In attempt to test the healing in his right pinky toe, Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano will play Winter League games next week beginning Tuesday. MLB.com's Greg Johns reported the news Friday.
#Mariners confirm report that Robinson Cano will play a few games in the Dominican League next week and his broken toe is fully healed.
— Greg Johns (@GregJohnsMLB) January 9, 2015
In his report, Johns explains that Cano will serve as the designated hitter for Estrellas de Oriente, which will allow him to swing a bat and run the bases at full speed.
Cano is recovering from a fractured toe suffered during the seventh inning of Game 3 in the MLB/Japan League series 0n November 15. Leading off the top of the seventh, Cano took a fastball off his right foot. He walked to first base on his own, and after more than a full minute of grimmacing and then a visit from manager John Farrell, he left the game for pinch runner Jose Altuve. He stayed away from all baseball activities throughout the Christmas holidays, but he says that he has fully recovered and is ready to play.
The idea to play next week was Cano's. According to Johns, Cano asked Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik for permission to play. Johns quoted Zduriencik discussing the matter. Zduriencik liked the idea of making sure that his prized second baseman is ready to play as Spring Training begins on February 24. Said Zduriencik,
"Robinson approached us about playing games in the Dominican Winter League and we have granted him permission to play in a limited amount of games. Robinson has reported to us his broken right pinkie toe is fully healed and he wants to get on a baseball field to test it before reporting for Spring Training. We look forward to Robinson reporting to Peoria, Ariz., in a little over a month ready to go for the 2015 season."
Cano will enter Year 2 of his 10-year, $240-million contract he signed with the Mariners last offseason. He hit .314/.382/.454 with 14 HR and 82 RBI in 2014. His power numbers were down from his previous seasons with the New York Yankees when he averaged 28 HR and 103 RBI from 2009-2013. Still, he had a WAR of 6.4 as the Mariners made a serious run at the second A.L. Wild Card playoff position before falling off just before the season ended.
Cano is a career .310/.358/.499 hitter with 218 HR and 904 RBI in nine full seasons with the Yankees and one with the Mariners. He has played in at least 157 games in each year since 2007. He has also made six A.L. All-Star teams in addition to winning two Gold Gloves and five Silver Slugger awards at second base. He was the heir apparant to future Hall-of-Famer Derek Jeter as the Yankee captain and franchise player before signing with the Mariners on December 12, 2013.