It may only be the midway point of the season, but Robinson Cano’s father is already looking ahead to what uniform his son will be wearing next season.
The All-Star will become a free agent when his contract expires this offseason, but Jose Cano, a former major league pitcher, believes that the second baseman will be staying put in New York.
“I think he is coming back,” Jose Cano said told reporters in the American League clubhouse prior to Tuesday’s All-Star Game. “I don’t think he is going to go anywhere else. Hopefully, he can stay here.”
“I have confidence that the Yankees are going to come up with something good in the end. I hope he can stay here. It is close to home and it only three hours. If he goes someplace else, it might be five or six hours. I don’t want to go there. But it is not my decision. He has to make that decision.”
The younger Cano was more tight-lipped about his future — as he has been all season — and didn’t answer any questions about his future or his contract.
His father went on to say that his son could become the new face of the franchise and eventually become a captain after Derek Jeter’s reign ends.
“He could be the leader,” Jose Cano said. “Robinson is very smart and quiet; he is not going to talk too much. He is going to talk when he needs to talk — he is doing everything straight. Robbie signs, then I think he is going to be the captain [after Jeter.]”
Cano, who will turn 31 at the end of October, has been one of the few bright spots for the Yankees this year, hitting .302 with 21 home runs and 65 RBIs.
