The Seattle Mariners have high hopes for the 2016 season. The same could be said about last season, so there is reason to be skeptical. Injuries took their toll, the bullpen was disastrous and it seemed as if every key player was having a slow start. The Mariners have provided depth across the board this offseason, but none of that matters if Robinson Cano doesn’t perform.
Cano had a dreadful first half of last season, hitting for .251 in the first half despite batting .313 or higher the last three MLB seasons. Stomach ailments and a sports hernia sure didn’t help things for Cano last season either. Those numbers definitely improved as the season progressed as he proceeded to hit .330 in the second half, but it still averaged out at .287 for the season. It was the first season in six years he was not in the top 10 in MVP votes. He didn’t even make the All-Star team, a first since 2009.
Cano has had surgery this offseason for the sports hernia, which should definitely improve his consistency at the plate and mobility at second base. The inclusion of Edgar Martinez in the Mariners coaching staff midway through the season sure didn’t hurt either. Hopefully with the Martinez on board for this season, Cano can get back to his All-Star caliber hitting.
The stomach ailments will continue to be an issue unfortunately. He first experienced discomfort in the final month of the 2014 season, but decided to deal with it after the season had ended. A small parasite turned into an extreme case of acid reflux. He has said drinking water makes him feel like vomiting occasionally, and he does not eat red meat (he is an avid seafood eater).
The Mariners gave Cano a 10-year, $240 million contract in 2014, and the time to live up to that contract is running out. Cano does have eight years left on the deal, but talks have already started about moving him to first. Once Cano is at first base, his contract significantly overpays him. The thought with the contract initially was that Cano would exceed it for the first few years while underperforming during the later years.
The Mariners need the most out of Cano this season. Realistically, if Cano hits like he did last season, good and bad, the Mariners will not make the postseason. It’s not as if only one player makes a team, but when you spend $24 million a year on a player, he tends to have a large influence on how the team performs. If the Mariners want to get to October baseball for the first time since 2001, Cano has to perform to his capabilities.
