We are 28 days away from pitchers & catchers reporting to Tampa. With four weeks to go, our official countdown to spring training begins. We'll have a little something to say each day - and today, we'll begin with a Robinson Cano update.
Tomorrow, the Yankees will exchange arbitration figures with Cano, Chien-Ming Wang, Wilson Betemit and Brian Bruney. Cano's camp is open to discussing an extension, though the Yankees have not opened any long-term negotiations.
Still, it should be in the Yanks' best interest to do what the Mets did with Jose Reyes and David Wright, and at least attempt to sign Cano to a 4-6 year extension - before he hits 30 homers, and makes another All-Star team.
Cano made $490,000 last year, and he could earn about $4 million in 2008. Wang could exceed that number, but, as a pitcher, the Yanks might not want to negotiate long term yet.
A multi-year contract "is certainly something Robbie wouldn't be adverse to discussing,'' Bobby Barad, one of Cano's representatives, told us today by phone. But Cano's people haven't had any extensive conversations with the Yankees, who are playing this one close to the vest. Barad did say that Cano will arrive to Tampa in top physical condition.
* Alex Rodriguez will now attend the Munson Dinner on Feb. 5, with teammate Melky Cabrera.
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Posted by: jerry lane | January 17, 2008 at 09:42 PM
Hey Pete,
Great to discover your blog, always enjoyed your writing.
I couldn't agree more on your stance with Robinson Cano. It is better to lock him up now and buy some of his prime free agent years with a long term deal now, before he gets any more pricey than he'll already be.
#27 in 2008
Posted by: Shamus | January 18, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Thanks very much for the kind words, Shamus. I'd try to lock up Wang, too, but the Yanks don't seem to be motivated yet toward doing any multi-year deals with Cano and Wang. The guess is that both sides will compromise on 1-year deals to avoid arbitration. Maybe $3.5M to $4M for Cano and $4M to $4.5M for Wang.
Posted by: Caldera | January 18, 2008 at 01:14 PM
I think Both of them will get longer contracts next year after we lower the team payroll. What say you?
Posted by: Old Ranger | January 18, 2008 at 03:40 PM
That's a good point, O.R. -- Giambi, Pavano, Pettitte, Farnsworth, Mussina, Abreu and Hawkins all come off the books after '08, representing over $80 million worth of contracts. But the price on Cano and Wang also goes up with each passing year.
Posted by: Caldera | January 18, 2008 at 04:46 PM