NY signs Brian McCann to a 5/$85M deal

[rembrat]

 
The funny thing about those opt outs is they actually could have all ended up working out great for NY. Soriano left a year early, NY got out of the largest year of his deal and got a #1 pick back. And A-Rod and CC's would have worked out great for NY if they had just let them go, the real mistake was signing them both again after they opted out. 

 
Yea, that actually would have been freaking awesome for the Yankees. Now that you mention it, throwing ridiculous contracts at top players with an opt out clause after a few years is a great way to get value out of a contract IF, like you say, you have the stones to let the player walk after opting out. It's kinda like what the Marlins do but their opt out clause is trading your butt.

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

"Ohhh, he murdered that baseball...McCann and Abel" /Sterling

 

[Jim Ed Rice in HOF]

However, he does have enough of a bat that you could imagine a Napoli-esque path where he's a not-terrible 1b/DH option for the last year or two.  But is it really a good contract to get 2-3 years of overpaid (but valuable) catching and 2-3 of suboptimal corner production?  Doesn't seem like it to me.

They already have A-Rod and Teixeira filling those spots so I'm not sure where he goes if he can't catch.

I look forward to him lecturing Papi on the proper way to run the bases after a typical Ortiz HR trot. I'm sure that will go over well.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

Even with Teix gone in 3 years and the possibility of moving him to first, I don't like this deal at that price.

I guess they saw limited options and no choice.

 

[TheoShmeo]

I love this.  Never liked this guy.  It's going to be easy to hate him now, and that strikes me as a contract that will look really awful in a 2-3 years.

 

[FanSinceBoggs]

A-Rod will likely be suspended for most if not all of the 2014 season and so the Yankees will have extra money to work with.....

 

[PedroKsBambino]

They already have A-Rod and Teixeira filling those spots so I'm not sure where he goes if he can't catch.

I look forward to him lecturing Papi on the proper way to run the bases after a typical Ortiz HR trot. I'm sure that will go over well.

 
If we project three years out Teix is gone, and I don't especially expect ARod to ever be back.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Actually maybe the most logical conclusion if this is real is that they are sure that A-Rod is going to lose his appeal. 

 
Agreed.  
 
I really don't know why this deal shocks anyone.  The Yankees have a need at catcher and McCann fills it.  They do what they typically do which is pay whatever the market cost is for expected production.    
 
We can talk about avoiding luxury taxes but its clear the Yankees view it as another cost of doing business.  Per Forbes, they pulled in $471mm this season net of debt service so presumably they can grow their payroll/luxury tax costs toward $300mm if they want.  

 

[No Guru No Method]

$17M for 5 years ? Cashman's only solution to their catching problem is that ?

 

[curly2]

I look forward to him lecturing Papi on the proper way to run the bases after a typical Ortiz HR trot. I'm sure that will go over well.

 
Assuming Cano returns, McCann's going to have to start with the "play the game the right way" talk in his own clubhouse.

 

[nattysez]

McCann was the piece they had to have. This doesn't preclude them staying under $189mm, especially given that Slappy's antics this week pretty much ensure he's out for 2014.

 

[geoduck no quahog]

Time to start a running count of 2014 and 2015 commitments. Assume no Rodriguez for 2014.

Here we go...

 

[TheoShmeo]

 
Agreed.  
 
I really don't know why this deal shocks anyone.  The Yankees have a need at catcher and McCann fills it.  They do what they typically do which is pay whatever the market cost is for expected production.    
 
We can talk about avoiding luxury taxes but its clear the Yankees view it as another cost of doing business.  Per Forbes, they pulled in $471mm this season net of debt service so presumably they can grow their payroll/luxury tax costs toward $300mm if they want.  

I think that you should be right about and have never understood why the Yankees didn't just say "screw the luxury tax, screw any pretense, we're going to buy another title." 
 
But they really haven't done that in the last few years.  They've been consistent in their public statements about getting below the lux tax.  Maybe that's all for show but just abandoning the $189 mm target would indeed be a departure for them.  
 
