Brian McCann, Yankees Agree To Five-Year Deal [Report]
Free agent Brian McCann is reportedly joining the Evil Empire.
The former Atlanta Braves catcher will sign a five-year, $85 million deal contract the New York Yankees according to multiple media reports. The deal also reportedly contains a vesting option in year six, bringing its total value to $100 million. The Yankees will have to give up the 18th overall pick in the 2014 amateur draft in exchange for McCann.
McCann, a seven-time All Star, five-time Silver Slugger, and 2010 All-Star Game MVP, is a career.277 hitter, with over 1000 hits, 661 RBI, and 176 home runs. He made his MLB debut with the Braves in June 2005. In 2013, he averaged.256 with 20 homers and 57 RBI in just 102 games following shoulder surgery. SBNation notes that “his production has slipped in the last two seasons as he has dealt with various injuries; he has batted only.242/.316/.426 in 223 games in 2012 and 2013 combined. Even if McCann only managed to replicate those numbers, he would still be a vast improvement over what the Yankees had behind the plate last year…”
According to USA Today, “McCann, who turns 30 in February… represents a major upgrade behind the plate for the Yankees, who cited financial inflexibility in not re-signing Russell Martin before the 2013 season. Martin signed a two-year, $17 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Yankees catchers batted.213 with an American League worst eight home runs.”
The Texas Rangers were really interested in McCann too, but were unable to meet his asking price. The Colorado Rockies apparently were also in the running.
Of the Brian McCann signing, CBS Sports observes that “Worth mention here is McCann’s a left-handed hitter and Yankee Stadium is very homer-friendly to lefties Turner Field suppresses homers a bit, too, so McCann’s power should see a slight uptick with the move — even if it’s somewhat mitigated by moving to the vaunted AL East.”
[image credit: SD Dirk]
McCann’s deal with the Yankees is done, pending a physical.
— Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) November 23, 2013
