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Robinson Cano News & Rumors

Options on Cano, Swisher exercised by Yanks
October 30
MLB.com
 
"The Yankees have exercised their 2012 club options on second baseman Robinson Cano and outfielder Nick Swisher, the team announced Saturday night. It was widely expected that the Yankees would lock up both players for next season. Cano's option is for $14 million, while Swisher will earn $10.25 million. Cano is coming off his second straight All-Star season and a campaign in which he became arguably the most feared hitter in New York's lineup."
Boras says he was kidding; knows Yankees won't adjust Cano's contract
October 28
New York Post
 
"Scott Boras wants a few things cleared up regarding comments he made to The Post on Wednesday when he talked about Robinson Cano's two option years with the Yankees. Boras, who represents the second baseman, said he had been calling GM Brian Cashman in an effort to get Cano's options for 2012 and 2013 dropped "but Cash hasn't returned my calls.'' Boras said Thursday he was joking because he knows the Yankees aren't going to drop those options that total $29 million for Cano, considered by many to be the premier hitter in the American League. "Cash and I have talked three or four times in the last three days. My statements were in jest. Cash always returns my phone calls,'' Boras said. "My"
Cano's agent wants contract re-done; Yankees' GM hasn't returned call
October 27
New York Post
 
"Robinson Cano's effort to get his two club options deleted and a new deal hasn't penetrated the wax in the Yankees' ears. Nevertheless, the club is more open to signing left-handed ace CC Sabathia to a new multi-year contract after the brass met in Tampa yesterday and held a "productive session." The top subject in Tampa was getting an offer to Sabathia before he opts out of the final four years and $92 million of his seven-year deal. Sabathia has until three days after the World Series ends to opt out. Cano's agent, Scott Boras, attempted to contact general manager Brian Cashman about re-doing Cano's deal and has been met with silence."
Yankees 2012 To-Do List: CC Sabathia's contract, Robinson Cano's option and more
October 7
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Now that the Yankees head to their offseason, a look at what they must do to get ready for 2012: 1. Retain the GM The Yankees want general manager Brian Cashman back, and Cashman doesn't seem to want to go anywhere. So, it's a safe bet Cashman and the franchise that has employed him his entire adult life will quickly agree on a new contract. The faster they retain Cashman, the quicker he can move to explore trades for more pitching."
While Yankees' Curtis Granderson gets MVP serenade, Robinson Cano proves most valuable again
October 2
New York Daily News
 columnist John Harper
"By now Robinson Cano really shouldn't have to set the record straight for Yankee fans. The crowd at the Stadium spent much of Game 1 Saturday night chanting "M-V-P" for Curtis Granderson, which would have been fine if the fans at least had done the same for the hitter behind him. Granderson had a great season, to be sure, but come on, he's no Cano. The Yankee second baseman spent the last six weeks or so of the season driving in what seemed to be all the big runs for the Yankees, to the point where Rays manager Joe Maddon was walking him intentionally even with first base occupied. Cano has reached a level where he is one of perhaps the three or four most feared hitters in the majors, and"
Robbie one guy no one wants to face
October 2
New York Post
 
"At first, it was fair to ask if Jim Leyland had gotten himself trapped in a time machine. The last time the Tigers had faced the Yankees in an American League Division Series, in 2006, Robinson Cano was just completing his first full year as a major leaguer. He may have hit a gaudy .342 that year. But he was still sitting No. 9 in the batting order. "The Yankees," Leyland quipped five Octobers ago, "are Murderers Row plus Cano.""
Cano's 'grand' shot propels Yankees to Game 1 win
October 2
New York Post
 
"It took two days to win one ALDS game and limit their best starting pitcher to a single gig for however long the show lasts, but the Yankees will accept it. Working without CC Sabathia when play resumed last night in Game 1 against the Tigers at Yankee Stadium following Friday night's downpour, the Yankees rode Robinson Cano and Ivan Nova to a 9-3 victory that was witnessed by a Yankee Stadium record crowd of 50,940. It was the largest gathering in the three-year history of the current version of the Stadium the biggest gathering in the three-year history of the Stadium witnessed Cano hitting a grand slam and driving in six runs. Before leaving with the bases loaded in the ninth Nova"
Yankees clinch AL playoff berth, Robinson Cano's double in 8th gives Yankees 4-2 win over Rays
September 22
New York Daily News
 
