Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson know that 2013 is going to bring them each a $15 million dollar payday. The New York Yankees alerted both Cano and Granderson that the club would be exercising their club option on both players for the 2013 season. Despite a dismal showing in the playoffs during the 2012 season, both Cano and Granderson were twi huge reasons the Yankees got to the postseason in the first place.
Cano will be eligible for free agency for the first time in his career in 2014 if he doesn’t come to a long term agreement with the Yankees before the end f next season. Cano finished the season hitting .313 with a career-high 33 homers and 94 RBIs. This despite the fact that he set a league record for being the only player to go through a 0-29 slump in the playoffs.
While the Yankees, who have the highest payroll in Major League Baseball, have said their goal is to reduce salaries by 10% to $189 million dollars in 2014 to take advantage of the new luxury tax rules that came into force with the new collective bargaining agreement, they consider it a priority to keep Cano. Cano recently signed with MLB superagent Scott Boras. Neither Cano or Boras is expected to give the Yankees any loyalty discount in contract negotiations.
Granderson, who also had a miserable post season, hit a career low .232 this season for the Yankees. Despite his batting average he hit 43 home runs. His age and low average will probably preclude the Yankees from wanting him in a long term deal but they need his power for the 201 campaign.
The New York Yankees are entering the off season with plenty of question marks in their roster. Superstar Closer Mariano Rivera hinted he may call it a career this year and Andy Pettite will begin his usual retire/don’t retire before deciding whether he is going to return. Starter Michael Pineda will not be ready for action until at least June and the Yankees have not resigned starter Hiroki Kuroda as of yet. Rafael Soriano, who proved his bonafides this season with 43 save, in expected to opt out of his final contract year and may not be interested in resigning with the Yankees without a multi-year deal.
The Yankees were swept out of the playoffs this year by the Detroit Tigers.