Sources: Robinson Cano, M's meet
— -- After traveling to Seattle on Thursday to meet with the Mariners about an offer that sources say was expected to approach $250 million, free-agent second baseman Robinson Cano, is not prepared to make a decision, sources have told ESPN.
After the visit, The New York Daily News reported the talks have broken down after agent Jay Z demanded 10 years and $252 million. One source familiar with Cano's situation told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick, however, that reports that talks with the Mariners have blown up or that Jay-Z overplayed his hand in a meeting with the Seattle brass Thursday night are "inaccurate.'' The same source added that Cano's negotiations over the past 48 hours have been "productive on all fronts'' with all teams involved.
A source said Cano went to Seattle believing that the Mariners would raise their offer. The Mariners, according to a source, were under the impression Cano flew to Seattle to finalize a deal.
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees are growing increasingly resigned to the likelihood of a future without Cano. A source said Cano has told teammates he doesn't plan on giving the Yankees a hometown discount.
Sources familiar with the club's thinking told ESPNNewYork.com that the Yankees believe the Mariners are about to offer Cano a nine-year, $225 million contract -- well below Cano's reported demand of $310 million over 10 years but significantly higher than New York's offer in the range of $175 million over seven years.
"If that's what the [Mariners'] offer is, he's gone," said a source of the potential $225 million offer. The source added he believed Cano would go to the highest bidder and that the Yankees were determined not to go higher than seven years or $175 million for their team leader in batting average (.314), home runs (27) and RBIs (107) in 2013.
Cano's agent, Jay Z, was in the Seattle area after flying there from Los Angeles, a source said. He has at a concert Friday night in Anaheim, Calif.
Cano's father, Jose, told ESPNNewYork.com that his son is looking for 10-year deal and that the Yankees have offered only seven.
"We are looking for 10 years," Jose Cano said, becoming the first person from the Cano camp to publicly confirm what its side is seeking.
Meanwhile, Jose Cano was bothered by general manager Brian Cashman's comments that the second baseman "loves" money. Cashman made the statement at the GM meetings, but later added that most players make a financial decision.
"I don't know why he said that," Jose Cano said. "I don't know exactly everything. Tell me, who doesn't love money?"
In the event Cano leaves, the Yankees are preparing to move forward on several other free agents while considering the possibility of opening the 2014 season with journeyman Kelly Johnson as their starting second baseman.
The Johnson signing has not been made official, but it is expected that the Yankees soon will announce a deal with the 31-year-old, who hit 16 home runs last season for the Tampa Bay Rays. New York believes Johnson's left-handed swing will play well at Yankee Stadium.
Information from ESPN's Jerry Crasnick and Jayson Stark and ESPNNewYork.com's Wallace Matthews and Andrew Marchand was used in this report.
