Mariners' Cano: 'On paper we look like the world champions'

Shortly after arriving at his team's spring training complex in Arizona on Tuesday, veteran second baseman Robinson Cano offered a glowing assessment of the Seattle Mariners, albeit one with a big caveat.

"On paper we look like the world champions," Cano told MLB.com's Greg Johns. "But it's not how we look on paper. We have to go out and prove it every single day. Hopefully, we'll stay healthy and be able to play the whole year."

The Mariners improved dramatically in 2014 after signing Cano to a mammoth 10-year, $240-million contract last winter, but fell one game shy of a wild-card berth with an 87-75 record. Blessed with one of baseball's best pitching staffs, the team upgraded their offense this winter, signing Nelson Cruz and Rickie Weeks while also trading for Seth Smith and Justin Ruggiano, in an effort to snap a 13-year playoff drought in 2015.

Though Cano enjoyed another sublime season in 2014 - despite tallying only 14 home runs, the 32-year-old managed a 142 OPS+ and 5.2 WAR in 157 games - the six-time All-Star still laments missing the postseason.

"Last year I can't complain," Cano said. "That was a good year for me even though I didn't hit the ball out of the ballpark. For me to stay out there and be able to be healthy and play more than 150 games, that's what (is important) to me.

"The only thing I want is to go back and be able to make it to the postseason. Because that was an ending I'll never forget. One game makes a huge difference. Hopefully, now we'll take our experience and go into this year with a different mind, go from the beginning, not give anything away or let anybody take anything from us."