The 2013 season was starting to look pretty bleak for the New York Yankees: The Bronx Bombers set a new MLB record for highest opening day payroll at $230.4 million on Monday and then went on to get convincingly handled by the Boston Red Sox 8-2—not quite the start you would expect out of the most valuable team in history. The woes do not stop there, though, as their disabled list could almost fill an All-Star team starting lineup.
With the likes of Derek Jeter, Phil Hughes, Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, and Alex Rodriguez (whose $29 million per year contract alone is more than the entire payroll of the Houston Astros) all sitting on the DL, Yankee fans have good reason to be sweating as the season gets underway. With a payroll breaking the $200 million mark each of the last six seasons, the Yankees do not like to leave things to chance when it comes to building a winning team.
But even spending nearly a quarter of a billion dollars on player salaries may not guarantee a playoff spot this year. The top position in the AL East will probably turn out to be more of a battle this season, with the Baltimore Orioles returning a strong roster along with promising improvements from Boston (as seen in the opener). The talk of the league, though the Toronto Blue Jays, who made huge moves in the off season in signing pitchers Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, and NL Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey, in addition to Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera, and Maicer Izturis.
On top of the injuries and improving competition, the Yankees were in stalled contract negotiations with vital second baseman and slugger Robinson Cano. After rejecting a sizeable offer earlier in the year, Cano and former agent Scott Boras were on track to ride out the 2013 season straight into free agency, as is typical of Boras’s clients.
In free agency, the Yanks would have to compete with other high payroll teams for Cano’s talents, which could have very easily ended with Cano leaving the Bronx. When it seemed as if a crippling blow was to be dealt to the Yankees, the forces of Roc Nation arrived to fortify the trenches.
On Tuesday, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation announced that it would be partnering with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Sports to sign its first client in Robinson Cano. The combination of major Yankee fan Jay-Z and CAA, known for landing some hefty contract extensions, can almost guarantee that Cano will remain in pinstripes. Although it may also mean that the Yanks will be handing over another massive contract to Cano, the more important aspect to focus on is the fact that New York needs Cano, and needs him badly.
With stars such as Jeter, Rodriguez, Ichiro Suzuki, and Travis Hafner aging quickly, the organization will have to secure its younger centerpieces for years to come if it want to continue its winning ways. Having Boras out of the way and Jay-Z in his place will end up being a huge help for the Yankees.
Cano has had a batting average of over .300 each of the last four seasons and has hovered around 100 RBIs and 30 home runs. If the Yankees can rely on anyone to consistently produce, it is Cano, and for that reason, management must make absolute certain they do not lose their second baseman.
Now with Jay-Z entering the picture, two things are fairly sure. The first is that the rapper’s NY pride will keep Robby in the Bronx and the second is that Robby actually wants to stay in the Bronx.
Many athletes with the skill and success of Cano would go to free agency and see which team is willing to offer the highest bid. It is somewhat of a relief to see that such a big name as Cano opted to fire the agent that would have brought him to market and sold him to the highest contract. His switch to Jay-Z reveals that he wants a deal with New York to get inked and believes in the future of this team.
Part of the decision was definitely for publicity and I’m sure there will be some perks to being Jay-Z’s first athlete client, but no player who wants teams fighting over him with untold amounts of cash risks leaving the agent that is known for getting teams to do just that. We are seeing some commitment out of Cano by this new representation and maybe Yankee fans can now find a bit solace in this time of uncertainty.