"With a playoff berth officially locked up, the Yankees finally have a chance to clinch the AL East in the nightcap of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Rays. Eduardo Nunez's game-tying homer and Robinson Cano's go-ahead double in the eighth inning propelled the Yanks to a 4-2 win in the first of two at the Stadium, officially sealing their 16th trip to the postseason in 17 years. The Yanks' magic number to clinch the division title also was lowered to two, meaning they could claim the crown with another win in the nightcap and a Boston loss at home Wednesday night against Baltimore. With the Game 1 loss, the Rays slipped to 2-1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the AL wild-card race."
Blunderful day on bases for Cano
September 18
New York Post
 
"Robinson Cano has entered the AL MVP race with a bat so hot, Yankees manager Joe Girardi left him in the cleanup spot yesterday, even though Alex Rodriguez returned from a six-game absence. Cano's baserunning? It needs work. One day after being thrown out at second attempting to stretch a single into a double by testing Jose Bautista's powerful arm, Cano ran past Mark Teixeira at third in the fourth inning with the Yankees down three runs in an eventual 7-6 win over the Blue Jays."
X-Rays negative for Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano
September 15
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"X-Rays on Robinson Cano's right foot came back negative last night after he was struck by a pitch in the 12th inning of the Yankees' 2-1 loss to the Mariners. Cano remained in the game but appeared in the clubhouse wearing an ice pack on his foot while walking with a pronounced limp. "I was worried at first," Cano said. "It hit me right in the spot.""
Yankees score twice in seventh inning, Cano homers, to win 6-5 in Anaheim
September 12
New York Daily News
 
"The Yankees may have been playing 3,000 miles away from home, but New York was in their hearts and minds on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. "Obviously we have an opportunity to wear New York across our chest, and we take a lot of pride in that," Derek Jeter said. "This was something that affected the whole country, but during that time right after Sept. 11 when we were playing in the playoffs, and even now, it means a lot to us." The Yankees and Angels took the field roughly 20 minutes before the first pitch of the Yanks' 6-5 victory over the Angels, lining up down the baselines. The Yankees ditched their traditional interlocking NY hats for navy caps featuring "NYPD" and "FDNY""
Cano leads Yankees over Blue Jays, makes case for AL MVP
September 4
New York Post
 
"Joe Girardi thinks there could be a dark horse in the American League MVP derby. In fact, the Yankees manager seemed to hint Robinson Cano could be more than simply a long shot. "I wouldn't write him off in that MVP race," Girardi said. "That's what I wouldn't do." That would appear to be smart advice. In the prominent MVP field of teammate Curtis Granderson, Boston's Adrian Gonzalez, Detroit's Justin Verlander and Toronto's Jose Bautista, Cano could force his way into the mix. The All-Star second baseman has been magnificent lately, and yesterday delivered the Yankees' most critical hit of the game."
Yankees hit MLB-record 3 grand slams, top A's, 22-9
August 26
New York Daily News
 
"When he got back to the dugout in the eighth inning after hitting the Yankees' third grand slam Thursday, Curtis Granderson peered around a few celebrating teammates to look at the improbable statistic flashing on the Stadium scoreboard that stated the Yanks had just become the first team in history to slug three slams in one game. When he saw it, Granderson had the same reaction several other Yankees did: "Oh, wow!" "This game has been played for a long time, pretty much everything has already happened," added Russell Martin, who hit slam No. 2 in the sixth. "I'm waiting to see who hits four. I don't know if it'll ever happen, we'll see. But three is pretty cool." The Yankees' slam-a-thon"
Cano three-run blast lifts Yankees over Royals, 9-7, helps Nova to 12th win
August 17
New York Daily News
 
