Mets get Cano, Diaz and cash from Mariners in 7-player trade
The Seattle Mariners' Robinson Cano during his at-bat in the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field in Seattle on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018. (Dean Rutz/Seattle Times/TNS)
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets have acquired longtime star second baseman Robinson Cano and major league saves leader Edwin Diaz from the Seattle Mariners in a seven-player trade.
The Mets also are getting $20 million from the rebuilding Mariners in the deal announced Monday.
Seattle received outfielder Jay Bruce, reliever Anthony Swarzak and three prospects: former first-round draft picks Justin Dunn and Jarred Kelenic, plus right-hander Gerson Bautista.
In his first big move as the Mets’ general manager, Brodie Van Wagenen brought the 36-year-old Cano back to New York. Van Wagenen previously was an agent and represented the former Yankees slugger.
Diaz’s value may never have been higher after the hard-throwing 24-year-old topped the majors with 57 saves last season. The Mariners are completely revamping their roster this offseason, having already traded ace James Paxton to the Yankees. Seattle also traded All-Star shortstop Jean Segura and pitchers James Pazos and Juan Nicasio to Philadelphia on Monday for veteran slugger Carlos Santana and young infielder J.P. Crawford.
“This trade bolsters our player development system with the additions of Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn, while also providing immediate impact to our major league club,” Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto said in a statement.
Cano is halfway through a $240 million, 10-year contract. With the cash from Seattle, the Mets will be responsible for $100 million of the $120 million owed to Cano.
Cano served an 80-game suspension this year following a positive test for Furosemide, a diuretic that can be used to mask performance-enhancing drugs. Cano claimed the Furosemide was given to him by a licensed doctor in the Dominican Republic. The suspension was announced May 15, two days after Cano’s right hand was broken when he was hit by a pitch thrown by Detroit’s Blaine Hardy.
Cano returned to the Mariners on Aug. 14 and finished with a .303 batting average, 10 homers and 50 RBIs in 80 games. He waived his no-trade clause to return to New York.
Van Wagenen was co-head of CAA Baseball before joining the Mets in October and negotiated Cano’s contract with Seattle in December 2013. Cano has a .304 career batting average with 311 homers and 1,233 RBIs, including four 100-RBI seasons. He has a career .848 OPS, including an .845 mark last season.
Diaz had a 1.96 ERA and struck out 124 in 73 1/3 innings.
Seattle has not reached the playoffs since 2001, the longest postseason drought across the four major pro American sports. After finishing third in the AL West despite an 89-73 record, the Mariners decided to go in another direction.
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