MLB Bullets Is In Over His Head

Lloyd, I'm not ready to be heartbroken. Give me about ten minutes, OK?

• There was a much-publicized "private" meeting between Rapper/Sports Agent Jay-Z and the Mets front office about Robinson Cano. According to Mets GM Sandy Alderson, no figures were exchanged and that there was only a long-presentation about Cano's value. Alderson sounded like it was a bit of a waste of time, as they already knew that Cano was a highly-skilled baseball player.
• Alderson also made it clear that Jay-Z requested the meeting but that the chances of Cano signing with the Mets was "remote."
• Jay-Z undoubtedly requested the meeting with the Mets because the Yankees are holding firm that they will not come close to Cano's demand for a ten-year, $310 million contract.
• Jay-Z is reportedly trying to sell Cano like a "rock star" or "Michael Jordan," who will increase attendance and TV ratings by just being on the team. As Mark Feinstand points out in the New York Daily News, Cano was on the Yankees last season and they had the worst attendance and TV ratings that they've had in the five-year history of the new Yankee Stadium.
• In this ESPN Insider article, Buster Olney says the Yankees won't wait forever on Cano. ($) For those who aren't insiders, Olney says that the Yankees can't afford to be in the situation the Astros were with Carlos Beltran after the 2004 season. The Astros told Beltran they'd wait for his decision, but after negotiations that stretched into January, Beltran decided to sign with the Mets. At that point, the Astros' plans B, C and D had all gone elsewhere as well. Now maybe Olney is just being fed this point by the Yankees to put pressure on Cano's camp, but this scenario makes sense to me.
• Tim Brown thinks Cano's hopes lie in that the Yankees have caved and given out these huge mega-contracts in the past.
• Does anyone else think Jay-Z and his Roc Nation Sports Agency are in over their heads? They have to get a historic contract for Cano to convince other superstar athletes to sign with them. But they seem to have no idea of how to do that because apparently only one team is in on Cano.
• Rob Neyer wonders if Robinson Cano is worth $300 million, when is Ben Zobrist going to get his $300 million contract? Because over the past five years, Zobrist has been nearly as good as Cano.
• As evidence they're not waiting on Cano, the Yankees are interested in free agent Jhonny Peralta. OK, signing Peralta won't keep them from signing Cano. Or anyone else, for that matter.
• The Yankees are also considering bringing back Raul Ibanez. The 42 year-old Ibanez would be part of the Yankees "youth movement."
• Late last night, the Padres and Josh Johnson agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract with incentives.
• Jeff Passan notes that if Johnson makes fewer than eight starts in 2014, then the Padres get a one-year, $4 million option for 2015. Eno Sarris of Fangraphs says this clause makes it a good deal for San Diego.
• LaTroy Hawkins signed a one-year deal with the Rockies to be their new closer. A 41 year-old Hawkins closing games at Coors Field. Nothing could possibly go wrong.
• The Giants agreed to a two-year deal with Tim Hudson, outbidding their cross-bay rival Athletics.
• Skip Schumaker signed with the Reds.
• Ken Rosenthal thinks the Reds do need to improve their offense, but not at the expense of their pitching. I'm guessing that Rosenthal didn't have signing Schumaker in mind as a way to improve the Reds offense.
• Rosenthal also thinks the Nationals need to keep enough money in reserve to re-sign Ian Desmond and Jordan Zimmermann.
• The Pirates and Twins made a minor trade.
• The Dodgers shopping list includes a starting pitcher. Mark Saxson looks at the candidates.
• Grant Brisbee asks who says no to a Matt Kemp for Elvis Andrus trade? I'm guessing the Dodgers. And the Rangers.
• Corey Hart has talked to the Rockies, Red Sox and Rays as well as the Brewers.
• Ruben Tejada may file a grievance against the Mets, who apparently intentionally kept him one day short of qualifying for free agency after the 2016 season.
• Cuban shortstop Erisbel Arruebarruena and pitcher Raicel Iglesias have defected. I remember Arruebarruena from the World Baseball Classic. His name wouldn't fit on his jersey.
• IMPORTANT NOTE TO AL: If the Cubs sign Arruebarruena, I quit.
• MLB and NPB have reopened talks about a new posting system. Also in that Japan Times article, Hideaki Wakui has signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines.
• C.J. Nitkowski has some ideas for a new posting system.
• The Dodgers and Diamondbacks will each play exhibition games against the Australian National Team.
• Frank Thomas thinks steroid abusers cost him four MVP Awards. Rob Neyer says Thomas is guilty of hyperbole. They may have cost him one.
• Gabe Kapler talks about hazing and bullying in baseball.
• Facing a long suspension in the Biogenesis case, Selena Roberts wonders about the shape of Alex Rodriguez's finances.
• Jamie Moyer explains how changing his relationship with failure gave him the confidence to have a 269 win career.
• You really don't need to buy one of those fancy remote systems to turn off your car in case you left it running. You just need John Axford.
• Lorde, the New Zealand teen singer, announced that her hit song "Royals" was inspired by seeing a picture of the Kansas City Royals.
• Finally, even "Jeopardy" is making fun of the Houston Astros.