McCann shows a spark, but will Braves give him new deal?
Brian McCann's solo homer in second inning jump-started the Braves' offense. (AP photo)
(UPDATED: 10 p.m.)
In his first six full major league seasons, Brian McCann has played in six All-Star games, won an All-Star game MVP, won five Silver Slugger awards, accumulated more home runs, RBIs, extra-base hits and game-winning hits than any catcher in baseball, won a lot of games, smiled a lot, never caused a riff and has proved to be so genuine and honest that he probably wouldn’t know a magic muscle-inflating pill if one did a backflip into his morning Cocoa Puffs.
“He puts up numbers, and he did it even when other guys were taking performance-enhancers,” Braves teammate David Ross said. “He’s more like, ‘How many Advil should I take?’ I can’t corrupt him. He won’t even drink a Red Bull. I want to punch him.”
All of which makes you wonder how it could be that the Braves and McCann may part ways at some point in the near future.
The Braves are off to a good start. They own the second-best record in the National League after Tuesday’s 6-2 win over Cincinnati. Until this game, almost everybody had been hitting except McCann (.231), their most consistent player over the past several seasons. But after he homered, walked and singled in his first three at-bats, maybe that aberration is complete.
There figured to be a market correction. With a career average of .286, McCann has been too good for too long for him to not rebound. The question is whether those numbers will factor into what the Braves do next with McCann contractually.
His salary this year jumped to $11.5 million (after escalators). The Braves have a $12 million club option for next season, but negotiating during a contract year can be problematic. So logic suggests the team and McCann’s agent will start talking soon.
But are the Braves fully committed to re-signing McCann? St. Louis signed catcher Yadier Molina to a five-year, $75 million extension. If we assume that’s the benchmark, it questionable whether Wren will give a long-term, $15 million-a-year deal to a catcher. There’s no room for McCann (now 28) to eventually move to first base (Freddie Freeman), and the National League doesn’t use the designated hitter.
“We have a mutual understanding of how we’ll approach this process,” Wren said of negotiations, not elaborating. It’s executive Latin for, “No comment.”
McCann said, “I understand it’s a business. They have to do what’s best for them, and I have to do what’s best for me. I’m just going to play as hard as I can and let everything else fall into place.”
This much is certain: There were fan backlashes after the way the Braves handled the exits of John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. Those guys were at the end of their careers. If the Braves decide a popular player in his prime such as McCann is too expensive, even with Chipper Jones coming off the books, cars may be torched.
How McCann plays this season has obvious ramifications. He struggled in the second half last season (.203) after hitting .310 at the All-Star break. He acknowledges now he came back too early from a strained oblique, saying, “Ninety mile-an-hour pitches were looking 95. The game sped up on me. If that happened again, I would definitely play a few more games in Triple A.”
This season, he feels “seven to 10 hits” have been lost to opponents often shifting their defense to the right. But he says he’s healthy, adding, “When I’m feeling good I get hits. I just have to start using the whole field. I have to start making that shift irrelevant.”
The knock on McCann always has been his defense, but his backup, Ross, believes criticism is overstated. Statistics show McCann annually allows among the most stolen bases in the league, which no doubt will be brought up in talks. But Ross believes the numbers are skewed, saying, “We don’t have the quickest pitchers to the plate.”
At worse, Ross said, McCann is “average” on defense.
“When you consider his offense and that he calls a great game, I’ll take that,” he said. “Mac’s one of the best. Catching is a demanding position. It’s not like you’re an outfielder and can take an inning off because you didn’t get a fly ball hit to you. I just hope the Braves realize what they have.”
A split is something most would rather not think about right now. But one-team athletes like Chipper Jones are a rarity.
By Jeff Schultz
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214 comments Add your comment
Good Grief
May 16th, 2012
9:08 am
You’ll have year-round interleague play starting next season, with 15 teams in each league, it will be a necessity. With that being the case, the NL will, at some point in the very near future, adopt the DH. I hate it, it’s ruining baseball, but if the NL wants to keep up with the AL, they’ll have to do so. Knowing that, it would be worth the Braves locking McCann up long term, as he can DH once his position-playing days are over.
chc4
May 16th, 2012
9:09 am
Braves will have gotten the most productive years out of McCann by the end of next season. We just can’t give him a 5 year big $$ deal. Love the guy but can’t have him eating up $15m+ per year as his play declines.
Phil Lunney
May 16th, 2012
9:18 am
I really hope that Brian is able to stay as a Brave. I remember when Andrew left for the big money in LA and I thought that he would lose his smile, well he did. Atlanta is a great baseball stage with what is now a winning tradition. Brian McCann belongs in Atlanta , we need his smile and his enthusiasm.
I also noticed how Rafael Furcal played a significant part in the Chipper tribute in St Louis, his 2nd team since leaving the ATL. As John Smoltz said the other day on the radio, St Louis Cards organization is a lot like the Braves, but it is not the same.
Trojan
May 16th, 2012
9:47 am
Chipper sacrificed money to play his entire career for the Braves. McCann does not sound like he will do that.
Trojan
May 16th, 2012
9:48 am
McCann is great but the Braves would be paying a premium for a diminishing return.
tony
May 16th, 2012
10:29 am
Bourn and McCann should be the braves top priority this off season. They are my favorite players.
Therut
May 16th, 2012
10:32 am
While I like him as a person, I believe that McCann is the one player holding the braves back. Everytime he comes to the plate there are men on base. Just hitting average last year he should have had 115 rbi’s. Let him go please!
