Robinson Cano designated for assignment by New York Mets

Robinson Cano, a struggling infielder for the New York Mets, has been designated for assignment.

The Mets owe Cano, 39, $44,703,297 from the remaining portion of his $240 million, 10-year contract he signed with the Seattle Mariners in 2013.

In 43 plate appearances this season, he is hitting .195 with one home run, three RBIs, and a .501 OPS.

He’s played in 12 of the team’s 23 games, starting six at second base and five at third base.

By Monday, all MLB teams must cut their rosters by two players, to a total of 26 players. As part of those moves, the Mets optioned right-hander Yoan Lopez to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday night.

Cano, who was relegated to a part-time duty this season due to the Mets’ decision to maintain younger, more versatile bench players instead, was a victim of the squeeze.

In 2018, the Mets acquired Cano from the Mariners in a trade that also included closer Edwin Diaz. As part of the deal with Seattle, the Mets gave up coveted outfield prospect Jarred Kelenic.

Cano hit .269 with 24 home runs and 72 RBIs in three seasons with the Mets. After breaking MLB’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, he was suspended for the 2021 season.

Cano is an eight-time All-Star with a .302 career average, 335 home runs, and 1,305 RBIs in 17 seasons. He has 2,632 hits in his career, which ranks third among active players.

Brodie Van Wagenen, Cano’s agent, told a foreign sports publication that his client “certainly still wants to play.”

Van Wagenen was the Mets’ general manager at the time of the blockbuster trade.

“Given the appropriate circumstances, he can still contribute meaningfully to a squad,” he told the publication.

Cano, according to Van Wagenen, “Has a lot of respect” for the Mets and “understands they had to make a difficult decision. He wishes them luck in the future.”