Robinson Cano cites Seattle weather for last season’s weight gain: Report

During Robinson Cano's first season with the Mariners his stats were a little lighter than the ones he usually put up when he was starring for the Yankees. But those dwindling numbers reportedly didn't coincide with the heavier digits he put on the bathroom scale by season's end.

The second baseman still put up decent numbers on the stat sheet. He was an All-Star Game starter, a Gold Glove finalist and he was fifth in the American League MVP voting, but how many fans noticed a little more heft under the uniform?

Robinson may have hit .314 with 14 home runs and 82 RBI (relatively light numbers for the slugger) but now, the Seattle Times revealed another reason Cano didn't look like the same player he was in pinstripes: He was carrying 20 pounds more than he did by the end of the season in New York. 

And the reason for his six-month weight gain? The Seattle weather.

The Times wrote:

Cano weighed in at 212 pounds in his official physical Tuesday — down 13 from last season.

The reason?

When he was playing in New York and on the East Coast, the oppressive heat and humidity in the summer would cause him to lose weight. He'd start the season around 220-225 and finish at 205-210. However, with the moderate Seattle climate, Cano did not shed those pounds.

So he decided to come in a little lighter this season, something the Mariners also wanted. It should take some pressure off his legs. Cano's goal always is to play in as many games as possible; being a little lighter should help.

The weight loss was impressive considering Cano had to take six weeks off to rest a broken pinky toe he suffered in Japan while playing for a touring MLB all-star team.

And it's somewhat surprising that Robbie didn't bulk up more in New York. Especially with all those delicious Dominican rice-and-bean joints he loves up in Washington Heights.

I just got fatter thinking about it.

A-Rod takes ALS ice bucket challenge (VIDEO)

The ALS ice bucket challenge has gotten so big it's even taken Alex Rodriguez away from rehabbing at the University of Miami and putting his tubs of ice to another good use.

The embattled Yankees third baseman hasn't been seen or heard from much since losing his appeal and serving his 162-game suspension for alleged performance-enhancing drug violations. But love him or loathe him, A-Rod returned Wednesday, joining the ice bucket challenge craze, which aims to bring awareness to ALS.

And considering A-Rod's icy relationship with some teammates, fans and MLB, suffice it to say, the man knows about being frozen out.

He also challenged U of Miami President Donna Shalala, MLB analyst Harold Reynolds, ex-teammate Robinson Cano and 24-Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov to take the challenge.

Yankee fans can only hope Rodriguez saved some of that cold stuff for his bum hip. The Yankees will be paying him through the 2017 season.

Derek Jeter gets personalized watch from Mariners' Robinson Cano (PHOTOS)

The Derek Jeter Farewell tour carried on Tuesday inside Safeco Field — in a city the Yankees captain might hold nearer to his heart than any other place outside of New York.

Jeter's debut, May 29, 1995, didn't take place at Safeco Field but inside Seattle's cavernous Kingdome. It was the night which launched his Hall of Fame career.

The Mariners honored the Yankees' shortstop (VIDEO) with a tribute since this is the last regular-season series he'll play in The Emerald City.

They gave him a base from the old Kingdome, where Jeter collected his first career hit; a Safeco Park base; and a $5,000 check to his Turn 2 foundation.

Then his former teammate, Robinson Cano, who helped present Jeter the gifts with the help of Felix Hernandez, got a little personal.

Cano gave Jeter a watch with a message engraved on it:

"To Derek: Thank you for showing me how to be a leader. With love and respect, RC."

Here's the watch Cano gave Jeter as a personal farewell gift. pic.twitter.com/Z0kWGEO104
— Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) June 11, 2014

As for his greatest memory of his MLB debut, Jeter had no trouble recalling the 8-7 loss.

"I was 0-for-5," Jeter said with a smile.

Despite the 0-for, how did he celebrate the big night?

"My dad was in town and afterward we tried to get something to eat and everything was closed so we ended up walking to a McDonald's," Jeter said.. "So he's here again today, both my parents are, so we'll go to McDonald's after the game."

