Well we will now get to see what kind of staying power Jay Z and his Roc Nation Sports Agency will truly have when it comes to making power moves in the sports world.
Mark Feinsand is reporting that the mega contract talks between Robinson Cano and the Seattle Mariners have fell apart and are most likely done because of Jay Z’s excessive demands on the Mariners providing Cano with a 10th year.
According to Feinsand, the Mariners were prepared to make Cano a 9 year $225 million offer.
ICYMI: Source: Talks between Robinson Cano and Mariners broke off after Jay Z's excessive demands. Looks like Cano will NOT sign w/ Seattle.
— Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) December 6, 2013
Mariners were indeed ready to give Cano $225 for nine years. Jay Z overplayed his hand with the late change and the demand for a 10th year.
— Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) December 6, 2013
Source said Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln "exploded" after Jay Z changed it up and ended the meeting with Cano and his camp.
— Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) December 6, 2013
Source said Mariners were prepared to offer Cano 9/$225 believing he was going to accept. Jay Z made late change, demanded 10/$252. (more)
— Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) December 6, 2013
According to two sources briefed on the situation, negotiations between the free agent second baseman’s lone stalking horse — the Mariners — and Cano’s camp — led by rapper-turned super-agent Jay Z and CAA’s Brodie Van Wagenen — collapsed after Jay Z apparently overplayed his hand in a negotiating session with the Mariners Thursday.
Cano and his camp arrived in Seattle with what sources described as basically an eight-year deal for $200 million in hand and the assurances that Seattle would go to nine years and $225 million. But when Jay Z then upped the ante to 10 years for $252 million, Mariners president Howard Lincoln apparently “exploded,” according to one of the sources, and ended the meeting.
I’m sure there’s plenty more to the story, but for now, Jay Z, the new hot shot rapper/agent, will definitely take the blame for this from the tabloids.