The A-Rod situation is a complication.  Do they act as if his contract will be off the books for 2014, which seems likely, or conservatively assume that he will be part of the mix?  

 

[Hoplite]

McCann was the piece they had to have. This doesn't preclude them staying under $189mm, especially given that Slappy's antics this week pretty much ensure he's out for 2014.

 
I believe this leaves the Yankess with roughly $63-90.5 million in yearly salary to work with depending on what happens with A-Rod. They should have plenty of room to sign Cano and Tanaka. Cano will probably cost something like $26 million a year and Tanaka will probably cost something like $12 million a year (assuming the posting fee rules don't change). I'm guessing they sign another starter and have Nova, Phelps, Pineda and Warren compete for the 4th and 5th starter spots. They'll probably sign a reliever, they could probably even sign Stephen Drew and use Jeter as their third baseman in the likely scenario that A-Rod gets suspended.

 

[Plympton91]

To me there's nothing not to like about this deal. That's a year shorter and a lower AAV than I expected. He fills a huge hole in the Yankees lineup, and with his defensive reputation should bring positive value to the end of the contract, which will be after 4 or 5 more years of salary inflation. Just reinforces that The Red Sox can't be content to tread water this offseason. Continuous improvement is necessary in the AL East.

 

[Hoplite]

To me there's nothing not to like about this deal. That's a year shorter and a lower AAV than I expected. He fills a huge hole in the Yankees lineup, and with his defensive reputation should bring positive value to the end of the contract, which will be after 4 or 5 more years of salary inflation. Just reinforces that The Red Sox can't be content to tread water this offseason. Continuous improvement is necessary in the AL East.

 
It was the same years and $5 million more than MLB Trade Rumors projected. Plus, there's the option for a sixth year and the no-trade clause, the Yankees gave up their only first round draft pick and they don't have the roster flexibility to easily move McCann to another position within the next three years. They could possibly use him at first base in years  4-5 of the contract, but $17 million is a lot to pay a poor fielding first baseman who hits like an old catcher.

 

[Steve22]

The Yankees getting out of A-Rods disaster of a contract annoys me to no end, but all in all I don't think this is a bad deal for them. 5/85 is about what I was expecting for McCann including all incentives, but using that as a baseline with an extra 1/15 of incentives isn't awful for a team with cap flexibility that needs a catcher/middle of the order bat. The no-trade is what I don't like, but I don't hate it from their perspective. McCann will be good for the team and the clubhouse. 

 

[Clears Cleaver]

the last time the Yankees won it was after they overpaid three guys for over $400M combined. Maybe that's the model...buy top three or four FAs, win, then suck for a few years and hope the FAs opt out or get caught for PEDs

 

[glennhoffmania]

Without other significant moves this doesn't make NY a contender, and it's a shitload of cash for a 30 year old catcher, so I'm all in favor of the signing.

 

[Sampo Gida]

$17M for 5 years ? Cashman's only solution to their catching problem is that ?

 
No problem with it if it means they say the hell with the 189 million goal.   Like you imply, there were cheaper options that were more consistent with seriously going under 189.

 

[FredCDobbs]

Reason to be positive:  Their production at catcher was unspeakable last year.  Now they have one of the better hitting catchers in baseball.  That's a huge upgrade.
 
Reason to be negative:  The guy can't wear contacts because of dry eyes or some shit.  You generally need to see to play baseball.

 

[rembrat]

Reason to be positive: We get to see what the bottom part of his face looks like.

 

[jon abbey]

 Think they would have been better served waiting rather than setting the market but that's never been the Yankee Way.

 
I don't think that's true in this year's market anyway, too much money chasing not that much talent. 

 

[Ed Hillel]

Looks like a full no-trade was included as well:
 
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24270862/brian-mccann-yankees-in-serious-talks-nothing-finalized

 

[CaskNFappin]

To me there's nothing not to like about this deal. That's a year shorter and a lower AAV than I expected. He fills a huge hole in the Yankees lineup, and with his defensive reputation should bring positive value to the end of the contract, which will be after 4 or 5 more years of salary inflation. Just reinforces that The Red Sox can't be content to tread water this offseason. Continuous improvement is necessary in the AL East.