"It's probably too late for Robinson Cano to put himself in the mix for the AL MVP race, but that doesn't mean he's not going to give it a try. Cano continued his incredible August, capping an epic at-bat with a tie-breaking home run in the fourth to lift the Yankees to a 9-7 win over the Royals Tuesday night. Cano went 2-for-5 with four RBI, giving him a .386 average, five homers and 17 RBI in 14 games this month. He's hitting .306 with 21 home runs and 85 RBI for the season. "It seems like Robbie was born to hit," Joe Girardi said. "What we've seen the last two weeks or so, it's as good as he's been." Derek Jeter and Russell Martin each drove in a pair of runs, helping the Bombers to"
Yankees' Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson ride stellar weeks to Big Apple honors
August 16
New York Daily News
 
"Difficult decisions are what we do here at the New York Player of the Week home office, but sometimes we just can't choose. So we looked at the way Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson played last week and we did what we do when we get to the donut shop and see both the jelly donut and the glazed on special - we take both. So Cano and Granderson, who both provided oodles of offense for the Yankees, share the coveted award, something we'd never do with either of those aforementioned donuts. (Hey, get your own!). Cano was 10-for-20 with two doubles, two homers and a triple. He scored six runs, knocked in six runs and batted .500 with a .524 on-base percentage and a 1.000 slugging percentage."
Cano not happy with batting average
August 13
The Journal News
 
"The Home Run Derby champ smashed the ball off the facing of the second deck in right, making the biggest dent in the Yankees' win over the Angels Thursday. But even with that tiebreaking grand-slam moment, even with another loud hit in another loud season for Robinson Cano, he wasn't feeling completely satisfied. The three-time All-Star doesn't feel he has lived up this year to the high standards he has set. "I can do better," Cano said. Cano arrived for the opener of the three-game series against the Rays Friday night at Yankee Stadium batting .303 after consecutive three-hit games. He was at .324 post-break after sitting at .296 at the break. And he was up to 20 homers, becoming just the"
Cano powers Yankees to 6-5 victory over Angels
August 12
The Journal News
 
"The Yankees are running away with the AL wild-card pass - should they need it. Robinson Cano broke a tie with a grand slam in the seventh, and the Yankees took the rubber game of their series with the Angels, 6-5, Thursday at Yankee Stadium, thereby opening an eight-game lead over them for the wild card. The Yankees (71-45) also pulled to a game back of Boston in the AL East. All the runs in the decisive inning were unearned because Maicer Izturis botched an easy bouncer to second with two outs, leaving the bases loaded for Cano, who made it 6-2. His homer off lefty Scotty Downs smacked off the facing of the second deck in right, his 20th of the season and fifth career slam. Mariano Rivera"
Cano slams the door on yet another victory
August 12
New York Post
 
"Not many can say this, but Angels left-handed reliever Scott Downs has very rarely had a problem getting Robinson Cano out. No longer. Yesterday afternoon, with the score tied 2-2 in the seventh inning, Cano blasted a Downs sinker off Yankee Stadium's mezzanine molding in right field for a grand slam, giving the Yankees just enough for a 6-5 win. "It's a great feeling," said Cano, who went 3-for-4 and had his second homer in as many games. "The pitcher made a mistake and we made him pay." Going into the at-bat, Cano was 5-for-25 with no homers lifetime against Downs. "He's a guy that throws cutter in, he goes away, and he's got a slow breaking ball," Cano said. "He's a guy you don't know"
Robinson Cano stars in 6-5 victory
August 12
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The Yankees ' 6-5 victory today in the series finale against the Los Angeles Angels was defined by two mistakes: one that they are grateful for and another that might cause trepidation. The first came with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning in a tie game. Mark Teixeira hit a meek ground ball to second baseman Maicer Izturis that looked like an easy out as he charged in, but Izturis fumbled the ball and allowed Teixeira to reach and load the bases. That was just the window the Yankees needed with Robinson Cano striding to the plate, riding a hot streak the last two weeks. He took one pitch from reliever Scott Downs, then crushed an 89 mph sinker from the lefty off of the facade"
Robinson Cano's grand slam carries Yankees past Angels, 6-5; Mariano Rivera struggles again in 9th
August 12
New York Daily News
 
