Lindor sad to see Cano go after pleading with Mets to keep him

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was sad to hear that teammate Robinson Cano was designated for assignment Monday after Lindor said he wanted the club to keep the veteran infielder.

"Sad. I didn't want to see him go, but I respect the team's decision," Lindor said, according to the New York Post's Greg Joyce. "He's a great guy, great teammate. I wish I (could) spend more time with him, continue to learn about the game and different things that he has been through in life. But at the end of the day, I'm with the New York Mets and I respect their decision."

Lindor pleaded with the Mets to keep Cano on the roster, but the star's request wasn't enough for the franchise to overlook the veteran's struggles during the season's first month.

Cano hit .195/.233/.268 in his first stretch of big-league action since serving a season-long suspension for using a performance-enhancing drug.

The 39-year-old began the 2022 campaign with two years and $48 million remaining on his contract. The Mets will be on the hook for around $37.5 million of Cano's salary if he is released, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo.