Braves add Robinson Cano to roster ahead of Mets series

Braves add Robinson Cano to roster ahead of series vs. Mets originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Robinson Cano could have a shot at revenge this week.

The Braves added the veteran second baseman to their major league roster ahead of a three-game showdown with the first-place New York Mets, which gets underway Monday night in Atlanta.

Cano, 39, was designated for assignment by New York on May 2 following an ugly start to the season. The Mets moved on from the eight-time All-Star despite being on the hook for $40.5 million of the $48 million he's owed over this year and the next.

The San Diego Padres scooped up Cano days after his release, but a change of scenery didn't solve his struggles at the plate. In a 12-game stint, Cano hit just .091/.118/.091 to bring his combined season batting line to .149/.182/.189.

San Diego granted Cano his release on June 2 after he refused a trip down to the minors. He then, however, returned to the Padres organization on a minor league deal just over a week later. Cano lit it up in 21 games with Triple-A El Paso, hitting .333/.375/.479, before being acquired by Atlanta for cash considerations on Sunday.

Cano, who is the closest active player to 3,000 career hits with 2,635, joins Atlanta in the midst of a tight NL East race with his former club. The reigning World Series champions have trimmed what was a 10.5-game division lead for the Mets on June 1 down to 1.5 games entering this week's series.

The Braves have been without starting second baseman Ozzie Albies since mid-June due to foot surgery, and he's expected to miss a few more weeks. Orlando Arcia, who has been filling in for Albies, is hitting .252/.329/.366 this season.