Red Sox could be interested in adding veteran Robinson Cano
Could the Boston Red Sox be looking to add a spark plug in the name of Robinson Cano to their lineup in the coming days?
The 39-year-old did not start off the season too well at the plate for the New York Mets and that eventually led to his designation for assignment on Monday.
The Mets now have seven days to either trade Cano or release him. The team will also be on the hook for the remaining $37.6 million remaining on his contract through next season. If he clears waivers and reaches free agency, the Red Sox were to pick him up, the risk would be minimal.
Red Sox Nation knows all too well that the offense isn’t producing the way it should be, at least on paper. Currently, the Red Sox are in the bottom of the league in batting (.229, 20th), home runs (13, 25th), on base percentage (.279, 26th), runs (81, 23rd), and walk percentage (6.1%, 29th).
More specifically, the Red Sox are getting absolutely no production out of first base. Between Bobby Dalbec and recently released Travis Shaw, the combined numbers are dreadful. A batting average of .074, on base percentage of .107, one home run, three runs batted in, a 2.7% walk rate to go along with a disastrous 33.8% strikeout rate.
Cano hasn’t done much better with a .195 batting average, one home run, three runs batted in, a 4.7% walk rate, and a 25.6% strikeout rate. He is a career .302 hitter though so you would hope he would get back on track if the Red Sox were to pursue him. He also hit .316 back in the 2020 season before he was suspended for the entire 2021 season due to PEDs.
When he is on, Cano is an above-average offensive player. He doesn’t strike out a lot and has 2,632 hits to his name.
If the Red Sox were to go after him, they would most likely try to play him at first base. The eight-time All-Star second baseman has only played 14 games at first base in his career, all in 2018 with the Seattle Mariners.
The Red Sox recently called up Franchy Cordero to platoon with Dalbec at first base. If they pursued Cano, they could send Cordero back down or figure something else out with the roster.
As it stands now, the Red Sox are 8 games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East and cannot afford to fall back even further as we head towards May.
It would definitely be a little weird to see Cano in a Red Sox uniform because of all of those years in playing in pinstripes against the Sox, but it would be a welcome sight to this lineup if he can get on a hot streak and help propel this team.
With the red-hot Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Chicago White Sox coming to Beantown, the Red Sox need a spark in the biggest of ways. Cano could potentially be exactly that for this team.