"Perhaps Robinson Cano should have been credited with the save in Thursday's win instead of Mariano Rivera . Cano's seventh-inning grand slam gave the Yankees a four-run lead, which turned out to be just enough insurance after Rivera served up a three-run homer in the ninth that brought the Angels within a run. Rivera recorded the final two outs for the save in the 6-5 win, but the closer was frustrated after his third straight shaky performance. BOX SCORE: YANKEES 6, ANGELS 5 "I'm not surprised; those things are going to happen," said Rivera, who allowed home runs in consecutive games for just the fourth time in his career. "It depends how you react after those things. Whatever"
Cano shows he can be Yankees' next big Star
July 13
New York Post
 columnist Kevin Kernan
"As Robinson Cano stood by his All-Star locker last night, a clubhouse attendant came over with a black baseball bat and a silver Sharpie. "Big Papi wants to know if you will sign this for him," the attendant said. With that request, you officially can consider the 82nd All-Star Game Robinson Cano's coming out party. Cano took center stage at Chase Field with his incredible showing in the Home Run Derby Monday night, captivating the crowd and the television audience and becoming a staple on all the highlight shows. "Guys we're saying to me, 'Wow, you got power. I didn't know you got that kind of power,' " said Cano, who was 0-for-2 in the American League's 5-1 loss to the National League."
Yankees' Robinson Cano, winner of Home Run Derby at All-Star Game, will hit cleanup with A-Rod out
July 13
New York Daily News
 columnist John Harper
"With Alex Rodriguez out for a month, Robinson Cano is going to hit cleanup when he returns to the Yankee lineup Thursday. And you can bet he won't hit eighth the next time he makes the All-Star team. Cano finished third in the American League MVP voting last year, yet you can make the case that he didn't arrive as a nationally known star until he put on a spectacular show in winning the Home Run Derby here Monday night. "The whole world got to see why I'm so impressed with this kid," Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long said by phone yesterday. "I think he's going to get something good out of this, with all the national attention and everything. "A lot of people around the country are saying,"
Dad helps Cano win Home Run Derby
July 12
New York Post
 
"Baseball has always been a game of fathers and sons. Evidently, so is the Home Run Derby. Robinson Cano shocked the slugging world last night, capturing the Home Run Derby at Chase Field. It wasn't his mighty swing that won the derby, Cano said. "It was my dad." With his father, Jose, throwing perfect pitches inside and low into his son's power zone, the Yankees' second baseman crushed 32 home runs, including 12 in the championship round to beat Boston's Adrian Gonzalez, who hit 11. With each home run his son blasted, Jose conducted a countdown, knowing A-Gone had 11 homers. "And I said, '10 more, nine more, eight more,' " Jose said, "and he got [to] the last one. I said, 'Just one, just"
With his dad pitching, Yankees' Robinson Cano wins 2011 Home Run Derby at All Star Game celebration
July 12
New York Daily News
 
"Monday night's Home Run Derby was a family affair for Robinson Cano. Cano put on an impressive display, wowing the fans at Chase Field with one majestic home run after another to beat Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez in the final. "It doesn't matter how much money you make or how long you play, that's the kind of memory you can always share with your family," Cano said. "When you retire, you can look over and say, 'Wow, I was good back in the day.'" What made the event even more special was that his father, Jose, served as his pitcher. "He asked me to throw it inside and low," said Jose Cano, who pitched six games for the Astros in 1989, going 1-1. "I said, 'That's the way I throw you"
Robinson Cano beats Adrian Gonzalez for Home Run Derby title
July 12
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Robinson Cano proved Curtis Granderson right — by winning the Home Run Derby. Cano, the Yankees' second baseman, edged Adrian Gonzalez of the rival Boston Red Sox in the finals of the annual All-Star Game power contest in Phoenix tonight. Granderson had predicted this week that his Yankees teammate would take this year's derby title. Cano did just that by belting 32 homers over three rounds, powering past sluggers like Boston's David Ortiz and Milwaukee's Prince Fielder. Cano had a little help from his father. It was Jose Cano, who was briefly a pitcher for the Houston Astros in 1989, throwing to his son during the derby. Both Cano and Gonzalez had 20 home runs heading into the finals. But"
Cano will swing vs. dad in Derby
July 11
New York Post
 
