Yankees may be close with Cano

The Yankees appear ready to break tradition and give a long-term contract to one of their arbitration-eligible players.

Robinson Cano is reportedly close to a four-year, $30 million deal. Because of his service time, this is the first of four years Cano would be eligible for arbitration. His agent, Bobby Barad, asked for $4.55 million last week. The Yankees countered with $3.2 million.

This deal would be similar to what the Mets did for David Wright (6 years, $55 million) and Jose Reyes (4 years, $23.25 million) last season.

The Mets hold an option year on Wright and Reyes. The Cano deal would likely have a option as well.

UPDATE, 6:15 p.m.: Waiting on a call from Cano’s agent, Bobby Barad. But it sounds like the team will be for four years with the Yankees holding two one-year options. They would buy out four years of arbitration and two years of free agency.

In the long term, it will probably prove economical for the Yankees. Cano’s deal will probably be backloaded.

I’d be surprised if they signed Chien-Ming Wang to a long-term deal this season given that pitchers are more fragile.

News source：http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/01/24/yankees-may-be-close-with-cano/