"Yay!" yelled the fans as Robinson Cano left Scott Boras to sign with Roc Nation and Jay-Z. However, looking at Jay-Z's past, he is all about making money. Jay-Z's influence extends beyond hip hop, building more than just a career in music, but becoming an industry. With Jay-Z by Cano's side, it looks as though the New York Yankees will have a tougher time reaching an accord with their All-Star second baseman.
As reported by Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Yankees and Cano are "Far apart in talks." Don't worry Yankee fans, it wouldn't make sense for the organization to simply let him walk away, but patience will be required in this process. Cano wants to get paid and the Yankees are capable of matching. They have the funds and they are running out of superstars. A Yankee team without multiple superstars doesn't make sense and support from fans will decrease as it has this year.
Jay-Z is all about business and his goal, maybe during the All-Star break or the offseason, will be to get Cano the most money available. The Yankees will have to seriously invest in Cano because he's all they have and Jay-Z recognizes this.
Are you familiar with Jay-Z's "You Don't Know" from "The Blueprint" album? Here's a little bit of the wisdom Jay-Z will bring to this new game as he sets foot in uncharted territories.
"...Sure I do, I tell you the difference between me and them
They tryin to get they ones, I'm tryin to get them M's
One million, two million, three million, four
In just five years, forty million more
You are now lookin at the forty million boy
I'm rapin Def Jam 'til I'm the hundred million man
R., O., C."
Wait, there's more.
"...And if somebody woulda told 'em that Hov' would sell clothin
Heh, not in this lifetime, wasn't in my right mind
That's another difference that's between me and them
Heh, I'm smarten up, open the market up
One million, two million, three million, four
In eighteen months, eighty million more
Now add that number up with the one I said before
You are now lookin at one smart black boy
Momma ain't raised no fool
Put me anywhere on God's green earth, I'll triple my worth
Mother****** - I, will, not, lose." - AZLyrics.com
Jay-Z is crafty with his rhymes and career choices. He's three steps ahead of everybody and Jay-Z will take this mentality into his new gig as an agent. Hopefully, he doesn't write a song about it.
Cano is in a perfect storm. Coupling with Jay-Z as the Yankees' are lacking true superstars to keep a fanbase locked in can almost guarantee that Cano will get his money. With Derek Jeter's career coming to a close soon, Alex Rodriguez's legacy dwindling to a fraud and doper and Mark Teixeira spending a lot of time on the disabled list these past two years, the Yankees will seek a new face for the franchise on the offensive end of the spectrum.
How much exactly is Cano seeking?
According to Heyman, Cano wants A-Rod money ($275 Million), but the Yankees might have learned their lesson the first time. Cano is turning 31 in October and they will likely stay away from another huge contract. However, look for Cano to easily top David Wright's $138 million contract.
Cano is the best free agent available and if the Yankees want to build around a player, Cano is the man for the job. Cano is a power-hitting second baseman who has only missed 12 games since 2007. Where else can you find that?
