Dunno, I guess either they're not sure they want to give Cano the money he's looking for, or they are abandoning the goal to get under the luxury tax. So probably the latter. (They may be playing hardball a bit with Cano because they know his options are limited if he wants a big money contract.)
All they have to do is sit on Cano. He keeps asking for that crazy number, and teams go elsewhere. Finally, he is one of the last FA left and he comes crawling with his tail between his legs to the Yankees. They sign him to the number they wanted all along.