Major League Baseball will reportedly suspend New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano for all of the 2021 season after he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug stanozolol, his second PED suspension. Amid that report, here's what this means for both the National League East club and for the former All-Star:
What does this mean for the Mets in 2021 and beyond?
It's actually not a worst-case scenario, as Cano forfeits his $24 million salary for 2021. (The Mets were responsible for $20.75 million of that.) That gives the Mets more flexibility in payroll, and they could pursue a free-agent second baseman like DJ LeMahieu, Kolten Wong or Enrique Hernandez. They also have internal options in super-utility guy Jeff McNeil, or they could slide Amed Rosario over to second and play Andres Gimenez at shortstop because he looked like a much better defensive option there than Rosario. They could also make a pitch for Francisco Lindor, who will make a projected $23 million in 2021 before he becomes a free agent.
The Mets may not want to spend all their payroll room this year either, given that next year's free-agent class potentially includes the likes of Lindor, Trevor Story, Corey Seager, Javier Baez, Carlos Correa -- and that's just the shortstops -- plus Freddie Freeman, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander, Lance Lynn, Zack Greinke, Dylan Bundy and Lance McCullers Jr.
Do the Mets still need to pay him?
Not in 2021. But he's still on the books for $24 million in 2022 and 2023.
What does this mean for Cano's future in MLB?
Cano will be in his age-39 season when he's eligible to return in 2022. His defense is in steady decline, so it's hard to imagine he'll be anything more than a first baseman or a DH at that point. And while the Mets are responsible for his contract no matter what, it's pretty easy to envision a scenario where they decide he's not worth the headache and simply cut bait and eat the contract. Right as Jarred Kelenic becomes an All-Star for the Mariners. (Sorry, Mets fans.)
Cano's Hall of Fame chances are completely done now ... right?
It sure seems like it. He's now on the Manny Ramirez path with two suspensions, and Ramirez received just 28% of the vote last year, his fourth on the ballot. Ramirez probably has slightly better Hall of Fame credentials than Cano as well, although their career WAR totals are similar -- 69.3 for Ramirez against 68.9 for Cano.