Brian Cashman claims that the contract the Yankees gave to Alex Rodriguez after the 2007 season won't impact talks with Robinson Cano on a long-term deal.

Rodriguez received a 10-year, $275 million contract, an agreement that Cashman wasn't in favor of at the time.

The Yankees have opened negotiations with Cano's agent, Scott Boras, in the hope of cutting a deal before the second baseman hits free agency in the fall.

"There's only so much you can spend, but we'll look at Robbie as an individual, not as it relates to whatever we're doing with Alex Rodriguez and our commitment and the regression we have experienced with Alex," Cashman said on ESPN Radio.

"[Cano] is a tremendous player, one of the best players in the game, and via free agency there will be a select number of teams that will have interest in him. I can't say everybody, because the contract demands that he'll have will eliminate a number of teams right off the bat. But every team would want a Robinson Cano on it. How many teams can afford a Robinson Cano, we'll see."