Free agent catcher Brian McCann has agreed to terms on a 5-year, $85 million contract with the New York Yankees, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. The deal, which is pending a physical, has a vesting option for a sixth year which could raise the total value to $100 million. It also has a full no-trade clause, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Brian McCann signs with Yankees for reported 5 years, $85 million
The free agent catcher spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Atlanta Braves.
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McCann, who will turn 30 in February, has spent his entire nine-year career with the Atlanta Braves. He has been one of the top offensive catchers in the league throughout his career, with a batting line of .277/.350/.473, 176 home runs, five Silver Slugger awards, and seven All-Star bids. However, 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 -- New York got a .213/.289/.298 line and only eight home runs from their backstops in 2013.
With McCann and Carlos Ruiz now off of the market, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and A.J. Pierzynski become the most high-profile catchers available.
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