Robinson Cano is red-hot as of late and the streak may force the Yankees to break tradition and pay him sooner than later.
Over the final nine games of the regular season, Cano went 24 for 39 with 10 extra-base hits, 14 RBIs and just three strikeouts.
He will become a free agent after the 2013 season upon the completion of a team-friendly four-year, $30 million contract with two options worth a total of $29 million. Rival executives have floated around $200 million as a number Scott Boras will command for his client.
The issue is that the Yankees have a team policy of not extending players before they hit free agency and Boras likes to see him clients hit the open market for leverage purposes.