worth a crap sucking millions and millions out of the baseball economy.

I understand and appreciate the first paragraph. Remember, though, three things: 1) I am NOT upset that the Yankees were outbid; I am upset with Cano's phony attitude. 2) Many of those deals that you allude to, tanked. Many. 3) Not all Yankees fans want a team built in such a fashion.

Second paragraph: That's now a "rule" for the Yankees, as Steinbrenner or Cashman said. No more 10-year contracts for guys 30 and older. Gee, I wonder why.

Third paragraph: Right on. What a friggin' waste of fan dollars.

Originally Posted by Orcin

I wish someone would disrespect me with a $175 million contract. I would work for 7, 10, or however many years they want.

I listened to Cano's news conference on MLB radio, and I thought he came across as arrogant and whiny. For whatever that's worth. 2 cents, I suppose.

Yeah. Lay some of that "disrespect" on me, man!

[RchW]

Originally Posted by Questdog

Hilarious to see Yankee fans upset that someone signed away one of their favorites......welcome to the world the rest of us have been living in for 35 years!

Bottom line: Yankees were probably smart not to go 10 years and Cano would be stupid not to take the Seattle contract.

I think baseball ought to make a rule limiting the length of contracts. If anything is going to kill baseball it is the old players who aren't worth a crap sucking millions and millions out of the baseball economy.

I hope they don't make such a rule. It would benefit the rich teams disproportionately. Limited length contracts would allow rich teams to simply increase the dollar value and force other teams out of the market. The only other solution, limiting the amount and years (not bloody likely) would be a joke like NBA max contracts. It would eliminate Seattle and every other non-major market team from the top tier FA market permanently.

Boston, St. Louis and somewhat differently Tampa and Oakland have shown that alternative team building strategies work, while maintaining a healthy market for good second tier FA players.

What would really help is quicker free agency, say 3 or 4 years. This would force teams to make decisions on younger players. You would see bigger/longer contracts for mid 20's players and it would limit the demands from 30+ players who did not perform up to their initial big contract. The down side is that it may screw small market teams from leveraging young talent on the trade market because the big market teams could just wait for FA.

The Players Association is unlikely to want early FA because its own members are quite happy with the status quo. Any attempt to limit FA contracts would likely cause a strike. I'd suggest that half of the teams don't want it either. Limiting the earnings of young players gives older average and below average players access to a much bigger piece of the pie than they deserve. The majority of players like that just fine.

Life ain't fair.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by RchW

Life ain't fair.

I sympathize with Qd's sentiment but I agree with your reasoning. Free market = free agency = free market. Buyer beware.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Questdog

Bottom line: Yankees were probably smart not to go 10 years and Cano would be stupid not to take the Seattle contract.

Of course they were. Sometimes players over value themselves, and a team has to know when that time has come.

But I don't always agree with the last part. I don't know what situation Cano was in so most likely it is a good decision on his part. But for me, if I had a wife and young kids established in a state that I like, I'm not ripping all that away and relocating if they are already offering me 175 million!

[Questdog]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

Of course they were. Sometimes players over value themselves, and a team has to know when that time has come.

But I don't always agree with the last part. I don't know what situation Cano was in so most likely it is a good decision on his part. But for me, if I had a wife and young kids established in a state that I like, I'm not ripping all that away and relocating if they are already offering me 175 million!

So you wouldn't move the family to Seattle for $65 million dollars?.......regardless of how rich you are, that is a lot of money......and how anybody could like living in NYC is beyond me (though I know people do - my own daughter lives there and likes it).....

[rudel.dietrich]

7 years from now, 24 million a year will look different than now. TV money is about to drastically alter baseball and in the next decade the sport will look completely different.

[RchW]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

Of course they were. Sometimes players over value themselves, and a team has to know when that time has come.

But I don't always agree with the last part. I don't know what situation Cano was in so most likely it is a good decision on his part. But for me, if I had a wife and young kids established in a state that I like, I'm not ripping all that away and relocating if they are already offering me 175 million!

When you have money you can live anywhere. I have a friend who summers in Canada and winters in Panama. I'd like to have his coin.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Questdog

So you wouldn't move the family to Seattle for $65 million dollars?.......regardless of how rich you are, that is a lot of money......and how anybody could like living in NYC is beyond me (though I know people do - my own daughter lives there and likes it).....

I wouldn't unless I thought it was to my advantage besides the money. I agree with you on the NYC part, but that is besides the point. My point was, if I was happy and settled where I am currently located, I would not rip kids out of their school and relocate just to be filthy(er) rich. A 175 million dollar contract would be enough. But hey, I'm thinking Cano rather be in Seattle anyway.

When you have tons of money you look to live as comfortably as possible. And there comes a point where extra money isn't going to enhance your life.

Originally Posted by RchW

When you have money you can live anywhere. I have a friend who summers in Canada and winters in Panama. I'd like to have his coin.

I thought of this too. There is very little that restricts a person with mega wealth.

[Up here in Canada]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

When you have tons of money you look to live as comfortably as possible. And there comes a point where extra money isn't going to enhance your life.

Tony Gwynn could have made significantly more money in his day but liked living in San Diego and didn't want to uproot his family.

[Déjà Bru]

At the risk of appearing to object too much, thereby proving the allegation of spoiled, bitter, and disappointed Yankee fan, here is another ex-Yankee for whom the team was "outbid" (well, they didn't try too hard in this case): Curtis Granderson.

Grandy took the money and ran but do you hear him woofing about how "badly" he was treated, how it's not about the money but the love and respect the Mets have given him, poor boy? No.

What I do hear about him this morning is this:

A special place to play ball -- thanks to Curtis Granderson

I rooted for Granderson when he was a Yankee because he was a Yankee. Now I will be rooting for Granderson, in spite of his being a Met, because of the man that he is.

[jbergey22]

Cano's numbers will nosedive in Seattle so you should be happy come April. Extreme hitters park to extreme pitchers part.

I think he will still hit for a decent enough average 290sh-300sh but Id be surprised to see him hit over 25 home runs again.

[knightdreamer2k]

I liked Cano as a Yankee, but with the exception of last year you could never hit him number 3. He would struggle in that spot so the Yankees always seemed to have to move him around to different spots.
I think the only time I agreed with Curt Schilling was when he said that Cano is a complimentary player. He is the Kind of player you would want to pair with Cabera, Trout, and others in this class.
I also don't think he handled the pressure as well as other players have. I think if healthy Beltran well replicate Cano's numbers in Yankee stadium.

[John Madden]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

7 years from now, 24 million a year will look different than now. TV money is about to drastically alter baseball and in the next decade the sport will look completely different.

Bingo. The new TV deals are insane.

[Astros33Resurrected]

Originally Posted by John Madden

Bingo. The new TV deals are insane.

Unless your in houston

[Skipaway]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

I understand and appreciate the first paragraph. Remember, though, three things: 1) I am NOT upset that the Yankees were outbid; I am upset with Cano's phony attitude. 2) Many of those deals that you allude to, tanked. Many. 3) Not all Yankees fans want a team built in such a fashion.

I think Cano just isn't a very good speaker, but what he said isn't really phony.

Yankees overpaid to keep a lot of their good players, and they surely overpaid vastly to keep Jeter and Rodriguez. Cano has to believe that the Yankees didn't show him respect if he compared the treatment. And if you look at some other players Yankees signed this off season, obviously Yankees overpaid with big and long deals also.

Cano's words are definitely justified emotionally. Why Jeter, Rodriguez, Ellsbury, but not him? Yes fans might not want any of those, but for those fans, shouldn't the anger be more toward Jeter and Rodriguez than toward Cano?