The eighty-game suspension of Robinson Cano created an interesting situation for the Mariners, who have already responded in part by shifting Dee Gordon to second base and acquiring Denard Span. But more moves are anticipated for the surprising AL West leaders, with Cano’s return playing into the calculus, as GM Jerry Dipoto discussed with ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick.
Lest there be any doubt, Dipoto made clear that Cano won’t simply be handed his regular job at second when he’s eligible to be activated. While the club sees Cano as “perhaps the biggest acquisition of anybody at the deadline,” per Dipoto, it’s also cognizant of the fact that he isn’t going to be eligible for a hopeful postseason berth due to his ban.
Since the M’s will be using Gordon at second if they crack the playoffs, he’ll need to spend a good bit of time there late in the regular season. That could set the stage for some sort of “time-share,” says Dipoto, who also notes that the plans will “be dictated by where we are in the standings.” Presumably, that could mean leaning on Cano more if it’s necessary to squeeze out every last win — which certainly may be the order of the day given the level of top-level competition in the divisional and Wild Card races.
Dipoto acknowledged that there’s still quite a lot of ground to cover before the team can begin sketching out postseason lineup cards. As he put it, “First, we have to continue to play well. If we start to get too far ahead of ourselves in allocating playing time in late August and September as we sit here in June, that’s probably not the wisest thing to do.”
That said, the plans for Cano and Gordon have implications for the team’s deadline planning. It’s certainly possible that Cano could spend time at first base, where the M’s have received middling production. Perhaps that would leave the team free to focus its resources — including the untapped portion of the money saved on Cano’s forfeited salary — on boosting its pitching staff more than filling out the lineup. While the organization would still need to have a plan in place for managing a Cano-less postseason, that general approach might maximize its chances of making it to the dance in a top-heavy American League.
hiflew
I didn’t read the article yet, but I assume the word “trade” is involved around 100 times.
Dodgethis
I don’t think it was mentioned once.
adshadbolt
There not trading Gordon and no one will take cano’s contact so idk who they would trade?
hiflew
*sigh* It was just a joke about DiPoto’s proclivity to trade guys. Lighten up a bit
IACub
I got your joke and I chuckled at it
JoeyPankake
Dee Gordon only has 4 walks in 241 plate appearances. That’s hard to do.
xabial
That BB-K ratio reeks being Odor-bad..
robert-5
Javy Baez: hold my beer…
Benjamin560
At least now there is a legitimate reason to transition Cano over to 1B and fill that position for years to come.
Stevil
It is, but he’s a contact hitter. Normal for him would be 8-10 at this point.
Stevil
Cano should be preparing to take 1B upon his return. He’ll move off of 2B eventually anyway and Healy simply isn’t cutting it. Vogelbach could take his place in the postseason.
matthew102402
I still don’t see what Vogelbach has done that has shown he’s a better option than Healy.
Stevil
Vogelbach hasn’t been given a real shot yet to prove anything, but he’s laid waste to AAA and is likely to offer better PA”s.
Healy had a HR tonight, but he has set the bar incredibly low. He ranks near the bottom, just ahead of Chris Davis among qualified 1st basemen in the AL.
It’s about what Healy hasn’t done that warrants a harder look at Vogelbach as much as Vogelbach’s own performance.
docmilo5
Vogelbach is not a 1st baseman. He’s a DH. His role is DH if the Mariners don’t resign Cruz next year. Do not let Vogelbach around a 1st baseman’s glove.
hiflew
So your solution is to give him his real shot in the postseason?
Benjamin560
Hey! Keep up the Healy hate! I think that dude heard you!
allmighty
They will not make playoffs
andrewgauldin
That’s a bold prediction. Anything can happen, I can see it.
whereslou
And you will never be a Vegas odds maker.
jb19
Help me out here, if Cano is out 6-8 weeks and suspended for 80 games, how is he going to come back this year? Was he placed on the DL? Do the days on the DL count toward the suspension? I didn’t think those days counted.
Jeff Todd
DL does not come into play for PED-related suspensions.
jb19
Thanks. I didn’t know that. Was hoping not to see him until next year.
adamontheshore
Why?
CubsFanForLife
Astros / Angels fan, maybe?
JonLestersRightHand
Salty Yankee fan potentially?
panickingcalmly
Cano dropped his PED-related appeal after being told he’d be on the DL for two months. He would’ve been out for almost as long as a PED suspension, when you factor in the DL stint and rehab games. And he won’t have to finish out a minimum stay on the DL after being reinstated from the restricted list. In Cano’s case, they basically transferred him from one inactive list (DL) to another (restricted). And he isn’t getting paid while suspended, while he would’ve gotten paid on the DL.
The Oregonian
Days on the DL actually do count towards the suspension.
deweybelongsinthehall
I recall it being mentioned when the suspension was first announced. Not fair that Steven Wright was forced to serve his suspension AFTER returning from the DL. Not trying to compare but there should be consistency. A suspension is a suspension. Hopefully this gets modified one waq or the other during the next PBA discussion. Not a huge issue but in my view it should be agreed on.
getright11
Life isnt fair
sidewinder11
I think the difference in the two cases is the timing of the DL placement and the announcement of the suspension
bobtillman
The amount of baseball fans who DON’T think Jerry will pull a deal off on or before July 31 would fit in a phone booth…………
jd396
The amount of people who know what a phone booth is anymore would fit in a phone booth.
bobtillman
…touche……
jorge78
LOL
Rwm102600
Nice.
