The One Contract Holding Back the New York Mets

When it comes to handing out bad contracts, the New York Mets are the kings in Major League Baseball. Living in the shadow of the successful Yankees, the Metropolitans itch to try and replicate that franchise in the Bronx by making huge signings. But they rarely ever pay off (i.e. Bobby Bonilla), and it only holds the Mets back from becoming contenders.

The Mets have a plethora of terrible deals on their books. Jed Lowrie signed a $20 million deal, and he only played in nine games due to a laundry list of injuries. Wilson Ramos signed a $19 million contract, but ranked as one of the worst defensive catchers in the league last season.

But no deal is worse than that of second baseman Robinson Cano.

We know, the Mets didn't sign Cano to this contract. But they sure as hell agreed to take on this anchor of a deal, which is still dumbfounding to this day.

The Seattle Mariners agreed to sign Cano to a 10-year, $240 million deal to help lead them back into the playoffs. Of course, that never happened. Instead, the Mariners opted to enter yet another rebuild and wanted to rid themselves of their lucrative contracts in 2018. Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen called about closer Edwin Diaz, but Seattle wouldn't agree to a trade unless Cano was included. Considering Van Wagenen was the former agent of Cano and negotiated that unreal contract, he jumped at the opportunity.

And did it ever bite them in the butt. It's only fitting that Cano had his worst statistical season with the Mets (of course he did!!). Through 107 games, Cano batted a career-low .256 and posted an OPS of .736, while hitting just 13 home runs and 39 RBI. Is that really worth a $24 million annual salary? Of course not!

To the dismay of Mets fans and delight of their opposition, Cano is on the books until the end of the 2023 season, when he turns 40. Good luck trying to build a contender with that deal, Mets.