The Yanks today stunned no one, and confirmed the fears of those hoping to rebuild by signing Catcher/DH Brian McCann to a 5 year 85M deal. He will hit home runs in Yankee Stadium, but probably as a DH because Girardi loathes below average catchers - and seems to have his own system for determining who is and isn't. So, McCann, who's on base skills have declined since earlier in his career, will either right off the bat be a DH or will be in a year or so. Of course, the Braves will now have the Yanks' first rounder. And watch the Yanks say they knew they would replace it with the pick they get for Grandy and maybe Cano. The other shoe that could drop is that the Yanks FO might consider McCann the C of the future and not use Murphy and Sanchez in trades. It's just mind boggling, really. Let's hope remembers how to work a walk, and doesn't decline too rapidly as a 30 and over catcher. They tend to go fast. Oh well. Get Tanaka.
4 Comments:
I'm not that upset with this deal as you seem to be. Catcher is BY FAR our weakest position and it's not even close. If we were to give up our first rounder for signing a Beltran/Choo, then I could see you being upset since there are other alternatives in the OF that do not have draft pick compensation tied to them. But at catcher, there is no viable alternatives that I would even want with or without compensation.
I also don't believe McCann to be a below average catcher. His only below avg tool is throwing and that is negated by his above avg framing. He won't butcher pitches in the way the way that Posada did and he's a guy who provides leadership to a team that may be without it's voices in the coming years when Jeter retires/leaves.
Realistically, I expect him to be our everyday catcher for the next 3 seasons and then switch to 1B/DH when Teixiera expires. To give up a first for a premium position is worth it to me, especially when you add in the fact that it turns our worst position into an above average and when it hurts our rivals by leaving them with gaping holes at C (Bos/Tex).
Overall, I wasn't a big believer in spending big bucks on McCann but in a market where Carlos Ruiz is getting 8.5mil per for 3 years, I can see this being valuable. Still not really sure why we gave him a full NTC though.
I like Choo better than McCann cause he gets on base and isn't facing a potential position shift.
McCann will be a delight for the pitchers since his "framing" of pitches is considered well above average, based on what I have read about him. Like the previous poster said, his throwing is negative, and that will hurt, especially since many Yankees starters do not hold runners well.
That said, I see McCann catching 10-120 games a year for the next 3 years, then taking over at 1B for Tex after 2016. So there will be a spot for a backup like Romine or Murphy now, and eventually Sanchez, should he develop. Similar to 1996 with Giradi and Jorge, where Sanchez caddies McCann for a year or 2, then takes over for the majority of the games after that.
I like this one. I do hope the 6th year does not vest, unless he is a solid guy at 1B.
Girardi played too often when Posada should have early in Posada's career.
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