Jeter's first career hit came a night later, a fifth-inning single to left off Seattle starter Tim Belcher, in a 7-3 loss, a night he finished 2-for-3.

And we know the rest.

Derek Jeter loses home run bet with Brian Roberts while in the bathroom

Before Brian Roberts blasted the go-ahead home run in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Angels, the second baseman had a little wager with Yankees captain Derek Jeter.

"Me and (Jeter) were joking in (batting practice) today, who was going to be the last one to hit a homer?" Roberts said. "So I'm glad to put the pressure on him now."

Jeter didn’t see Roberts’ clutch homer because he was actually relieving a little pressure and was in the dugout bathroom when it was hit.

"I missed it, I heard the crowd," Jeter said of the game that for the second straight night filled Angels Stadium with Yankees fans. "I heard, 'ahhhh.' Then I heard cheers and then our dugout. The dugout gave it away."

Entering Tuesday, neither Roberts nor Jeter had sent a ball over the fence. It took Roberts until at-bat No. 105 to get a dinger. Jeter hasn't hit one in 102 AB's.

Roberts didn't say whether the pair had put anything on the line with the bet.

And, just in case you were curious, Roberts now has as many home runs as the replacement for former Yankee Robinson Cano, who took $240 million over 10 years to leave New York.

Jeter inspects Cano's new beard during Bronx return (VIDEO)

Derek Jeter welcomed Robinson Cano back to Yankee Stadium Tuesday night and and the first thing he did was examine his former teammate's new facial hair. 

Something the Yankees captain never grew in the Bronx.

Call it beard envy. Next year Derek. Next year.

Jeter always thought Cano would be a lifelong Yankee

Nobody was probably more surprised at Robinson Cano signing with the Seattle Mariners than the Yankees captain himself — Derek Jeter.

Deep down inside, Jeter believed his former teammate would join him and Mariano Rivera as lifelong Yankees before Cano opted to sign with Seattle last week.

“I thought he would,” Jeter said. “I think a lot of people thought he would. But I don’t know all the details of what happened.”

Perhaps not, but the 10-year, $240 million contract the Mariners offered — one the Yankees declined to come close to — explains a lot.

Jeter —who has spent his entire 18-year career in pinstripes — didn’t try to convince Cano to stay, but said he spoke with him after the agreement was reached and the 31-year-old was pleased with his move out West — or at least one aspect of it.

"I've never called anyone to try and convince them to come," Jeter said. "There's nothing to sell Robbie on or sell anyone on. I think you know what it is. I'm sure he had enough people in his ears. I speak with Robbie, I speak with him a lot, but I would never try to convince anyone.

“He’s happy,” claimed Jeter. “Wouldn’t you be happy? That’s a lot of money.”

And now Jeter and the Yankees look to life without Cano.

“I played with him for nine years, so he’s the second baseman I spent the most time with,” Jeter said. “I’m going to miss him a lot. It’s a business on both sides and I wish him the best. I would have liked to have played with him longer, but it's a business and guys move on”

Jeets wasn’t alone in presuming Cano would stay a Yankee.

“You just thought some way, somehow, it would work out with Cano,” said the retired Andy Pettitte, who left the Yankees for Houston as a free agent following the 2003 season. 

“Obviously, Seattle anted up big-time. Big-time. When someone shows you they want you like that, in Robbie’s situation, it’s very flattering.”

Flattering in $240 million ways.

Fan's Yankees-themed tattoo is a colorful tribute (PHOTO)

The Mariners' signing of Robinson Cano on Friday proves even the team's best players sometimes don't stay in the Bronx for long. But, like this guy's Yankees-themed ink job, some things are forever.

Robinson who?

Victor Cruz on Mariners deal: 'It's a good day for Robinson Cano'

Victor Cruz was among the first big names to join Jay Z's Roc Nation agency and —with the rapper turned sports agent's influence — was the beneficiary of a five-year, $43 million extension with the New York Giants. But even Cruz had to take pause from preparing for his game against the Chargers upon hearing about Robinson Cano's huge $240 million deal with the Seattle Mariners.