"Robinson Cano will have his father, Jose, pitch to him tonight at the All-Star Home Run Derby in Phoenix. Jose, who pitched briefly for the Astros in 1989, pitches to his son during the winter and was at Yankee Stadium throwing batting practice Friday. "It's good to see somebody who knows where you like the ball," said Cano, a three-time All Star, but in his first Home Run Derby. Cano isn't concerned trying to hit homers will mess up his swing or tire him out."
Curtis Granderson predicts Home Run Derby win for teammate Robinson Cano
July 11
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Robinson Cano's batting practice sessions have long been a subject of fascination among his Yankees teammates, who have come to expect pregame power displays from the second baseman. Curtis Granderson has seen so many of Cano's practice sessions that he refused to back off his prediction that Cano will win Monday's Home Run Derby, which begins at 8 at Chase Field in Phoenix. "It means a lot to me (from) a guy like him who has 25 bombs," Cano said. "That's a lot." Cano, who was also voted in as the starting second baseman, has 15 home runs going into the event featuring sluggers such as the Red Sox's David Ortiz and the Brewers' Prince Fielder."
Stars and snubs for the Yanks
July 4
New York Post
 
"The Yankees had a half-dozen representatives named to the All-Star team yesterday, including starters Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano and injured Derek Jeter. And they could've had more. CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and David Robertson were snubbed from the June 12 game in Phoenix. C Russell Martin and closer Mariano Rivera were named to the American League team as reserves, and Joe Girardi said he has no problems with Jeter -- expected back in the lineup tonight -- playing. But the biggest shock was the omission of Sabathia, who has a 3.05 ERA and is tied for the major league lead in wins with 11. AL manager Ron Washington, whose Rangers beat the Yankees in last year's"
Unfamiliar foe doesn't faze Cano
July 3
New York Post
 
"Mets rookie right-hander Dillon Gee had not faced any active Yankees batter until yesterday. So as far as Robinson Cano knew, he might very well have been facing Matt Dillon or Edward G. Robinson. Cano's first two at-bats produced a double-play grounder and a fly out. "He was pitching good," Cano said of Gee. "The thing is you never faced him and when you never face a guy, you don't know." So the third time, Cano just sought something over the plate. He got it. And then he really got a hold of it. "The first pitch [in the sixth-inning at-bat] was a curveball and the second was a changeup. I was looking for something in the strike zone. I wasn't looking for anything special," Cano said."
Yankees relying on Cano
May 29
Bergen Record
 columnist Bob Klapisch
"Yankees officials admit they're baffled by the slow, insidious decline in Robinson Cano's production numbers this year - a drop-off that could very well be linked to Alex Rodriguez's own struggle to drive in runs. Cano keeps hearing from hitting instructor Kevin Long about the virtue of patience and pitch identification. Cano knows he's only helping opposing pitchers by continuing to expand the strike zone. The second baseman said the other day, "I'm trying, I'm trying" to regain his 2010 discipline - and it's possible a solo homer off Felix Hernandez in the second inning Saturday night represented a breakthrough. But, prior to the blast, Cano was 5-of-27 (.185), which had dropped his"
New York Yankees' Robinson Cano returns to lineup despite being beaned with fastball against Royals
May 13
New York Daily News
 
"Robinson Cano was back in the Yankees' starting lineup Thursday night after all neurological tests came back clean after being hit in the head by a Nate Adcock fastball in the fifth inning of Wednesday's game against the Royals. Cano's head even was clear enough to joke about the oversized "Great Gazoo" batting helmet he found in his locker on arriving at the Stadium around 4:30 p.m. after getting final medical clearance to play. "I don't know if I'm going to wear that. I don't want to look like (Francisco) Cervelli," Cano said of the Yankees' backup catcher, who has worn an oversized helmet in past years after suffering multiple concussions. "But you never know, it might have a lot of"
Cano day-to-day after head shot
May 12
New York Post
 
