Mets DFA Cano with around $40M left on contract
The New York Mets designated veteran second baseman Robinson Cano for assignment Monday.
New York made the decision ahead of Major League Baseball's deadline to reduce rosters to 26 players.
The Mets are eating around $37.5 million of Cano's remaining money, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo.
The Seattle Mariners are on the hook for the rest of his salary after they traded him to the Big Apple in 2018.
Mets general manager Billy Eppler described the decision as one of the toughest he's had to make as a general manager, according to Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News.
Billy Eppler and Buck Showalter informed Robinson Cano of their decision last night after the Mets game. Here’s more from Eppler, who later said releasing Cano was one of the toughest calls he’s had to make as GM: pic.twitter.com/CxVNBfYvMQ
— Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) May 2, 2022
Eppler added he discussed the financial impact of cutting Cano with team owner Steve Cohen, who told him to "make the baseball decision."
Cano, 39, was hitting .195/.233/.268 with one home run, three RBIs, and 11 strikeouts in his first year back since returning from a season-long drug suspension.
The five-time Silver Slugger winner authored a .269/.315/.450 slash line with 24 home runs and 72 RBIs in 168 games for the Mets over three campaigns.
Cano intends to keep playing if the Mets release him and he becomes a free agent, his agent said.
"Robbie still wants to play," Brodie Van Wagenen told the New York Post's Joel Sherman. "Given the right situation, he can still make a meaningful contribution for a team."
Van Wagenen added: "Robbie is a true professional with a great deal of respect for the organization. He understands they had a tough decision to make. He wishes them well going forward."
New York also optioned right-hander Yoan Lopez to Triple-A in a related roster move.