“It’s a good day for Robinson Cano,” said Cruz, who along with Cano is  represented by Jay Z's burgeoning sports management agency. “He deserved every bit of that money and every bit of that contract. So hopefully he goes to Seattle and does some good things for that organization.”

Cano rocked the sports world on Friday after agreeing to the 10-year, $240 million deal with the Mariners — a deal apparently orchestrated by Jay Z.

“I’m ecstatic,” Cruz said. “I know [Cano] personally. He’s a good dude, he’s a great guy. I’m happy he was able to get the deal I know he wanted.”

Cruz said his agent, Tom Condon, did most of the work on extension with the Giants, but admitted Cano’s contract was a “big day” for Jay Z and the company.

“I think it’s a stepping-stone. It’s just proof that anything can be done if you put your mind to it and have the type of backing and type of people that you have around you that do the right thing and understand the business,” Cruz said. “It’s a true testament to the way (Jay Z) does his business and the way he goes about it — the right way.”

The Cano contract should help establish Roc Nation as a major force in the world of sports representation and enhance its image in the eyes other big name athletes.

“I think it’s a smart move to be able to choose and go with what you feel is right and go with the organization that you feel is the right one for you and your mold and your brand,” Cruz said. “I think that was the most important part for myself and Robinson Cano.”

Cruz said he would congratulate both Cano and Jay Z via text, but the New Jersey native isn't ready to trade in his Yankee cap for a Mariner one.

“I’ll be Yankees through and through,” Cruz said. “But I’m definitely a Robinson fan. I hope he does well.”

Robinson Cano wears Mariners hat for the first time (PHOTO)

Robinson Cano agreed to an astronomical ten-year, $240 million contract with the Mariners on Friday, and it didn't take long for a camera to catch him wearing his new team's hat. Call it an Emerald (City) State of Mind.

Here is the second baseman at a winter ball game in the Dominican Republic on Friday night:

Para los que la querian en Twitter #Seattle #Cano pic.twitter.com/TdZTAJ2NEo
— Sussy Jimenez (@sussydeportes) December 7, 2013

That beard grew in pretty fast too.

Check out the Mariners potential 2014 lineup with Robinson Cano (PHOTO)

The Seattle Mariners potential 2014 lineup as it stands right now. Not exactly Murderer's Row or even the 2014 Yankees projected lineup.

Money changes everything.

A look at the #Mariners' potential 2014 lineup with Robinson Cano. #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/kE42obD2jH
— MLB Network PR (@MLBNetworkPR) December 6, 2013

Jay Z's demands blow up Cano's bid to join Mariners: Report

It appears the negotiations in Robinson Cano's talks with the Seattle Mariners came to an abrupt end Thursday, and it seems Cano's rapper-turned agent Jay Z might have been the red light.

Word out of Seattle is that the Mariners were expecting Cano to accept their original $225-million, nine-year offer, but the talks collapsed after Jay Z and CAA's Brodie Van Wagenen upped the ante, sources told the New York Daily News.

When Jay Z demanded 10 years and $252 million – the same deal Alex Rodriguez took more than a decade ago when he left the Mariners for the Rangers — Mariners chairman/CEO Howard Lincoln apparently “exploded,” according to one of the sources, ending the meeting.

 “It doesn’t look like we’re getting him,” a Mariners source said, adding that Seattle did not seem inclined to reignite talks with a player that clearly didn’t want to go there. 

Cano and Jay Z flew up from Los Angeles for the meeting and, apparently, there was high expectation from the Mariners that both sides were close to a deal.

Cano, the top free agent available this year, now finds himself back where he started: without a second team bidding for his services and the Yankees waiting in the wings as his lone suitor.

Throughout recent weeks of this process, Cano has reportedly been traveling with Jay Z during parts of his tour.

“It makes you wonder whether this guy wants to be a rap star or a baseball player,” a baseball official said.

The Mariners’ original $225 million offer had dwarfed the Yankees’ current seven-year offer of $165-$170 million, leaving Seattle more than $50 million ahead of the Bombers, who are believed to be willing to go as high as $175 million.

