Former All-Star 2B Canó joins Mexican League squad

March 1st, 2024

isn’t ready to retire from baseball.

Nearly two years removed from his last appearance in a Major League uniform, the 41-year-old Canó has signed with the Diablos Rojos del México in the Mexican Baseball League, whose season will begin on April 11. Before that, as part of the league’s preseason, Canó will face the Yankees -- his original club -- in two exhibition games at the Diablos’ Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú in Mexico City on March 24-25.

The veteran second baseman’s signing with the Diablos comes three weeks after he slashed .357/.400/.536 with one home run in nine games representing the Dominican Republic in the 2024 Caribbean Series at Miami’s loanDepot park, where he was named to the all-tournament team.

Canó hit 335 home runs -- second all time among second basemen -- in a 17-year big league career with the Yankees, Mariners, Mets, Padres and Braves. His 1,306 RBIs are fourth at his position, and he’s also fourth in doubles (572) and 10th in hits (2,639). Canó was an eight-time All-Star, a five-time Silver Slugger winner, a two-time Gold Glove winner and part of the Yankees’ last championship club in 2009.

In 2022, his last season in MLB, he slashed.150/.183/.190 for the Mets, San Diego and Atlanta.

In recent years, Canó -- who was twice suspended by MLB under its Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program -- has played in the Dominican winter league (LIDOM) for the Estrellas Orientales, a club based in his hometown of San Pedro de Macorís.