Mets release Robinson Cano, ending 168-game tenure in New York<br />PHILADELPHIA -- The Mets released second baseman Robinson Cano prior to Sunday's doubleheader against the Phillies.<br /><br />The move comes a week after the slumping Cano was designated for assignment despite nearly $45 million remaining on his contract.<br /><br /><br />The Mets announced the news in their pregame notes and after manager Buck Showalter met with reporters before Sunday's games.<br /><br />Cano, 39, sat out last season while serving his second suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. He batted .195 (8-for-41) this season with one home run, three RBIs and a paltry .501 OPS in 43 plate appearances for the National League East-leading Mets.<br />Cano has a .302 career batting average with 335 home runs, 1,305 RBIs and an .842 OPS in 17 seasons. He has 2,632 hits, including 571 doubles.<br /><br />He is owed $44,703,297 by the Mets from the remainder of the 10-year, $240 million contract he signed with the Seattle Mariners. He has lost $35,741,935 because of the two drug suspensions.<br /><br />Now that he has been released by the Mets, a team could sign him for a prorated share of the $700,000 minimum this season and pay the $710,000 minimum in 2023.<br /><br />In a deal that also netted closer Edwin Diaz, the Mets shipped five players to Seattle in December 2018 -- including prized outfield prospect Jarred Kelenic, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 amateur draft -- to acquire Cano. New York agreed to assume the $100 million left on the final five years of Cano's contract at the time.<br /><br />Cano ended up playing 168 games for the Mets, batting .269 with 24 homers, 72 RBIs and a .765 OPS.