Unless its the Sox....then taking steps back is necessary.

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

Looks like a full no-trade was included as well:
 
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24270862/brian-mccann-yankees-in-serious-talks-nothing-finalized

 
But what about the opt-out after three years? Doesn't everyone get one of those from NYY now?

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

Without other significant moves this doesn't make NY a contender, and it's a shitload of cash for a 30 year old catcher, so I'm all in favor of the signing.

 
They certainly still need to fix their rotation.  The offense could very well be one of the best in baseball next year, though it will require some injury luck which is tough to bank on with a roster that old.  That said, if Jeter and Teixeira have mostly healthy seasons and they can bring Cano back, they're looking at a solid offensive infield.  It would be very good if ARod manages to force his way onto the field somehow.  Even without him going Jeter, Cano, McCann, Teixeira for your 2, 3, 4 and 5 is nothing to sneeze at.

 

[Sox and Rocks]

This strikes me as a typical Yankee deal: it's probably a slight overpay, but that can be said about most contracts these days, which means the market has changed.  I assume McCann will make the mfy better immediately, although not significantly so.  Then, after a few years, it will be one of those contracts that becomes bad for an aging player, but at that point they will shed some of their other aging contracts and overpay for the next 30 year old FA (or 2, or 3, or 4).  The beat goes on...
 
If I'm a Yankee fan (and thank God I'm not), this contract doesn't bother me at all; I may even like it, on its own, but the fact that it represents more of the same approach from the front office would bother me...

 

[Murderer's Crow]

Seems like a lot of money for a team that has a ton of issues right now. The rotation is in shambles and they've got openings throughout the roster. This solves the catching issue, sure, but at a pretty high cost. A ton of moves to make- not sure this signifies much of anything. To strike this early at a cost this high seems aggressive for a team that appears to need to make a lot of moves. Think they would have been better served waiting rather than setting the market but that's never been the Yankee Way.


I don't quite understand this angle. I keep reading "this doesn't fix their 100 other problems" posts. What move would? It fills a pretty big hole at a pretty high cost but I don't see how it really hampers their goals or budget. It's an overpay but it's not tying them down.

I'd rather them overpay for a catcher with power who fits this ballpark and fills a hole than watch them fiddle around with defensive backups for another couple seasons until one of the young kids is ready.

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

I don't quite understand this angle. I keep reading "this doesn't fix their 100 other problems" posts. What move would? It fills a pretty big hole at a pretty high cost but I don't see how it really hampers their goals or budget. It's an overpay but it's not tying them down.

I'd rather them overpay for a catcher with power who fits this ballpark and fills a hole than watch them fiddle around with defensive backups for another couple seasons until one of the young kids is ready.

 
Definitely. Chris Stewart was nice for what he was, but it will be infinitely more enjoyable to watch a real catcher hit and play defense.
 
As an aside, does this mean Gary Sanchez is trade fodder now?

 

[jon abbey]

 
 Even without him going Jeter, Cano, McCann, Teixeira for your 2, 3, 4 and 5 is nothing to sneeze at.

 
Don't forget about Soriano, 17 HRs in 58 games for NY and a .850 OPS. 

 

[jon abbey]

 
As an aside, does this mean Gary Sanchez is trade fodder now?

 
Sanchez is still a couple of years away, and I can't believe they expect more than 3 years at most from McCann at C. It probably makes JR Murphy more available for starters, maybe Sanchez too. 

 

[Hoplite]

 

 
They certainly still need to fix their rotation.  The offense could very well be one of the best in baseball next year, though it will require some injury luck which is tough to bank on with a roster that old.  That said, if Jeter and Teixeira have mostly healthy seasons and they can bring Cano back, they're looking at a solid offensive infield.  It would be very good if ARod manages to force his way onto the field somehow.  Even without him going Jeter, Cano, McCann, Teixeira for your 2, 3, 4 and 5 is nothing to sneeze at.

