The New York Mets have designated struggling infielder Robinson Cano for assignment.
Cano, 39, is owed $44,703,297 by the Mets from the remainder of the $240 million, 10-year contract he signed with the Seattle Mariners in 2013.
He is hitting just .195 with one home run and three RBIs and a .501 OPS in 43 plate appearances this season. He has appeared in 12 of 23 games, starting six at second base and five at designated hitter.
All MLB teams must reduce their rosters by two players, to 26, by Monday. The Mets also optioned right-hander Yoan Lopez to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday night as one of those moves. Relegated to a part-time role this season, Cano was a casualty of the crunch as the first-place Mets chose to keep younger, more versatile bench players instead.
The Mets acquired Cano from the Mariners in 2018, in a trade that also brought closer Edwin Diaz to New York. The Mets surrendered prized outfield prospect Jarred Kelenic as part of the package sent to Seattle.
In three seasons with the Mets, Cano hit .269 with 24 home runs and 72 RBIs. He was suspended for the 2021 season after violating MLB’s policy against performance-enhancing drugs.
An eight-time All-Star, Cano has a career average of .302 with 335 home runs and 1,305 RBIs in 17 seasons. He has 2,632 career hits, third-most among active players.
Cano’s agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, who was the Mets’ general manager at the time of the blockbuster trade, told the New York Post that his client “absolutely still wants to play.”
“Given the right situation, he can still make a meaningful contribution for a team,” he told the newspaper.
Van Wagenen added that Cano has a “great deal of respect” for the Mets and “understands they had a tough decision to make. He wishes them well going forward.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.