Robinson Cano did not make it public last year, but those close to him have said he was not pleased to lose his second base job to Dee Gordon, in part because Cano has a goal of being the leading home run hitter at second base ever.

Cano, though, knew he could not make his feelings known, not coming back from an 80-game suspension for failing a test for a banned substance and the Mariners in contention for a playoff spot. So, upon his mid-August return, Cano accepted a hybrid job as a first baseman, second baseman and third baseman for the remainder of the season. It marked the only time in his career he had started a game in the field at a position other than second.

You know who would know how Cano privately felt about this?

His agent, who at that time was Brodie Van Wagenen, who shared Cano as a client with Roc Nation. That would be the same Van Wagenen of CAA who helped negotiate the 10-year, $240 million pact with the Mariners that includes a no-trade clause and is now the Mets general manager. And is it possible that Cano will not waive that clause without promises that he would be a primary second baseman? It certainly is possible.

Which is perhaps why Jeff McNeil’s name has surfaced in trade discussions about bringing Cano and closer Edwin Diaz to the Mets — because if Cano is going to play second then McNeil’s role would be limited.

The suspension may have scuttled Cano’s Hall of Fame chances, but he still wants to be the second base homer king. Jeff Kent hit 351 of his 377 homers as a second baseman, which is the most ever. Cano is second with 296 of his 311 homers coming at the position.