McCann set to become Yankee and highest-paid catcher

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013 | David O'Brien

[Hotlanta Mike]

Brian McCann, the best-hitting catcher in Atlanta Braves history, is about to become a New York Yankee and the highest-paid catcher in baseball history. The Braves free agent and seven-time All-Star agreed to terms Saturday with the Yankees on a five-year, $85 million contract that includes a sixth-year vesting option that could push the total value of the contract to $100 million, a personal familiar with negotiations said. The deal was pending a physical exam.

“It’s a bittersweet day for him,” said McCann’s agent B.B. Abbott. “He has a special place in his heart for Atlanta.”

[Hotlanta Mike]

Just in time for the inauguration of the new commie mayor...

[JohnBrowdie]

the yankees are stupid. mcann will be 30 before opening day, and catchers are generally finished before they hit 32.

[ken5050]

I think they let Canoe walk...

[Hotlanta Mike]

the yankees are stupid. mcann will be 30 before opening day, and catchers are generally finished before they hit 32.

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Wasn’t their manager Joe Girardi a catcher?

[FrdmLvr]

Haha! Oh brother! I just read the first few words of the title and thought it said McCain to become Yankee and thought he was dropping out of the Senate and moving to New York.

[JohnBrowdie]

no one is going to pay that guy what he wants. the dodgers just signed another cuban phenom defector to play second, so there goes his bargaining power.

[a fool in paradise]

OVER DAH PLATE!!!

[Delta Dawn]

Guy is a great catcher and he has Greg Luzinski type power from the plate. If he hits well, he will be a star in NY and hated in Boston.

[oh8eleven]

I think they let Canoe walk...

[JohnBrowdie]

the guy isn’t worth $85 million, and he certainly won’t last 5 years as a catcher.

dragging luzinski into the conversation proves to me that even you know that you’re flailing.

[jjotto]

Not even close to Twins’ catcher Joe Mauer’s 8-year, $185 million contract that started in 2011.

[Delta Dawn]

Yankees inked ARod to a 200+ million dollar contract. McCann is a steal at 85.

Play to 35? Carlton Fisk played until he was 45.

Nobody hit the ball harder than Luzinski did. There was a buzz in the air when he was at the plate.

I think that the Yankees will get their money’s worth out of McCann. Then again, I might just be flailing...

[JohnBrowdie]

it’s just bizarre to think that the yankees’ gallactically stupid deal for Arod makes a nearly as bad a deal for mccann any better.

as catchers go, fisk was the exception that proves the rule. mccann’s production is already tailing off. it will fall off a cliff in two years. then, you’re stuck with the back end of a bad contract.

RE: luzinski — first of all, how in the hell do you quantify “buzz in the air”? and how to you equate a C with a LF? on top of that, his career ops was 840, which is stunningly adequate for a left fielder.

at any rate, I’m just not sure what you’re driving at with the luzinski reference. it makes zero sense.

[Dr. Sivana]

the yankees are stupid. mcann will be 30 before opening day, and catchers are generally finished before they hit 32.

Funny thing about baseball players, the better they are, the slower the decline. A Ricky Henderson plays into his 40s, not just because he was good enough that a Henderson at 70% is better than some of his competition at 100%, but because the skills decline more slowly.

I no longer follow MLB (since regular season interleague play), but as a Dodger fan I think of Dodger catchers. Mike Piazza had a 16 year career that took him to 38. The Dodgers traded him when you suggested, and lost out. On the other hand, decent catcher Mike Sciosia was done at 33, as you suggested. The weak hitting but well armed Steve Yeager played until 37. Among other teams, Carlton Fisk played into his 40s, though not always as a catcher. So did Bob Boone. The last player to not wear a batting helmet was Bob Montgomery. He lasted until 35, it seemed longer, and he was largely a backup to Fisk. But Tim McCarver (whom I remember as Steve Carlton's catcher) was one of only a handful of players to play in four decades (retired at 38). Overall, great catchers seem to stick around longer.

So, if this McCann guy is such a talent, especially if he can hit and pretend to play 1st base or right field once in a while, I wouldn't worry about signing him.

[Dr. Sivana]

Nobody hit the ball harder than Luzinski did.

Dave Kingman did, so did Mickey Mantle.

[ken5050]

They probably see him as a DH after a few years..

[JohnBrowdie]

there is no demand for a DH that will be OPSing 600 when the time arrives.

[TBP]

Nice deal for both sides.

McCann will be 30 in February and the Yankees’ best catching prospects are a year or two away, at best. McCann measures well on all the defensive metrics and his lefty bat should play very well at Yankee Stadium.

The deal has a sixth-year vesting option.

[TBP]

Wasn’t their manager Joe Girardi a catcher?

Yes, and bench coach Tony Pena.

[TBP]

I wouldn’t count the Dodgers out, nor the Angels nor the Rangers.