 
There are some significant questions about Jeter and Teixeira even if they're healthy. Here's what Steamer gives as the over/under for their lineup so far.
 
Gardner - 99 wRC+
Jeter - 97 wRC+
Cano - 136 wRC+
McCann - 114 wRC+
Teixeira - 119 wRC+
Soriano - 94 wRC+
Wells - 81 wRC+
Suzuki - 83 wRC+
Nix - 70 wRC+

 

 
Don't forget about Soriano, 17 HRs in 58 games for NY and a .850 OPS. 

 
Soriano also hit .255/.302/.489 (112 wRC+) overall that year. I remember Yankees fans last year suggesting that Ichiro was somehow reinvigorated by playing for the Yankees after he hit .322/.340/.454 for them in 67 games and that was more representative of his overall lackluster numbers that year. But as was the case with Ichiro, I think the larger sample sizes tend to be more telling.

 

[CaptainLaddie]

A total self-righteous prick who think "his way" is the best way to play the sport?

Perfect signing for the Yankees!

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

McCann got the standard vesting option all Yankee catchers receive. The sixth year is guaranteed if he can make it through the first five without killing himself or anyone else in a plane crash.

 

[Average Reds]

A total self-righteous prick who think "his way" is the best way to play the sport?

Perfect signing for the Yankees!

 
Was expressing this exact thought last night to some friends.
 
A nice addition to any team with Joe Girardi at the helm.

 

[bankshot1]

Sure he's an improvement, and a very expensive improvement, but this strikes me as a, "since we're not close to Cano, we need a headline grabber to bouy the season-ticket holders" signing.

 

[Montana Fan]

Trey Wingo
"Brian McCann to the Yankees? So now home plate in the Bronx will be where everyone is taught how the game is supposed to be played."

 

[FanSinceBoggs]

A question, if the Yankees sign a second QO free agent, do they lose their second round pick?  If they sign a third, would they lose their third round pick?  Is that how it works?  Assuming the Yankees don't resign Granderson and lose him to free agency, would the Yankees lose that compensation pick or their second round pick (when they sign a second QO free agent)?
 
Now that they Yankees have kissed goodbye their first round pick, they will probably be more aggressive in signing QO free agents.  Thus, along with going hard after Tanaka, I could see them signing U.Jimenez.
 
Assuming the Yankees bring back Cano, they will have a powerful offense with Cano, Teix, and McCann.  They would strengthen their pitching staff by signing Tanaka and Jimenez, to go along with Sabathia and Nova.  The Yankees don't rebuild, they reload!

 

[SaveBooFerriss]

It is my understanding that if they gain a pick if Granderson leaves, but will lose that pick if they sign a second QO free agent.  It is a change from the previous system, but makes sense. 
 
I like McCann as a catcher, but if he moves off catcher during this deal, it is a big overpay unless stopping catching increases his offensive production.  He is a worse hitter than Napoli over his career. 

 

[LeoCarrillo]

They'd lose their next-highest pick, so a QO compensation pick.

 

[jon abbey]

Is that definitely true? Olney's column today is based on the premise that the QO compensation picks are off limits and the second pick to go would be their second rounder, has there definitely been a change in this since last season?

 

[Hoplite]

 
 
If a team signs multiple free agents who were extended qualifying offers, it keeps relinquishing its next-highest Draft pick. Only players who have been with a club for the entire 2013 season will be eligible for compensation.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/thirteen-free-agents-receive-qualifying-offers?ymd=20131104&content_id=63678306&vkey=news_mlb
 
The Yankees 18th overall pick disappears into the nether, and everyone else moves up a pick. The Red Sox now pick 29th with 12 free agents still on the board who are tied to draft pick compensation.

 

[LeoCarrillo]

Is that definitely true? Olney's column today is based on the premise that the QO compensation picks are off limits and the second pick to go would be their second rounder, has there definitely been a change in this since last season?

I forget now which thread it's in, but I actually copy-pasted the rule from the MLB CBA a couple weeks ago.
 
