The New York Yankees surrender to no one, but are in an unenviable position this offseason as longtime second baseman Robinson Cano prepares to hit the open market.

The 2013 season didn't go as planned for the Yankees, who watched their star-studded lineup inhabit the disabled list for a majority of the year, but things worked out perfectly for Cano, who will turn 31 later this month.

Turned off by the 10-year contract they handed Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees are hesitant to give Cano a similar deal. Hal Steinbrenner told Michael Kay as much on Tuesday when he said, "I don't feel this organization is ready to do something like that."

Cano is not only looking for a contract that will stretch beyond his 40th birthday, but also one north of $300 million, according to sources. The Yankees, who have been working the $189 million luxury tax threshold into payroll conversations for the better part of the last two years, may have no choice but to show Cano the money.

There are a few obvious reasons why Brian Cashman will have to concede to Cano's demands.

The Yankees finished this season 85-77, with a losing mark within the American League East and a comfy seat at home for the playoffs. Cashman continues to defy the odds with shrewd veteran additions and New York flirted with contention longer than they should have, but it will soon be another nine-figure contract that becomes the story.

The Boston Red Sox are headed to the ALCS after hitting on a handful of mid-level free agents last winter and the Tampa Bay Rays are forever stocked with young talent. The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays may have disappointed this season, but New York's threats aren't only within their division. The Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics all look strong, which has removed the AL East's hold on one or both of the Wild Card berths.

Meaningless October baseball won't fly in Yankeeland for long, if at all. Steinbrenner already appears to have softened on the mandate that Cashman must construct a winning roster under the tax threshold, sounding more like his father than he has ever before. The Steinbrenners would love to win and save themselves a few million, but they want to win above all else.

Cano knows that and sees how much Rodriguez is getting paid to strikeout when it matters most and tarnish the integrity of the game. 

More importantly, Cano proved in 2013 that he truly is an elite talent. He has always been an above-average hitter -- with a .309/.355/.504 career slash line -- but this past season he dominated pitchers without protection in the lineup. Anyone who thought Cano was a creation of the New York lineup was proven to be very wrong.

Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, Kevin Youkilis and Rodriguez combined to play in 166 games this season. Alfonso Soriano provided some help late, but Cano was consistently strong at the plate.

Cano led the Yankees in batting average, home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, hits and oWAR. He hit .314/.383/.516 with 27 home runs and 107 RBIs while playing in 160 games. Not only is he productive, he's durable. Cano has missed a total of 14 games over the last seven seasons. He posted the highest on-base percentage of his career without big guns surrounding him, while also continuing to play a great second base.

Whether they want to or not, the Yankees have to go the extra mile to re-sign Cano. Magic Johnson claims the Los Angeles Dodgers won't pursue him, but there will be other suitors.

He isn't an All-Star made elite by those around him; Cano is the centerpiece of the aging Yankee lineup. Losing him at this point would only lead to more losing.