As the major league baseball season slowly comes to an end, the focus shifts to free agency. Brian McCann might be one of the biggest names headlining this year's class of players in search of a new deal. The Atlanta Braves catcher will test out the market place as plenty of teams are lining up to make a pitch to the reliable veteran. The latest name brought up in the McCann hunt is the San Francisco Giants.
According to Jon Heyman at CBS Sports, the Giants are not ruling out interest in McCann. The news comes as a bit of a surprise considering the Giants already have catcher Buster Posey who signed a large contract extension earlier in the year. Posey is considered one of the best offensive catchers in all of baseball, but San Francisco is looking to beef up the batting lineup. They are targeting a strong left-handed presence such as McCann.
The issue is playing time. McCann is a lock to hit at least 20 home runs a year, batting a career .256. With Posey at catcher and Brandon Belt at first base, how much use does San Francisco have for McCann? It appears not much, but with McCann one of the best lefties hitting the market, the team is not ruling him out.
Also entering into the McCann hunt is the New York Yankees. The New York Post is reports the Yankees like what the catcher can bring to the lineup and the field, but everything hinges on what happens with both Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano. If Rodriguez's suspension is upheld, the Yankees save money and could re-sign Cano and get McCann. However, it is being reported that the Yankees are looking to reduce their payroll for the upcoming year and signing a six-time All-Star does not fit that effort.
The Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers have also all been reportedly prepared to throw their name into the McCann hat. One general manager told ESPN that the catcher could earn upwards of $100 million over six years. The max contract would make McCann one of the highest paid players.
Despite all of the interest surrounding McCann, the Atlanta Braves have yet to confirm whether or not they intend on re-signing their long-time catcher. Frank Wren has expressed desires to re-sign Tim Hudson while also exploring new deals for Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman, but not word on McCann's future with Atlanta.