Edit: Found it, but looks like cannonball beat me to it.
 
© Signing Club.
i. A Club that signs one Qualified Free Agent who is subject
to compensation shall forfeit its highest available selection in the
next Rule 4 Draft. A Club that signs more than one Qualified Free
Agent subject to compensation shall forfeit its highest remaining
selection in the next Rule 4 Draft for each additional Qualified
Free Agent it signs. 

 

[cannonball 1729]

Is that definitely true? 

 
Yep. It's Article XX(B)(4)(c)(ii) in the CBA.
 
 
 

With the exception of draft selections awarded to a Club
pursuant to Major League Rule 4(c)(2), all of a Club’s draft selections will be subject
to forfeiture pursuant to subsection 4(c)(i) above, including draft selections obtained through assignments,
draft selections obtained in the Competitive Balance Lotteries
and Forfeited Draft Pick Lotteries, and draft selections awarded
as compensation pursuant to subsection 4(b) above. 

 

[jon abbey]

It's funny that SoSH is more on top of that than Olney, but also not too surprising. 

 

[nvalvo]

 
Yep. It's Article XX(B)(4)(c)(ii) in the CBA.
 
 
 

 
To flesh this out a bit, here's MLB Rule 4(c)2
 

 
[SIZE=9pt](2) [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Supplemental Selections. If a Major League Club selects a player before the fourth round of a First-Year Player Draft (other than a player selected with a supplemental selection pursuant to this Rule 4(c)(2)) and such Club fails to sign such player before such player is removed from such Club’s Negotiation List pursuant to Rule 4(d)(3) or 4(d)(4) (Effect of Selection on Player), then such Club shall have the right to make an additional selection, called a supplemental selection, in the next First-Year Player Draft, as follows:[/SIZE]



[SIZE=9pt](A) [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]If the unsigned player had been selected before the third round of the First-Year Player Draft, the supplemental selection awarded shall be exercised immediately after the numbered position overall that corresponds with the numbered position overall at which the unsigned player had been selected in the previous First-Year Player Draft. For example, if the unsigned player had been the 30[/SIZE][SIZE=6pt]th [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]selection in the First-Year Player Draft, the supplemental selection awarded shall be the 31[/SIZE][SIZE=6pt]st [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]selection in the next First-Year Player Draft. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt](B) [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]If the unsigned player had been selected in the third round of the First- Year Player Draft, the supplemental selection awarded shall be exercised after the completion of the third round. If more than one Club is in this category, the supplemental selections shall be made in the same order as the selections giving rise to the supplemental selections had been made in the previous First-Year Player Draft. [/SIZE]

 

[Wingack]

This deal doesn't bother me all that much, but that could be a byproduct caring a bit less.

 

[FanSinceBoggs]

Thanks for the clarification.
 
I'm working on the assumption that the Yankees will resign Cano and Kuroda but not Granderson.  In this scenario, If the Yankees sign another QO free agent, they won't pick until the second round.  Conversely, If the Yankees don't sign another QO free agent, they basically traded Granderson and the 18th pick in the first round for McCann and a compensation sandwich pick.
 
Maybe the Yankees won't sign U.Jimenez after all.....
 
On the subject of the Red Sox first round pick, I am hoping it will turn into a top 25 pick -- keep adding high upside talent to the farm system, which brings an organization more financial flexibility down the road.  
 
Many Yankees fans will gush over the McCann signing, but that 18th pick is pretty valuable to give up even for a player as good as McCann.

 

[Hoplite]

Many Yankees fans will gush over the McCann signing, but that 18th pick is pretty valuable to give up even for a player as good as McCann.

 
Yeah, considering the uncertainty surrounding Cano, Tanaka and A-Rod, all of which will have a huge impact on their off-season plan. And the dubious prospect of them competing next year even if they do sign both Cano and Tanaka, I think they would have been better off if they kept the pick and signed Russel Martin next year. Martin is arguably the better catcher anyways. They could have stocked up on draft picks this year and replenished their farm system before going bonkers on free agents next offseason. But that's just not how the Yankees operate.