Robinson Cano
Angry Yankees fans took to Twitter to bash Robinson Cano for signing with the Mariners, but called him a "trader" instead of a "traitor." Wikipedia Commons

MLB star Robinson Cano’s decision to sign with the Seattle Mariners over the New York Yankees caused countless Twitter users to forget how to spell. The 31-year-old’s lucrative new contract has some fans referring to him as a “trader.”

Cano has reportedly signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Mariners on Friday, ESPN’s Enrique Rojas reports. The offer dwarfed the Yankees’ proposed contract, which maxed out at between $165 million and $170 million dollars.

For Cano, the decision was likely a financial one—the Mariners were willing to offer a longer, more lucrative contract than the Yankees. Considering the fact that this will likely be the last contract Cano signs as a professional baseball player, it made sense to choose the bigger deal. But that didn’t stop some bitter Twitter users from calling Cano a traitor; or, as some grammatically-challenged fans have said, a “trader.”

"Keep chasing that money, [Robinson Cano]. Ain't gonna win anything out in Seattle...trader," one user tweeted. "[Robinson Cano] your a trader a benidict Arnold a snake in the grass I been a Yankee fan since I was 4 I'm now 40 [sic]," another fan wrote. Every "trader" tweet on Cano can be viewed here on Twitter, but IBTimes compiled a few more examples below:

The "trader" tweets also sparked a series of satirical posts, as incredulous Twitter users mocked the misue of the word. "Robinson Cano is really good at bartering goods and services #trader #everyoneisstupid," one Twitter user wrote. "Did Robinson Cano get a new job on Wall Street today? #Trader," wrote another.

Deadspin was first to note the rise of the “trader” phenomenon. When former Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury opted to leave Beantown in favor of a 7-year, $153 million contract with the Yankees, angry fans immediately identified him as a “trader.” The site compiled several examples of these tweets, which can be viewed here.

[h/t Deadspin]