That would have matched the average annual value of Seattle’s nine-year offer, though it would have been two years and $50 million behind the Mariners overall.

As of late Thursday, the Yankees had not heard anything from Cano’s camp since earlier in the week, though a team source said it was likely because of the huge gap that remained between the two sides.

An industry official told the Daily News earlier this week that a $200 million offer from the Yankees was “never going to happen,” adding, “If that’s the offer and he wants to go there, he’s going to be a Mariner.”

Cano’s father, Jose, hasn’t been impressed by the Yankees’ pursuit of his talented son this offseason.

"The Yankees don't seem to want him," Jose Cano said on Thursday.

Brian Cashman confirmed that he’s met in recent weeks with both Van Wagenen and Jay Z, whose Roc Nation Sports inked Cano as its first client back in April.

One American League executive wasn’t surprised to hear Seattle pushed its offer past $200 million, as the Mariners are desperate for a big-name signing to spark the sagging fan base. But apparently, even the Mariners were drawing the line on Cano and Jay Z's overplayed hand.

Robinson Cano denies asking Yankees for $300 million: Report

Whether or not you believe Robinson Cano ever asked the New York Yankees for $300 million dollars — from either side — as his opening rate to sign with the team — technically, he probably didn't.

Cano's representatives, on the other hand, might have.

The desirable free agent sounded angry Thursday when he told the Dominican Republic newspaper El Dia he never asked the Yankees for astronomical sum when negotiations began.

“No one has heard that from my mouth and never will listen, if you are going to talk about anything other than contract,’’ is the translation of what Cano said Thursday in Santo Domingo where the Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic team was honored with a ring ceremony for winning last spring’s tournament. 

 Cano went on to say in Spanish that "you’re never going to hear it." 

But the N.Y. Post reported that, according to a person familiar with the situation, Cano’s representatives, led by rookie agent Jay Z, opened negotiations during the season with a 10-year request for $310 million. It was an offer quickly rejected by the Yankees, who are the prohibitive favorite to sign the premier free agent.

The Yankees countered the $310 million offer with a seven-year pact in the $168 range. They might be willing to extend a year and the dollars but are not going to pay the 31-year-old five-time All-Star $31 million a year.

After Cano’s representatives, minus Jay Z, met with Yankees brass face to face Tuesday and chatted by phone Wednesday, the sides plan to talk again Monday. Cano’s camp came down a little, but a substantial difference remains.

Suddenly, in any language, this is getting ugly.

Jay Z secretly shopping Robinson Cano to Mets: Report

While the notion of Robinson Cano leaving the New York Yankees has Bomber fans clutching their chests, it remains a good possibility. Especially since the two parties are about $140 million apart in their preliminary talks. But the real heartbreak might come if this year's most sought after free agent took his skills cross-borough from the Bronx over to Queens?

There's no question that Cano is looking to cash in with Jay Z as his new hands-on agent and staying in pinstripes is a top priority, but the N.Y. Post is reporting that the rap mogul had a secret meeting Monday night shopping the All-Star to the rival Mets.

The hip-hop impresario joined Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, general manager Sandy Alderson and assistant general manager John Ricco for dinner at a posh Manhattan hotel to discuss Cano’s free agency, two sources familiar with the situation told The Post. Cano’s group, which also featured agents Brodie Van Wagenen and Juan Perez, initiated the meeting; Cano himself didn’t attend.

While Alderson stated last week to say he couldn’t envision the Mets taking on another player with a contract as big as Cano's projected deal, that doesn't mean he can't kick the tires of the best free agent on the market. 

Cano's reps asked the Yankees for a 10-year, $310 million contract, and the Yankees countered with a seven-year offer for between $161 and $168 million. Those are expensive Michelins.

The Yankees have not held extensive talks with Cano’s representatives since free agency began, and they’re unlikely to be shaken by this meeting, given the Mets’ stated salary-commitment intentions and their payroll-slashing of the last three years. Besides, the Mets have a capable second baseman in Daniel Murphy. Not that the tradable Murphy would stand in the Mets' way of getting a player of Cano's caliber.

