The Mariners have reached out to the Yankees and Mets about trading 2B Robinson Cano, with the Yanks and Mariners having "briefly" discussed a Jacoby Ellsbury/Cano trade earlier this offseason, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
According to Rosenthal, the Ellsbury/Cano idea talks -- with the Yankees wanting "significant" money included going back to them -- never got serious.
The 36-year-old Cano has five years and $120 million left on his contract, while Ellsbury has two years and roughly $42 million left on his deal.
Cano missed nearly half of the 2018 season due to an 80-game suspension stemming from a violation of the MLB joint drug policy. Overall in 2018, Cano hit .303/.374/.481 with 10 homers and 22 doubles in 80 games.
Cano got time at second base (69 games), first base (14 games), third base (two games), and DH (two games) in 2018, and it would make sense for him to primarily be used as a first baseman and/or DH in the event he winds up back with the Yankees.
During the first nine years of his career, Cano hit .309/.355/.504 with 204 homers in 1,374 games for the Yankees.
He left after the 2013 season to sign a 10-year, $240 million deal with the Mariners.