No matter how you slice and dice it, the Mets will have to replace Daniel Murphy. The Mets could stay in-house with Dilson Herrera. They could sign a free agent like Ben Zobrist. They could look to make a trade. In the year after the World Series, why not just go for it?

If you want to go for it, the player you want is Robinson Cano, who reportedly wants to leave Seattle and come back to New York. Of course, he does even if the news didn’t come from him. The Mariners are a mess. Their coaching staff ripped him on the way out the door. Safeco Field is a nightmare for hitters much in the same way Citi Field used to be. I suspect Cano meant he wanted to go to the Yankees, but who knows, maybe he’ll accept a trade to the Mets. 

He can be teammates again with Curtis Granderson, who seems from afar to be a terrific teammate. He can be reunited with Kevin Long. Between that and a move out of Safeco, he may get back to or close to the statistics he used to have. He will be back in a city that he was comfortable playing. It begs the question, do you want Cano?

First off, that contract is a nightmare. He’s due $24 million each year for the next eight years. This contract carries forward into his age 40 season. He’s been accused of being a lazy player, even if the accusation was unfair. He’s been recently described as a cancer in the clubhouse. Last year, he hit .288/.334/.446. It was easily his worst season. It just so happened that this occurred when Cano may be at the end of his prime. 

However, I think a return to New York to a contending team would rejuvenate his career. Cano is a career .307/.356/.494 hitter. He is an average second baseman (-0.4 average UZR per season). He still hit 21 home runs last year despite playing at Safeco.  Overall, he’s been an effective hitter there, even if he was a much better hitter while with the Yankees. He’s the best second base option out there. He may still be the best second baseman in the game. He is the best second baseman available either free agency or trade. At one time the Mets were interested in signing him. 

Ultimately, we know the real reason this is unrealistic. Money. Cano would not only eat up practically all of the Mets remaining budget (or put them over budget), he would also eliminate payroll flexibility. Remember, Sandy Alderson doesn’t give out second generation contracts like this. This is what makes Cano unrealistic before we even get an idea of the Mariners ask. 

So while Cano would be a fit, there is no way the Mets would pursue trading for him.