Andrew Marchand, ESPN Senior Writer 10y

Would Cano go to Detroit?

This is the time of year when players visit teams. For example, it wouldn't be the least bit surprising if general manager Brian Cashman had Brian McCann visit the Bronx recently as he tries to convince the Atlanta-raised catcher and his wife to become Yankees.

This is also the time of year where rumors run rampant. This has only increased with technology, led by the Internet and Twitter, which allows us to basically track everyone's whereabouts. The latest rumor -- and I stress rumor -- is that Robinson Cano was in Detroit on Friday. Tony Paul of the Detroit News did a nice job of trying to track down if the rumor was true, but the results were inconclusive. (I, too, was unsuccessful in trying to confirm it.)

The Tigers have always been looked at as a possible option, as Jayson Stark pointed out in his latest column on the Cano market.

Detroit Tigers: They don't need a second baseman anymore. But they have freed up a lot of money. And there has long been talk, even in Texas, about Kinsler moving off second base, maybe even to play left field. So if the Tigers can't use their newfound financial flexibility to get an extension done with Max Scherzer, could Cano still fall under their anything-is-possible scenarios?

But here is the thing: Would Cano even go to Detroit? We all know -- or we think we know -- Cano's first choice is to remain with the Yankees, though he hasn't come out and clearly stated that. He wants the money -- as the Yankees' front office has made clear -- but he also wants the limelight. Even if the Tigers win the World Series, there will be a lot more chances to be a crossover star in New York than Detroit.

In free agency, things change -- and the Tigers could eventually blow him away. You can never count anything out, especially with the best player on the market. Players' feelings can get hurt by an offer they perceive as disrespectful. So who the favorite is really doesn't matter.

But I don't see how Cano hangs around with Jay Z as much in Detroit as he does in New York. I wouldn't say landing with the Tigers is impossible, because if they eventually make an offer, it may be for more money than the Yankees are willing to spend. They are in better shape to win than the Yankees, so Cano could always point to that if he were to leave.

At the end of the day -- if Cano really was in Detroit on Friday -- he probably went to Motown trying to create some leverage in the Bronx.

^ Back to Top ^