"The two lefty-hitting sluggers embraced in the shadows of the sprawling outdoor patio of The Fishing Lodge resort here, the high-profile free agent greeting the All-Star Yankee second baseman on neutral ground in their native Dominican Republic.

But make no mistake, Robinson Cano said he would welcome David Ortiz switching sides in the storied baseball rivalry between New York and Boston.

"It would be a good idea, having another lefty on the team," Cano told the Daily News while in attendance at Ortiz's fourth annual charity golf tournament. "We all know he's a great hitter. Last year, a lot of people were saying, 'He's done.' He proved a lot of people wrong. I like people, when they're down, they prove people wrong. He came back, did a great job."

Ortiz's age (36) might be a factor , as GM Brian Cashman has plenty of older players on the roster already — Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez are 37 and 36, respectively. Besides, beyond $200 million ace CC Sabathia, pitching remains a concern, though Cano thinks the rotation is "in good shape.

"Last year is about the whole team — not about only pitching, it's about defense and offense. We've got such a great team. Nobody thought St. Louis was going to be where they are now," said Cano, 29. "They won the championship. That was really surprising. It's about putting the team together, have the offense, defense and the pitching."

As for A-Rod's subpar 2011 season — in which he was slowed by various injuries — Cano said he wasn't worried about the $275 million Bomber rebounding next season, or the fact that advancing years could spell more breakdowns."