Robinson Cano, Jay-Z's talks with Mariners hit volatile snag
The Seattle Mariners' bid for prized second baseman Robinson Cano took an ugly turn Thursday night when Cano and agent Jay Z informed them that they still wanted a 10-year deal for $260 million.
The Mariners, according to a high-ranking executive in the Cano talks, expected that Cano would accept their original eight-year, $200 million offer if they bumped it to nine years and $225 million when he and Jay Z offered to fly to Seattle on Thursday.
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The executive spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because talks are ongoing.
Yet, according to the New York Daily News, Mariners chairman Howard Lincoln erupted in anger at the request. The Mariners, according to the Daily News, had no plans to re-engage in the talks.
The Mariners, who have not reached the playoffs since 2001 and have averaged 92 losses a season the past six years, may now have doubts that Cano ever wanted to sign with them.
The Yankees still want Cano, but they refuse to adhere to his nine-year, $252 million request with a $28 million vesting option. The Yankees are offering $160 million over seven years, but a high-ranking official said they are willing to increase it to about $175 million to get a deal done.
"We think that Robbie Cano is a great player,'' Yankees president Randy Levine told USA TODAY Sports. "We made him what we think is a very competitive serious and very fair offer. We understand he has a right to test the market. We hope he remains a Yankee.''
The Yankees realize they have to bump up their offer. Their YES ratings plummeted 31% in 2013, while their 38,193 average attendance dropped 7.4%.
"We're not waiting for Robbie,'' Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Thursday. "Robbie is not waiting for us. We're out there trying to sign players.''
The Yankees plan to re-engage in talks with free agent outfielders Shin-Soo Choo and Carlos Beltran if Cano does not re-sign with them.
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