"Robinson Cano was beaned by a fastball in the fifth inning last night, forcing him out of the game and, perhaps, prompting A.J. Burnett to retaliate. The Yankees said a CT scan was negative and Cano's status is day to day. "He's conscious. That's the first good sign," Mark Teixeira said after the Yankees' 4-3, 11-inning loss to the Royals. "Hopefully he'll be all right [today]." With two outs and none on in the fifth, reliever Nathan Adcock drilled Cano with a 1-1 pitch, the hitter's helmet flying off. Cano sat in the batter's box and assistant trainer Steve Donahue and manager Joe Girardi came out to check him. Cano eventually walked to first base, apparently set to stay in the game. But"
Robinson Cano, who marks 6-year anniversary with Yankees, on pace to join greats in Bombers history
May 4
New York Daily News
 
"Robinson Cano may not be on the short list with the likes of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio just yet, but the second baseman is off to a pretty good start. Tuesday night marked the sixth anniversary of Cano's major league debut, as he returned to the lineup after missing his first game of the season Monday with a bone bruise on his left hand. "Wow; it feels like it was yesterday," Cano said. "Time goes fast." Cano has established himself as one of the premier players in the league, and based on his six-year start, has a chance to wind up as one of the elite players in the Yankees' illustrious history. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Cano's 1,107 hits through the first six"
Power surge carries Yankees slugger Robinson Cano to Big Apple Player of the Week honors
May 4
New York Daily News
 
"A monster power week for Robinson Cano means we place our coveted Daily News New York Player of the Week hardware at his locker for the first time this season. With the way this guy swings, it's probably the first of a few, eh? Four homers in seven games gave Cano the nod over two worthy Mets - Chris Young and Pedro Beato - and three of Cano's own Yankee teammates, Brett Gardner, Bartolo Colon and Ivan Nova. Cano also added seven RBI, a .333 batting average, .393 on-base percentage and .833 slugging percentage for the week and was hitting the ball so hard on the Yanks' homestand that we considered bringing ear plugs to the park to deaden the sharp crack each time lumber met horsehide on"
Bone bruise sidelines Cano
May 3
New York Post
 
"The Yankees beat the Tigers and ace Justin Verlander last night at Comerica Park with their best hitter, Robinson Cano, sidelined, their cleanup man, Alex Rodriguez, in a deep slump and their designated hitter, Jorge Posada, attempting to fight his way out of an extended slide. Cano suffered a bone bruise on the left palm Sunday when he was handcuffed by an Ivan Nova pickoff throw at second base. "It feels better," said Cano, who was replaced at second by Eduardo Nunez and in the fifth spot by Nick Swisher. "[Sunday] I couldn't hold the bat." Cano was told not to take batting practice and said he wasn't available to pinch hit. "I don't want to make it worse," said Cano, who is batting .320"
Hand down: Bruised palm sidelines Cano
May 2
New York Post
 
"Robinson Cano left yesterday's Yankees win with a bruised left hand. Precautionary X-rays on the Yankees second baseman were negative, and the Bombers' hottest hitter told a team spokesman he will try to play tonight's series opener in Detroit. Cano didn't speak with the media after yesterday's 5-2 victory over Toronto, getting treatment on his hand before the team departed for Michigan. Manager Joe Girardi and hitting coach Kevin Long both downplayed the injury, the former terming Cano day-to-day and the latter saying he expected him to play tonight. "He just bruised a pad in his hand right here," Girardi said, pointing to his palm. "One of the pickoff throws from Nova was a sinker and it"
Robinson Cano bruises palm of left hand, but X-rays are negative
May 2
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Second baseman Robinson Cano sustained a bruise in the palm of his left hand after a pickoff attempt from Ivan Nova early in today's win over the Blue Jays. Precautionary X-rays on the hand after the game came back negative."
Patience pays for 'Cobra' Cano
May 1
New York Post
 columnist Joel Sherman
"A good fastball travels from a pitcher's hand to the hitting zone in literally the blink of an eye. It is not exactly the kind of time period in which you think about patience. Yet, Robinson Cano has the ability to delay and delay a decision. To let the ball travel. Such is the faith in his hands. Such is the speed of his bat. He possesses the ability to use those fractions of what already are milliseconds to determine location, speed, break. "He is so good at waiting and waiting and waiting, and then all of a sudden exploding," Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long said. "That is why I call him 'The Cobra.' Because he waits, and then he strikes in a more compact, more explosive way than anyone"
Cano continues to hit his stride at Fenway Park
April 10
New York Post
 
