"But" seems to be the wrong conjunction.

"After his best offensive season in years, a second drug suspension confirmed what Robinson Cano didn’t want us to know.

Barring a plot twist only JJ Abrams could conceive, the second-base icon’s brilliant season, and, on a pure X’s and O’s-basis, Hall of Fame-worthy career is likely to be overshadowed by the fallout from his positive Stanozolol test.

...

Cano’s suspension without pay will last the entire 2021 season, and with that, the Mets are down a productive hitter. Exactly why he was the most productive 37-year-old in the game? Well, that’s between him, his doctor, and, potentially, his other doctors. (Or 'doctors.' As of writing, Cano had yet to issue a statement about his positive test.)"

I don't think it's going out on a limb to connect the dots regarding Cano's surprisingly productive season.

But, Cano hit .316/.352/.544 in 2020, and his .896 OPS was third best on the team, mashing in a lineup that had the third best OPS in baseball. He can still stroke the ball with authority, as his exit velocity remains in the top quarter of all big league hitters, so there’s no reason to think Cano is fluking his way into good stats.

There's no reason to think Cano is fluking his way into good stats?

Other than the positive Stanozozol test that led to a year-long suspension? 

"Beyond the numbers game, Cano has been respected as a high-character leader for nearly a decade, both with the Mariners and Mets."

This is starting to sound like a fake article.

"Without an A-Rod like third act, the Cano era might be over in Queens, if not in a contractual sense — he’s signed through 2023 — almost certainly a spiritual one. Wednesday may have been a dispiriting day for Cano and the teammates and rivals who loved him, but his inglorious departure is an open door the Mets are uniquely prepared to seize."

Maybe some teammates are sad to seem him go, but it's obviously good news for the Mets.

They're off the hook for a bad contract for a player who had a PED-fueled pretty good return to form in a sub-200 at-bat season.