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
Best chuckle of the day so far!
Ironman_4life
I dont think ive ever heard Seattle as a Machado landing spot. That would help them make thenpalyoffs
Travis’ Wood
And play him where….
The Oregonian
Isn’t their farm system really weak? Plus why would they bench one of Segura or Seager?
bradthebluefish
Dipoto will find a way. He always does.
Angelfanforlife19
I am very happy for Jerry I’m scioscia had a lot to do with him leaving the Angels. The best of luck to the Mariners and their fans. Shame on Cano he should pay back some of that crazy salary for being a looser and a liar. No room in baseball for drugs! Zero tolerance!!!
Vedder80
He is paying back some of the salary, because he doesn’t get paid while suspended.
UndergroundKingz
I absolutely dislike the Angel’s with a passion but MAJOR respect “Angelfanforlife19” thank you for your best wishes. The drought sure has gone on long enough for MLB Playoffs in Seattle so it would be nice….Anyways here’s to some competitive baseball!
Angelfanforlife19
Missing word is “sure”
antsmith7
Use him as a pinch-hitter/bench guy! He can’t play if we make the playoffs anyway so don’t take reps from the regular guys!
Cam
But, he’s an elite second baseman, and the Mariners need every bit of production they can get, just to make the playoffs to begin with.
docmilo5
Define elite.
I’m guessing you haven’t watched him play 2nd the last 3 years. His range is shot due to injury… which probably led him to making bad decisions if it’s true. He does say he took whatever it was for kidney related issues.
muskie73
The regulars will need late-season relief to stay fresh for the potential postseason.
Cano can relieve Nelson Cruz at designated hitter and Dee Gordon at second base. He should be working out at first base to spell Ryon Healy and Kyle Seager (if Healy can make spot starts at third base where he’s played a majority of his MLB games).
Few teams could boast a utility bat as good as Cano’s.
Solaris601
Seems to me that the logical move is to play Cano primarily at 1B when he returns. Of course the M’s need to have someone (not sure if Healy is the answer) take over for the post season, but you have to get there first. Can’t really trade (again) for another 1B who will just sit until the playoffs……unless they sign Hanley Ramirez now to play 1B and just use him off the bench when Cano returns.
Dan_Oz
Hanley’s a post season beast, that would be a good move for the Mariners
stansfield123
Lest there be any doubt, Dipoto made clear that Cano won’t simply be handed his regular job at second when he’s eligible to be activated.
—————–
Yeah okay, Your best player isn’t going to get his regular job back.
matthew102402
If Cano gets his regular 2B spot back, then one of two things happen. Dee Gordon goes to center, which is not what’d he play in the playoffs, or Dee sits on the bench, which he’d be starting every game at 2nd in the playoffs.
stansfield123
The playoffs? The Mariners are competing with several teams for the second Wild Card. That’s their ceiling, and it’s set in stone, they have no chance at beating the Astros, and less than 30% even at the road WC game.
The notion that they should plan the rest of their regular season under the assumption that they’re playing an actual playoff series is ridiculous. They need to focus 100% on the regular season, just to have a chance at the playoffs. And that means playing Cano at second.
BuddyBoy
Clueless..how about some facts. The Mariners are in first place right now with a 20% chance to stay there by the statistical analysts. They have a 84% chance of making the playoffs by the same analysts
muskie73
Seattle is 19-7 since Robinson Cano played his last game. Cano won’t be on the postseason roster so the Mariners might not want to disrupt the winning lineup.
FWIW, last season Cano ranked fourth among Seattle players in fWAR (third among position players).
NotaGM
I don’t get the system but I do…you cheat then no playoff runs but you may help the team get there??? What’s wrong here, after you cheat?
getright11
Pay your price and move on. Cant be punished forever.
reflect
What are the chances Cano gets moved for another expensive deal? There are teams out there with bad contracts who would like to contend in 2018 and 2019. Cano can help them, especially with the latter.
Something like a Cano/Ian Desmond swap? Cano for Bruce, Cano for Hosmer, etc…
skrockij89
The problem is Cano is still producing, even before the suspension. Trading for Ian Desmond/Bruce would make sense if it would give salary relief for the M’s. You also have to factor he has a no-trade clause in his contact.
stansfield123
The Ms don’t need salary relief, they have plenty of revenue. What they desperately need is to get to the playoffs, to try and justify those ridiculous prices fans have to (and are willing to) pay.
Unfortunately for them, the Angels are in the exact same situation….and, even though they’re a few games back, they have the better chance of making it (because they have an easier schedule, from here on out).
BuddyBoy
Statistical analysts disagree greatly with you. Mariners At 84% chance to make playoffs and Angels at 14%
stansfield123
Why would you want to trade a guy who put part of his guaranteed $240M contract on the line just to try and keep producing for you? He didn’t have to do that, you know. He could’ve just gotten clean once he signed that contract, and cashed his checks. Nice and easy. He didn’t, because he’s driven to win. That’s dedication.
So stop whining about his methods (most people cheat if they think they can get away with it, he just happened to get caught), and accept what he is. In return, he’ll keep producing for you. He’ll probably get clean now, and his numbers/durability will go down a bit, but odds are he’ll still be productive.
bradthebluefish
I agree. Cano has a great work ethic and went a step too far in using PEDs, whether intentional or not. Might as well keep Cano and will to be better, his will to keep on winning, even as he gets older.
GarryHarris
Miguel Cabrera for Robinson Cano.