Robinson Cano sat at Safeco Field with music mogul Jay Z nearby. They arrived in Seattle that mid-December day in 2013 after completing Cano’s mega deal of 10 years, $240 million to leave the New York Yankees for the Seattle Mariners.
The presumed future Hall of Fame second baseman was supposed to change Seattle baseball and its national perception. He’d be the one. Of all the Mariners’ horrendous trades and free-agent signings since their last playoff appearance in that 116-win 2001 campaign, Cano would be different.
Five years later, the Mariners had to include star closer Edwin Diaz and $20 million just to part with the rest of Cano’s massive contract.