Robinson Cano is expected to sign the largest contract of the offseason, but it doesn't sound like the Dodgers will be a major factor in those dicusssions. USA Today's Bob Nightengale tweets that the Dodgers have privately stated they don't intend to pursue Cano or bid on any other high-priced free agents this offseason.
Many have expected the Dodgers to be one of the biggest players for Cano's services this winter based on the way they've spent since new ownership took over the club in 2012. The Dodgers took on the contracts of Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett (and, to a lesser extent, Nick Punto) in blockbuster trades last summer. Then, in the offseason, they shelled out $147MM for Zack Greinke, $42MM for Yasiel Puig, $36MM for Hyun-Jin Ryu and $22.5MM for Brandon League. And that's to say nothing of the $6MM obligation they took on in acquriing Ricky Nolasco last month or the $85MM extension given to Andre Ethier last Spring.
Last month, Dodgers president Stan Kasten said the club was comfortable guaranteeing salaries through age 36, which could present a problem in pursuing the soon-to-be-31-year-old Cano, as a six-year offer would be shorter than the contract he appears likely to sign. Cano, unsurprisingly, occupies the No. 1 spot on Tim Dierkes' Free Agent Power Rankings — a claim to which he has laid stake all season.
