Robinson Cano Is Officially Making His MLB Return

Robinson Cano has had quite a busy year.

He started the season with the New York Mets, then after the first month was designated for assignment and eventually released.

The San Diego Padres signed him to a minor league deal, and recently traded him to the Atlanta Braves.

He barely played in the bigs with the Padres, but the Braves intend to use him starting tonight, against the Mets of all teams.

“Robinson Canó is starting at second base for the Braves against the Mets tonight, batting ninth,” MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo tweeted on Monday afternoon.

Robinson Canó is starting at second base for the Braves against the Mets tonight, batting ninth.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 11, 2022

At 39 years old, Cano hit .195/.233/.268 with the Mets and .091/.118/.091 with the Friars: that’s a really rough showing over 77 plate appearances.

The Braves Are Taking A Chance On Cano

The Braves, however, seem to think not only he has something left in his left-handed bat, but also that he can still successfully field the second base position in the major leagues.

That’s a risky proposition, to be honest: he may be best suited as a designated hitter at this point of his career, and he will have to show that he can be productive.

He hasn’t done that with the Mets and Padres.

The last time Cano was an above-average offensive performer was in 2020.

In 182 plate appearances, he had a .316/.352/.544 line with 10 home runs and was one of the Mets’ best players back then.

Things went south in 2021 and in the first month of the 2022 campaign.

Now with the Braves, Cano will get yet another chance to prove his worth.

Can the reigning World Series champions help him return to respectability?

The odds are against him, but if anyone has a shot to help him, it’s the Braves.