"Robinson Cano has turned New England's living room into his personal hitting cage. In yesterday's 9-4 Yankees win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park, Cano went 3-for-5 with a home run. That raised his career average to .367 (84-for-229) at the landmark ballpark. That's the best ever by a Yankee with a minimum 200 at-bats. Cano, who doubled in the second, singled in the third and homered in the sixth, has a seven-game Fenway Park hitting streak going. Asked to explain the success, Cano shook his head and grinned."
Cano now brightest star in Yankees Universe
March 28
New York Post
 
"The spring training game had just ended but most of the Yankees stars were long gone, having exited after the sixth or seventh innings. But one superstar remained, first lifting weights and then conducting an impromptu clinic. The Yankees' second baseman stood in front of his locker in a cramped area of the George M. Steinbrenner Field clubhouse, showing the proper footwork on a pivot at second base. Eduardo Nunez, the young prospect, watched from his locker, soaking it all in. This is the Robinson Cano version 2.0. No longer is he viewed as the lackadaisical, free-swinging bundle of potential. Now, he's the best player on the Yankees, no small statement in a clubhouse with its share of"
Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long believes Robinson Cano can hit 40 home runs in 2011
March 17
New York Daily News
 
"Kevin Long sees some big home run numbers in Robinson Cano's future, even if the second baseman doesn't. The Yankees' hitting coach believes Cano - who hit a career-high 29 home runs in 2010 - can reach the next level as a power hitter this season. "I wouldn't be surprised if Cano hit 40 home runs," Long said. "He hit 29; could he hit 40? Why not? It's a big number - and not something that's a goal - but could he do it? I don't think there's anybody standing here that thinks he can't." Asked if he thought he could go deep 40 times this season, Cano laughed and answered quickly. "No chance; maybe if you put an extra half-season," Cano said. "To be honest, that's not in my mind. I don't"
Robinson Cano dreams of hitting No. 3 in lineup
February 25
Bergen Record
 columnist Bob Klapisch
"It doesn't take much in the way of forensics to calculate how badly Robinson Cano wants to move up in the batting order. The upside of seeing so many more strikes is tempting to Cano – overwhelming, actually – but as far as campaigning for a switch, he goes no further than a thin smile and widening of the eyes. "Man, I wish," Cano said, weighing a hypothetical offer for the No. 3 spot. The slugger isn't about to complicate Joe Girardi's life by pushing his agenda, but the question of who bats where will soon be in the manager's head, if not his face. Actually, Girardi will start the season with a series of questions, none of which he can answer yet: How much more productive would Cano be"
Yankees should consider hitting Robinson Cano No. 3 in batting order if Mark Teixeira sputters early
February 25
New York Daily News
 
"I started the day convinced that it's time for the Yankees to move Robinson Cano to the No. 3 spot in the lineup. After all, at .319 he hit 63 points higher than Mark Teixeira in 2010 and has everyone around him convinced that his third-place finish in the MVP voting will launch him to further greatness. However, after hearing Alex Rodriguez and hitting coach Kevin Long make the case for status quo, Teixeira hitting third and Cano fifth, I can see their point. Rodriguez and Long are huge Cano supporters, with A-Rod even something of a mentor. Thursday the two players took 100 swings apiece on a back field after the team workout, with Long doing the pitching. Afterward Long made the point"
(Barely) safe at second
February 21
Bergen Record
 
