The Yankees Say They Won't Re-Sign Cano "At All Costs." Should They?

Photo Credit: David Zalubowski/AP 

Yesterday, New York Yankees president Randy Levine was discussing whether or not the ball club would be bringing superstar second baseman Robinson Cano back to the team in 2014, no matter what the cost was.
 Cano is an impending free agent after the 2013 season, and for much of the season, this has been a looming thought for the Yankees, and their fans alike. However, Levine's answer may not have sit right with most Yankees fans.

In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Levine stated that no player is a re-sign at all costs. He even went as far as to restate within the same dialogue, to reiterate that point.

As he should.

Eliminate all outside factors here: Levine has a point. No player, no matter who it is, is someone that should be brought back with a delirious contract. Whether your name is Mike Trout, Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Cano or Clayton Kershaw, teams can't strap themselves into contracts for players just because they are superstars or just because the fanbase may want them to.

In recent years we have seen teams shell out the big bucks for players and it has been either boom or bust. As a Yankees fan, you don't need to remind me about the ridiculous albatross that is the Alex Rodriguez contract. The Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett deals for the Yankees have been terrible as well, especially Burnett's. Teixeira, given his performance as a Yankee, hasn't been spectacular. Going even further, maybe the CC Sabathia extension will also look bullish. Are these going to be attributing factors in the decision? Tough to guess, but it's plausible.

Elsewhere, Albert Pujols was signed to a ginormous contract by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Nearly two seasons in, it is already looking like an abhorrent deal. The Josh Hamilton contract looks much better than that, and that's with Hamilton's struggles on the diamond this season. Are the Dodgers regretting the multi-million dollar deal that they signed for Matt Kemp? Hard to guess, given that Kemp has had nagging injuries for the last few seasons, but when healthy we know what he can do. He, at least, has the fact that he is under 30 going for him.

Why should the Yankees give Robinson Cano anything and everything that he wants?

There's no denying that Cano is the best second baseman in Major League Baseball. You say Brandon Phillips, I point to his low on-base percentage. You say Dustin Pedroia, I say there's a power outage. You say Matt Carpenter, I say I want to see more. Cano is on another level. He is the elite second baseman in hitting for average, hitting for power, range and arm. He is a very mediocre baserunner but the rest of his play more than makes up for it.

There's no denying that his offensive contributions are unparalleled for the Yankees this season. The Yankees have been abysmal at the plate, but Cano has not. He is approaching the .300/30/100 club for the 2013 season. He may score more than 85 runs himself. He is slugging .516 and his weighted on-base average is .383. His isolated power is at .207 and his wRC+ is 141. These are all top-tier statistics at a premium position. The Yankees would look totally lost without him.

But at what price do the Yankees bring him back?

Cano is probably a Top-10 offensive player in Major League Baseball. But he is also on the wrong side of 30. Players, unless they're "getting help" from suspect sources, usually see their careers hit a down turn after they turn 30. Cano is putting up great numbers at 30 years old, soon to be 31 after his birthday in October, but what about when he is 34? 35? It's suggested the Yankees should give him a long-term deal with a dump truck level of money accompanying it. Is that really something that needs to happen?

Let this be known: I fully endorse what Randy Levine said. Robinson Cano shouldn't be brought back at all costs. I also think that there is something further that helps me carry that line of thinking: the Yankees do not have an identity right now. Think about this: the Yankees have several, several players that are drawing the line of being close to retirement. Mariano Rivera won't be back after this season. Derek Jeter's career will be ending very soon, if not after next season.

Before the New York Yankees even think about re-signing
Robinson Cano, they have to end the identity crisis
that they are going under this season, and beyond.
Photo Credit: Florescu For News

They will have Alfonso Soriano next season thanks in part to his contract, but his status for the long-term isn't known. Ichiro is nearing the end of his career. Alex Rodriguez... well, who knows about him either? The Yankees are old and lack depth at any position in their minor leagues.

Additionally, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain will most certainly not be back for next season. Hiroki Kuroda's MLB career may be finished after this season, as this is his final year in Pinstripes unless the Yankees bring him back. The Yankees do not have a catcher situation that can be solved without making a signing since super-prospect Gary Sanchez is a few years away from reaching the big leagues. Brian McCann would be a good option but he nearly fits the same billing as Cano: nearly 30, and but to make matters worse, he has injury issues.

The idea that Robinson Cano should be brought back at any price can't be done before the Yankees hierarchy figures out what direction this team is taking. You're either all-in, or you choose to start anew. Putting band-aids over wounds, and constantly doing so is, in my opinion, and I might be alone in this, insulting. As a fan, this season has been fun, but the misdirection that this team has been taking while apparently heading towards minimizing the payroll, has been aggravating at the same time. I'd much sooner sit and watch this team go through rebuilding to try and gain some semblance of minor league talent than to watch them try to heal wounds temporarily.

Bringing back Cano would signal that the team wants to move forward to try and win a championship, but at the same time, they have so many needs to fill that they'll look cheap thereafter to try and dip through the bargain bins. Just as they did this season. It's working now, sure, but to act like they aren't playing above their heads would be a farce. So while I'm agreeing with Randy Levine, I also want Levine, Brian Cashman, and the Steinbrenner brothers to figure out just what the heck they're doing this offseason.

I know full well that the Yankees have a gigantic TV contract, a recent radio station maneuver, and millions of fans in New York and around the country. That doesn't mean that important decisions about how this team is run and how they are going to be set for the future aren't going to be made. If they sign Cano and a few other chips to try and make a run, so be it. If they let Cano walk, and decide to try and rebuild? So be it. It's for the greater good, and honestly I would not even be mad if Cano was not a Yankee in 2014 and beyond.

The Yankees have notoriously never been shy to spend the almighty dollar. But everyone has a price, and the tag might be too high for Cano. And that might not be the worst thing in the world.