Cano going to the Mets is definitely a long shot. But the Mets simply had little to lose by agreeing to this meeting. And, in fact, will probably get a little respect from their fans in doing so.    

Jay Z has made it clear his representation of Cano is about marketing as well as baseball, and staying in New York with the Mets would give still Cano as many marketing opportunities as he had with the Yankees — maybe more.

Jay Z will be 'intimately involved' in Robinson Cano negotiations, says agent

Robinson Cano remains baseball's most high profile free agent this off-season and his representatives are expected to resume negotiations with the New York Yankees sometime this week.

But Cano's representation by Shawn "Jay Z" Carter — the player's agent with Roc Nation in a joint agreement with CAA — in dealing with the team was not so clear cut. Until now.

Jay Z will play a larger role in handling the second baseman's dealings in the process, according to CAA agent Brodie Van Wagenen.

The rap mogul, who recently found himself in trouble with the MLBPA after "gifting" Cano with an expensive watch for his birthday, will not idly sit by while one of his first superstar clients heads to the bargaining table, Van Wagenen said Sunday on Sirius XM’s MLB Network Radio.

“He’s going to be intimately involved in all areas,” said Van Wagenen. “And that has been true for the last six months. It’s certainly true now. Jay is a very, very successful businessman, who has a keen understanding of value, a keen understanding of brands, and a keen understand of what this player, Robinson Cano, wants to accomplish in his career.

“He’s been at the table both in strategy sessions and in preparation. And he absolutely has, and will continue to be, involved in the actual negotiations with potential suitors.”

Van Wagenen also downplayed the occasional suggestion that the market for Cano will not develop. While teams may shy away from his reported $300 million asking price, Van Wagenen does not doubt there will be high levels of interest.

“What I think people are starting to recognize as well is that players of this magnitude don’t come along very often,” he said. “And the opportunity to acquire them is limited. And when you want to try to acquire impact, middle-of-the-order, dynamic players, rare talent, you can only do it in a few areas.

“The draft, which is an uncertain process, because you don’t know how these guys are going to develop, and there’s a time investment that has to take place – if you are successful enough to get those guys to be impact, face-of-the-franchise type players.

“You can trade for them. But nowadays, it comes with a high cost as well. You can sign them internationally. Or you can go out and get them in free agency. So there’s not that many opportunities for players of this magnitude to come out. I think teams recognize that.

“Where we are is there’s teams that are interested. And I think what people realize is that he’s going to make an immediate impact on the field, and then of course there’s going to be additional business value that comes with the association of a player with that magnitude, with a diverse fanbase.”

David Ortiz on Cano contract: I would give him $500 million

Big Papi thinks Robinson Cano deserves a big payday.

"I would give him 500 million," David Ortiz said with a smile Thursday of the rumored $300 million-plus the Yankees second baseman is seeking. "He deserves it."

The Red Sox slugger, a friend of Cano's, was joking. Wasn't he?

The Boston designated hitter believes Cano, who will turn 31 Oct. 22, should cash in big on the free-agent market while the going is good

"Good players deserve to get paid," Ortiz said after his team's workout at Fenway Park. "He's one of the top three players in the game, so somebody's going to have to."

Asked if he can picture Cano in a different uniform, Ortiz said "it might happen," but he believes the Yankees will ante up for their only real All-Star.

"Every team needs a player like him," Ortiz said. "I definitely believe the Yankees are going to come through. You don't let players like that go. That's a keeper. But you never know. The game is crazy. There's a lot of teams out there with money chasing players like that."

Cano is believed to be looking for a contract of eight to 10 years. The Yankees, already burdened with long-term deals with old and injured stars like Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia, want to avoid that kind of commitment.

Ortiz said Cano is worth both the money and the years.

"At the end of the day, can you expect production from Cano for the next 10 years?" asked Ortiz. 

"Yes. Cano makes the game look too easy. I hit the ball so hard toward him this year, and it was like he was expecting it. He anticipates the way you are going to hit, he knows the hitter's swings. He is an extremely smart player. I have never seen a ground ball go by him."

