Report: Mariners make Robinson Cano nine-year, $225 million contract offer

Will the Mariners give Robinson Cano the contract he wants? (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) The Seattle Mariners have made free agent second baseman Robinson

Will the Mariners give Robinson Cano the contract he wants? (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The Seattle Mariners have made free agent second baseman Robinson Cano a contract offer, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported Thursday.

The Mariners have become "major" players for Cano over the past few days, but it remains to be seen if they will give in to Cano's reported demands of $230 million to $240 million over the length of the contract. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports their offer is for $225 million over nine years, at $25 million per.

Earlier this week, the New York Yankees reportedly drew a hard line in their contract negotiations with Cano, saying they wouldn't give him a contract in the neighborhood of $200 million. Their ceiling looked to be around seven years and $175 million, according to the report from Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan.

According to recent reports, Cano has been seeking a nine-year, $252 million contract with a vesting option for a 10th year at $28 million. The Mariners and Washington Nationals were expected to be the most serious challenge to the Yankees to retain Cano if either decided to get involved in the discussions.

Source with knowledge of the Mariners planning said they are going to offer Cano 9 years/$225 million

— David Waldstein (@DavidWaldstein) December 6, 2013