San Diego, CA–The San Diego Padres have signed infielder Robinson Canó to a major league contract, President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller said.
To make room on the 26-man roster, the Padres optioned right-hander Dinelson Lamet to Triple-A El Paso.
Canó, 39, batted .195 (8-for-41) with one home run, three RBI, and three runs scored in 12 games for the New York Mets this season and was released on May 8th. Prior to being placed on the restricted list for the 2021 season, Canó hit .316 (54-for-171) with a .352 OBP, nine doubles, 10 HR, and 30 RBI over 49 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He appeared in 10 games for Estrellas de Oriente in the Dominican Winter League in 2021, batting .300 (12-for-40) for his hometown team. Canó also played for the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series last year, hitting .417 (10-for-24) in seven games.
Over 17 major league seasons, the eight-time All-Star has posted a .302 average (2,632-for-8,714) with a .352 OBP, 571 doubles, 33 triples, 335 home runs, 1,305 RBI, 618 walks, and 1,260 runs scored in 2,246 career games between the New York Yankees (2005-13), Seattle Mariners (2014-18) and Mets (2019-22). Canó has the fourth-highest career batting average among all active ML players, trailing only Miguel Cabrera (.310), Jose Altuve (.307), and Mike Trout (.305). He also ranks 3rd among active players in hits, RBI, total bases (4,274), extra-base hits (939), and runs scored. Canó has slugged 316 home runs as a second baseman, second all-time to Jeff Kent (351). The 39-year-old has collected five Silver Slugger Awards (2006, 2010-13) and two Gold Glove Awards (2010, 2012) during his career, and he was crowned the 2017 MLB All-Star Game MVP and 2011 Home Run Derby champion.
Canó will wear No. 24 for the Padres, and first base coach David Macias will switch to No. 46. Canó wears No. 24 to honor Baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, his namesake, whose No. 42 has been retired throughout MLB.