Ortiz's teammate, Dustin Pedroia, signed an eight-year, $110-million extension in July, the kind of deal the Yankees would do with Cano in a second. Pedroia and Cano are widely considered to be the top second basemen in the American League, but Cano is looking for far more money.

"Those are two different players," said Ortiz, who declined to speculate how Pedroia's contract might impact Cano's. "I don't think you can compare them [to each other]. They're good at what they do individually."

Cano hit .314 with 27 homers and 107 RBIs with a .383 OBP and .899 OPS in 160 games. He hit .329 against righthanders and .291 against lefthanders.

"I wouldn't be surprised if next year if the whole Yankee lineup is healthy, he ends up being the batting title champ," Ortiz said. "It wouldn't surprise me because that's him, he can hit against anybody. Lefty, righty, he has no weakness."

I think I just heard Hal Steinbrenner say Shut up.

Robinson Cano called deadbeat dad by son's mom

New York Yankees free agent Robinson Cano is embroiled in a child-support battle with the mother of his young son, who is hoping to drive up his relatively low $600-a-month payments to $25,000.

The All-Star second baseman, who made $15 million this past season, is often late with payments that go toward raising his 3-year-old son, Robinson Miguel Cano Castro, the child’s  Dominican mom, Jackelin Castro, told ESPN.

The 30-year-old Cano insists he’s paying the agreed-upon amount. But Castro says the payments are inconsistent.

Castro says payments for May and June were made on July 2, and July and August payments were made on Aug. 15.

“It’s like a crumb because I [have] to chase after that money,” Castro told ESPN’s “Outside the Lines.”

Cano hopes to receive long-term contract offers in the $300 million range as a free agent next season. And, even though $600 is a lot of money in the Dominican Republic — where the average yearly salary is $2,370 — but it's hardly comparable to Cano's salary. Castro’s supporters believe the child deserves more.

Castro’s lawyer, Wendy Diaz, said Cano should be paying closer to $25,000 a month.

“I believe the money he gives to his son, when he does, is not enough to feed the dogs of Robinson Cano’s house,” said Diaz.

Castro did not sign the deal, according to the report, but Cano has been making the payments. “The intention of him and his advisers was somewhat to intimidate me,” Castro said.

“His living circumstances, financially, socially and culturally, are very, very far from what the child’s experiencing and gets,” Castro.

Cano said he’s giving plenty to his kid beyond the monthly stipend.

“I have gone above and beyond to care for my child, including an agreed-upon monthly stipend, a house, a car, insurance, school and other essentials for the baby and his mother, as well as many other things including toys and clothing,” Cano said in a prepared statement.

Whenever an innocent child is involved — common sense sometimes trumps contracts.

Jay Z selling Nets share to head coach Jason Kidd: Report

It sounds like Jay Z is taking this whole sports agent thing pretty seriously. The entrepreneurial rapper is selling his minority ownership in the Brookyn Nets to head coach Jason Kidd, sources told Page Six of the N.Y. Post.

The sources claim Kidd will take over Jay’s .067 percent (1/15th of a percent) stake in the team for about $500,000.

The move comes as Jay was forced to sell his Nets shares over a conflict of interest after he started a sports agency, Roc Nation, signing clients including Yankee Robinson Cano and NBA star Kevin Durant.

"Other owners want to give Jason a part ownership of the team, and urged Jay to sell his shares to him," said the source.

Goodbye Brooklyn.

Page Six said:

Amazingly, Jay was introduced to the team in 2003 by Drew Katz, the son of one of the Nets’ principal owners, after Kidd, then the Nets’ marquee point guard, suggested the music mogul buy the team.

According to reports, Jay helped design the team logos and choose the Nets’ stark black-and-white color scheme, and personally appealed to National Basketball Association officials to drop their objections to it.

The Times reported Jay’s influence stretched so far, he courted top players to join the team and even counseled execs on music to play during games.

"He is it,” Bruce Ratner, the Barclays Center developer, said in an interview. “He is us. He is how people are going to see that place."

Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov bought 80 percent ownership of the team in 2009 and appeared on billboards around the city with Jay Z.

