Outside The Confines: Say it ain’t so, Cano

This week we saw the break of an unfortunate bit of news that has now fully derailed an incredible career of a second baseman who might have once been a Hall of Famer.

Robinson Cano has been suspended for the entirety of the upcoming 2021 season because of a positive PED test. This is his second suspension for the infraction, and Cano will not contest the ruling.

Cano’s first suspension came in 2018 when he was with the Mariners and he was required to sit out 80 games. Mets president Sandy Alderson commented on the team’s disappointment, saying, “The violation is very unfortunate for him, the organization, our fans, and the sport. The Mets fully support MLB’s efforts toward eliminating performance enhancing substances from the game.”

Because it was Cano’s second infraction, the suspension was automatically 162 games, and Cano will lose his $24 million salary for the year, which the Mets now have to spend elsewhere.

Let’s see what writers around baseball thought about this and the rest of baseball news.

• Stephanie Apstein talks about what Kim Ng’s hiring has meant to women in baseball.
• Baseball Hall of Fame’s Isabelle Minasian brings the Hall’s perspective to Kim Ng’s new role.
• A group of researchers is trying to fill in the gaps of missing Negro Leagues stats. Michael Clair has the story.
• Gregor Chisholm looks at what the Robinson Cano suspension might mean for the Mets... and for the Blue Jays.
• Fox Sports West will now Bally Sports (yes, like the gyms), reports Bill Shaikin.
• Emma Baccellieri spotlights just how appropriately bizarre baseball was in 2020.
• The Royals may have made strides towards improving, but don’t expect them to be contenders in 2021. Story by Tony Wolfe.
• Katherine Acquavella takes a look at three different things the Mets could do now that they’re not paying $24 million for Robinson Cano this year.
• Pitching Ninja celebrates Zack Greinke’s 2020 season.

• Ken Rosenthal points out that Robinson Cano’s latest scandal has likely put an end to his Hall of Fame career. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Matt Snyder likewise assesses how Cano’s career will now be remembered.
• There are plenty of interesting targets for a trade this offseason, but Craig Edwards explains why Gary Sanchez isn’t one of them.
• Looking at only ex-players, which American League team has the best current lineup? Corey Brock and Jayson Jenks answer the deeply important question.
• David Schoenfield breaks down the very hopeful offseason for the Mets (excluding the Cano situation).
• Schoenfield also does a complete rundown of everything you need to know about Cano’s suspension.
• And Jay Jaffe looks at the bright side of the Cano suspension in terms of what it means for the Mets.
• The Steven Cohen era is pretty fun so far.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.