"Twice in 2004, the Yankees nearly used a young Robinson Cano in a trade for an established impact player. Cano was on a list of players the Texas Rangers could have chosen after the Yanks agreed to swap Alfonso Soriano for Alex Rodriguez that February. Two months later, the Rangers picked 18-year-old infielder Joaquin Arias as the player-to-be-named. Arias, a .276 hitter in 113 major league games, is currently a non-roster invitee in the Kansas City Royals' camp. In June 2004, the Yankees were in pursuit of Kansas City center fielder Carlos Beltran and the Royals liked Cano — but they didn't need a second baseman. "They were looking for a third baseman and a catcher and they had us move"
Early infractions behind him, Yankees' Robinson Cano looks to improve on breakout year
February 21
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Robinson Cano apologized for his first error of the season yesterday then went about taking the first steps toward repeating his breakout year. The second baseman reported to camp a day late — he mixed up his days — but participated in the Yankees' first full-squad workouts. "I don't like to be late," Cano said. "You guys know I'm always on time. I messed up." Cano will have plenty of time to make up for his inauspicious beginning. The 28-year-old hit .319 with 29 homers and ranked as the most productive second baseman in baseball. Cano capped it off by winning the first Gold Glove award of his career. "Well, he can hit, he can play defense, he can throw," said Yankees captain Derek Jeter,"
Cano downplays switch to Boras
February 21
New York Post
 
"When Robinson Cano joined agent Scott Boras' star-studded stable, it looked as if the All-Star second baseman was preparing to ask the Yankees for a contract extension. The upcoming season is the fourth and final year of a $30 million deal. However, since the Yankees hold options for 2012 ($14 million) and 2013 ($15 million), the Yankees can control Cano for two more seasons. "No, I would never do that," Cano said of asking Boras to talk to the Yankees about a new deal. "I came here to focus on playing baseball." Cano, 28, was the last Yankee to arrive in camp because he got the reporting date and the first full-squad workout date -- yesterday -- confused. So why did Cano leave Bobby Barad"
Cano apologizes for showing late to Yankees training camp, plans to build on 2010 success
February 21
New York Daily News
 
"Robinson Cano established himself as one of the best players in the league last year, but as far as he's concerned, there's still room for improvement. Cano hit .319 with 29 home runs and 109 RBI, finishing third in the American League MVP vote, posting career highs in homers, RBI, on-base percentage (.381) and slugging percentage (.534). "It's been my best season so far," said Cano, who also picked up his first Gold Glove and second Silver Slugger. "That's the kind of thing you want. You want to get better and better and better. It makes me work even harder because you want to stay on that level. You don't want to go back down again." Cano reported to camp Sunday, showing up a day late"
Robinson Cano reports, says he won't ask Yankees for contract extension
February 20
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The Yankees are getting ready for their first full-squad workout of the spring. But first, they welcomed back their tardy second baseman, Robinson Cano. The Yankees' breakout star mixed up his dates, thinking that physicals were this morning, when they really were yesterday. He didn't realize his mistake until he got a call from Tampa asking "where are you?" Cano was in New York. "I'm embarrassed," said Cano, who apologized. He underwent his physical this morning, in time to work out with the rest of the team. - Cano, who enters the season as arguably the best second baseman in baseball, said he will not ask the Yankees for a contract extension before his current deal expires."
Robinson Cano mixes up spring training dates, arrives late for camp
February 20
New York Daily News
 
"Robinson Cano was the lone position player missing from camp Saturday, as the second baseman mixed up his report dates. According to Brian Cashman, Cano thought he was supposed to report Saturday and take his physical Sunday, but physicals were given Saturday in advance of Sunday's first full-squad workout. Cano was slated to arrive in Tampa Saturday night, so he'll take his physical Sunday morning before hitting the field with his teammates. Cano won't face any discipline for his late arrival, as players aren't technically required to be in camp before Saturday."