Robinson Canó has signed with Diablos Rojos of the Mexican League

The Mexican League’s Diablos Rojos announced the signing of Robinson Canó, as reported by ESPN’s Enrique Rojas.

Canó, now 41, has a long list of accomplishments in the major leagues, but his reputation is marred by two suspensions for performance-enhancing drugs.

After succeeding early in his career with the Yankees, he signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Mariners prior to the 2014 season, which was tied for the third-largest contract in MLB history at the time.

He continued to produce at an All-Star level with his new team, but he received his first PED suspension in May 2018, an 80-game ban for testing positive for furosemide.

He returned to the M’s later in the season but was traded to the Mets the following winter, joining Edwin Díaz in a five-player package that returned to Seattle.

Canó had a difficult year in 2019 before making a great comeback in 2020, however he was suspended again in November of that year. Due to a positive Stanozolol test, he was suspended for 162 games, thereby ending his 2021 season. He returned in 2022, but ended up moving throughout the league.

He was dismissed by the Mets after just 12 games and signed with the Padres. He appeared in another twelve games with that team before being released again, then returning to the Friars on a minor level contract before being dealt to Atlanta for cash. Atlanta signed his contract but released him after nine games.

He’s been a free agent since August of 2022. His big contract ran until 2023, so he could have been signed for the league minimum last year, with the Mets on the hook for the rest, but no team chose to do so. That is not surprising given his age, suspensions, and.150/.183/.190 slash line in limited playing time in 2022.

He hasn’t been completely out of action, having played winter ball in the Dominican Republic the previous two winters and representing the Dominican Republic in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

It appears that his ambition to play persists, and he will join the Diablos Rojos in 2024. His MLB record includes 2,267 games and 2,639 hits, including 335 home runs.

He won the World Series with the Yankees in 2009 and has eight All-Star appearances, five Silver Sluggers, and two Gold Gloves to his credit. Like many other athletes linked to PEDs over the years, the framing of his achievements will be debated for years to come.