Meanwhile, Kidd, who signed on as Nets coach in June, added to an impressive lineup including Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez. 

Unlike Jay Z, the coach owning minority shares in the team would not be seen as a conflict of interest.

A rep for the Nets had no comment, and Kidd’s spokesman, Nets VP of public relations Gary Sussman, also declined to comment. Reps for Jay Z didn’t get back to Page Six.

Yankee players make fake chalk outline of body mocking Eduardo Nunez's injury (VIDEO)

A day after Yankees infielder Eduardo Nunez fell to the turf in Toronto, a couple of his teammates made a tape outline of his body on the Rogers Centre infield before Wednesday night's game against the Blue Jays.

At the same spot where Nunez went down on the field, Vernon Wells and Joba Chamberlain made a mock chalk outline of the accident-prone infielder on the turf with athletic tape. There was also a wheelchair placed in front of his locker. Nunez laughed when he saw the wheelchair and immediately accused Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter of having something to do with the prank.

 "I think these guys have to be part of this," Nunez said. "For sure, I’ve got to find out. Do something, too."

"The video is funny," Nunez said of the clip (see below) of him falling down. "I know. Weird things happen to me all the time, I guess. Now it’s funny because I (didn’t) break my knee, but that wasn’t (Tuesday) night. Now I’m laughing."

The pre-game levity didn't last for long. By the end of Wednesday night, Nunez sounded more frightened than bent on prank revenge.

When Nunez tried to run in batting practice before the Yankees’ 7-2 loss to Toronto Wednesday night, pain flared up in his knee again and he was scratched from the lineup. Now he’ll be getting an MRI Thursday and the infielder is worried that he’s hurt badly enough that he could miss a few weeks.

That's no laughing matter to the depleted Yankees infield.

Robinson Cano: I'll be back from hand contusion 'maybe Friday'

The New York Yankees' quest to climb back into the American League wild-card race may have taken a huge blow, after second baseman Robinson Cano had to leave Tuesday night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays with an apparent right hand contusion — after getting hit by a 90 mph fastball from J.A Happ. X-rays were negative and the team says Cano is listed as "day-to-day."

Cano told ESPN he'll be back on the field, "maybe Friday."

A-Rod to Cano: Field other offers and leave Yankees

Alex Rodriguez may not have a lot to say to Major League Baseball but behind closed doors, A-Rod is allegedly a regular chatterbox when it comes to giving New York Yankees teammate Robinson Cano career advice.

A-Rod has reportedly been spreading the word behind the scenes that Cano should give pause about re-signing with the Yankees and explore the free-agent market.

Sources told the N.Y. Daily News' Confidenti@l page that Rodriguez —who is appealing a 211-game suspension for alleged PED use —has been a fly in the ear of the free-agent-to-be, Cano — and told him to listen to other offers and sign with a different team.

The 30-year-old Cano — who will make $15 million this season — told pals he really wants to stay in pinstripes but might be asking considerably more than the Yankees are willing to shell out. The team in return is afraid of long-term boondoggle like the contract Cano's advisor, A-Rod, currently has.

Cano's contemporary, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia  — who just inked a seven-year, $100 million contract last month — might be used as a measuring stick to Cano's worth.

The Yankees certainly need Cano.  He was only one of two All-Stars (retiring Mariano Rivera is the other) on the aging and injured Yankees team looking to downsize their payroll and Cano would be the cornerstone of the franchise going into the next decade.

Cano and Rodriguez are close off the field, and Cano’s agents are Brodie Van Wagenen and A-Rod’s pal Jay Z, through the mogul’s firm Roc Nation. And Cano has never said a bad word concerning A-Rod throughout the Biogenesis investigation.

“We all know what kind of player [A-Rod] is, what he can bring to the game,” Cano told The Daily News in June. “He can change the game with one swing.”

Cano's representatives didn’t get back to Confidenti@l, but Rodriguez spokesman Ron Berkowitz says A-Rod plans to be with the Yankees for the four years left in his contract and “obviously would want Robbie right next to him. This rumor is 100% not true.”

And we know how certifiable A-Rod's camp is.