Yanks president: Robinson Cano isn't a 're-sign at all costs' type of player

Yankees 2B Robinson Cano will be become a free-agent at the end of the season. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano

Yankees 2B Robinson Cano will be become a free-agent at the end of the season. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano will become a free-agent at the end of this season and will likely command a contract that could reach upwards of $200 million.

But that doesn't mean the Yankees are going to pay him that amount.

Team president Randy Levine said there is a limit on how far the team will go to sign the five-time All-Star. Cano is batting .308 with 26 home runs and 98 RBI so far this season.

“Robinson Cano is a great player,” Levine told Bloomberg Television. “We will sit down and talk to him. Hopefully he’s a Yankee. Nobody is a re-sign at all costs, but we want him back and we feel good about negotiating something with him. But nobody is a re-sign at any cost.”

Levine also said that the team is firm in their commitment to shave the team's payroll for next season.

“Take a look at this year; payroll has never translated into winning. What translates into winning is great talent,” Levine said. “If you look at this year, some great stories; the Oakland A’s, Pittsburgh Pirates, low payroll teams right in there, possible championship caliber teams. We are taking a look at getting down to 189 (million), which has got tremendous financial incentives under the new collective bargaining agreement. But as Hal Steinbrenner has consistently said and as I have said, it has to be consistent with maintaining a championship team."

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