Seattle Mariners Rant Week: From the Outside – Matt Barry

Robbie

Now I think of the Mariners as Robinson Cano, Mitch Haniger, and Edwin Diaz. All played a significant role both positively and negatively on this year’s team.

If I’m a Mariners fan, my ire is directed first and foremost towards Robinson Cano. Due to a broken hand, then a suspension for PEDs, Robbie played just 80 games. He hit .303 (second to Jean Segura’s .304) with 10 homers and 50 RBI.

If Cano had played a full season, he may have had 20-plus homers and 100 RBI. Dee Gordon is a nice player, but Cano is the big money player. Even though the Mariners had a great first half, maybe they would have survived a lesser second half if they started even stronger. What would the M’s record have been through the end of June with Robbie in the lineup?

Cano’s huge contract at 35 years old is a drag on the books for a team like Seattle. At this point, it’s management’s fault for signing the deal. Of course, they weren’t “mind readers,” but it seemed like a reach at the time. It does cause M’s fans to look at Cano and feel somewhat bitter.

He’s still productive, but the amount of money they are spending for an aging second baseman is tough to swallow. He will need to have a solid full season in 2019 if the Mariners want to make the postseason for the first time since 2001.