Robinson Cano : 10-year for $310 million

Thursday: soon-to-be free agent Robinson Cano asked the Yankees for a 10-year, $310 million contract, a request the Yankees denied.
That Cano is looking to become the highest paid player in baseball history suggests he and his representatives view the slugging second baseman as one of the top players in baseball.

Wright’s deal pays him an average of $17.25 million over the life of the deal, while Cano is reportedly seeking an average annual value of more than $30 million.

After Cano’s representatives rejected the deal similar to Wright’s, the Yankees came back with parameters of a six-year, $144 million pact, which would have upped the average to $24 million per season. That was also rejected by Cano’s camp, at which point talks broke off between the two parties for the remainder of the season.

Cano did not speak with reporters before Thursday’s home finale, but Brodie Van Wagenen, the agent representing Cano from CAA as part of its partnership with Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports, issued a statement Thursday afternoon.

If Cano doesn't return, the Yankees' 2014 team would be without any star player in his prime. New York never loses one of its own players that it wants to keep, unless you consider a complementary player such as Russell Martin last year. Will the Yankees really hold such a line with Cano? The contract Cano gets may quickly become overvalued in its own right, but the cost of not signing him may be even greater.