THREE & DOUBT

Mets may have to mull moving Cano from third in order — and maybe from lineup

If, at the age of 37, Robinson Cano doesn’t bounce back from his dreadful 2019 season, the Mets brass will have to figure out what to do with him. But given his contract and ties to GM Brodie Van Wagenen, that would be a lot easier said than done.

WHAT IF we are asking the wrong question with Robinson Cano? Not where he should bat in the Mets lineup? But should he bat in the Mets lineup?

Hall of Famers Carlton Fisk, Sam Rice, Honus Wagner and Carl Yastrzemski had down seasons at a baseball advanced age, then rebounded to have multiple high-end seasons.

Cano can take inspiration there, since he also is a Hall-worthy talent who in 2019 at age 36 registered a 96 OPS-plus (100 is average, so 96 is 4 percent below MLB average factoring league and ballpark). And the Mets can hope he resembles the group with many bounce-back seasons because Cano is signed through 2023.

However, there are many stars who once they fell never recovered, including two second-base contemporaries of Cano.

A year after Cano finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting, Ian Kinsler was seventh in 2006, and from then through 2016, Kinsler had a 111 OPS-plus. In his age-35 season, Kinsler fell to a 92 OPS-plus and it worsened from there until he retired after last season, an ineffective shell of his once elite prime.

Craig Biggio stumbled in 2000 (93 OPS-plus at age 34), rebounded, then had below-average seasons in 200203. The Astros finished second and out of the playoffs both of those seasons; in 2003 they lost the NL Central by one game. Biggio’s last four seasons in OPS-plus were 105, 104, 84 and 71. But Houston used Biggio regularly to help him get to 3,000 hits, feeling the obligation to a career-long Astro and fan favorite even after his skills no longer warranted consistent at-bats.

If Cano does not do a Fisk or a Yaz, what allegiance protects him in the everyday lineup?

The Mets lack ties with Cano. Maybe they would benefit from larger crowds as he chased 3,000 hits (he is 430 shy). But that pursuit and his Hall candidacy are clouded due to a 2018 suspension after testing positive for a banned substance. Nevertheless, Cano has his supporters.

Cano and Edwin Diaz represent Brodie Van Wagenen’s biggest move and gamble as GM, acquiring the duo that performed poorly in 2019 for mainly Jarred Kelenic, who has emerged as an elite prospect with the Mariners. In Cano, Luis Rojas had a powerful advocate for his rise to manager.

Rojas hit Cano third in both Subway spring training 2.0 games over the weekend and the suspicion is that is where he will bat Friday against Atlanta’s Mike Soroka in the season opener.

The Mets, though, are in a mustwin situation. The GM and manager should feel that most of all because perhaps their only job protection for expected new ownership would be winning in 2020.

So how long do Van Wagenen/ Rojas stick with Cano in the three hole if he is more Kinsler/Biggio? And do they keep Cano in the lineup if his at-bats would be better served going elsewhere?

If Jed Lowrie were ever healthy, that would become a more substantial question, but he was placed on the injured list Monday with a lingering knee issue. Still, does the best Mets overall lineup have the defensively suspect J.D. Davis at third, Jeff McNeil at second, Yoenis Cespedes DHing and Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto flanking Jake Marisnick (who is battling a hamstring ailment) in the outfield?

Rojas didn’t want to tackle the subject. He said he remains a believer because Cano struck the ball well last year, and both his linedrive percentage and exit velocity were near his career norms despite a career-worst .256 average. But there were three injured list stints for three lower-body ailments or as many IL trips as the rest of Cano’s career combined.

Rojas said he talked to Cano about getting “ready better in a physical way.” The Mets manager rejected the notion Cano was not in shape last year, but said Cano learned to be “more thorough” in physical preparation. It is quite familiar to hear about new regimens or commitments when the calendar begins to erode a previously durable player.

It is all familiar actually. Teams are always having to assess whether the bad year by a 30-something veteran was singular or the beginning of the end. Transitioning a star out of a regular role is among a manager’s most difficult assignments, especially if there are strong ties between manager and/or team with the player.

Think about Joe Girardi having to strip Jorge Posada of his daily catching responsibilities over the 2010-11 seasons. By 2012, Girardi was making the transition away from Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira to a younger, better choice for hitting third. That was Robinson Cano.

There is a circle of life to the game.