Joe
May 16th, 2012
10:51 am
Have to make Bourn the priority – he makes the offense go. I’d be ok with letting Brian go. I certainly wouldn’t sign him to anything beyond 4 years.
Largo
May 16th, 2012
11:04 am
McCann is a Lummox. Nice guy but still a lummox.
P Rose
May 16th, 2012
11:04 am
Payroll gets an additional $25 million next season as Chipper’s and Lowe’s contracts come off the books. Sign B-Mac and Bourn.
wreckbuzz
May 16th, 2012
11:20 am
Three reasons this whole idea that McCann would walk is stupid:
1) He wants to be here, is from here and it’s a good team.
2) The Braves payroll will be way more flexible in 2013 and beyond, EVEN IF THEY RESIGN BOURN.
3) It’s worth the risk. The fans here will be forgiving of the Braves and Frank Wren if McCann’s production falls off in the last years of the deal because they love him and want him back.
Payroll flexibility: You have around $29m coming off the books for 2013 with the retirement of Chipper ($13m) and contract ending of Derek Lowe ($10m) and Jair Jurrjens ($5.5m) who most likely will be somewhere else (maybe as soon as this season). They could have as much as $38m come off if they decide not to exercise the option of Tim Hudson and go with Julio Teheran in the rotation. So the Braves have room to sign Michael Bourn to a $15m 5yr deal AND extend McCann to a similar value deal. By the time the Braves have to start paying Heyward and Freeman in FA years, the contract of Dan Uggla will be coming off and Hudson will be off as well. That’s $22m at that point which would allow Heyward and Freeman to fit in with a Brian McCann early years like contract.
Besides all that (which should be enough to convince people), the likelyhood of Liberty Media being the owners of the Braves in 2014 is low in my opinion. They’ve reached their obligated time frame to keep ownership as agreed to with MLB in the sale from Time Warner. With the mega deal reached for the Dodgers, Liberty will try to make a profit and flip the Braves.
furmanuga
May 16th, 2012
11:24 am
He’s the hardest working man on the field and he produces at the plate. Oh yeah, he’s also a local and extremely likable fellla. Pay him what he’s worth!
JoeFan
May 16th, 2012
11:35 am
Believe it all comes down to whether the Braves believe Bethancourt can replace McCann. Seriously tying up huge sums of cash in a player whose skills maybe eroding doesn’t make sense when you need to fill potential holes in cf, lf and 3b especially if Bethancourt or even Gattis may be the answer behind the plate. To bad the Braves can’t utilize MCann as a DH. Regretfully as he ages McCann apperas to be more suitable for an AL team.
Alphare
May 16th, 2012
11:52 am
$15 mill a year is too much for anybody as a salary. Nobody working in a team environment is worth 15 mill a year. Not a CEO, not a baseball player.
Marco Pillow
May 16th, 2012
12:03 pm
McCann’s not worth 12 million a year. No human is.
Marco Pillow
May 16th, 2012
12:07 pm
They play baseball for 162 days which equals 5 1/2 months. 12 million for 6 months playing baseball,a game.
Bill M.
May 16th, 2012
12:20 pm
Look for the Braves to try and sign both McCann & Bourn. If they fail, McCann will be traded this winter. You are playing with fire when offering long term deals to players 30 & over. Look at the money they lost on Lowe. If it comes to one signing, I think it will be Bourn. We may not even know this team next season. It will be an exciting off season but now they are in a position to go far if they don’ t tank it toward end of season.
59bulldawg
May 16th, 2012
12:21 pm
What we need is a new owner who’s willing to spend as needed instead of using the Braves as a tax shelter. I want Mac and Bourn to both stay in Atlanta. This team is on the verge of another multi-year run of great seasons.
what of it?
May 16th, 2012
12:56 pm
I don’t think it’s worth breaking the bank for McCann. Catchers wear out faster than other position players, and it has been stated his defense isn’t outstanding which is much more important for that position. He’s a good hitter, but I wasn’t impressed with his disappearing act last season, and the way the rest of the lineup is hitting, he has plenty of protection around him in the lineup.
Molina also won a world series last year and is batting .301.
59bulldawg
May 16th, 2012
1:07 pm
Marco I agree! But it’s not what you’re worth . . . it’s what the market is willing to pay!
Yankees Calling
May 16th, 2012
1:16 pm
Imagine Mac in Yankee Stadium … as one would say “perfect”
Mike
May 16th, 2012
1:19 pm
yea they are going to overpay for McCann and go without a legit lead-off hitter or centerfielder…I hope they can win it all this year because the next 5years are going to bad
Brian
May 16th, 2012
1:20 pm
Remember that having an extra $10 million next year without Chipper on the books will help a lot in resigning our players. Bourn is a really good player, but I don’t think he is as valuable to the Braves as Mac is. McCann is one of our best hitters in terms of extra-base hits and driving runs in. Bourn is very good, but I’d take Mac if we can only have one.
PMC
May 16th, 2012
1:20 pm
Cars won’t be torched (we’re not that passionate), but neither will seats be filled.
Being intersting and exciting is the #1 thing any Atlanta franchise should strive to be.
PMC
May 16th, 2012
1:22 pm
Much like Chipper, if this were an American League team or the NL added the DH. It would be much more cost effective to sign Mac. He’s a fantastic hitter and a very good catcher, but if he can’t hit in the lineup every day it’s hard to pay that money for a 30+ catcher.
Maybe we should lobby for the DH.
Sean
May 16th, 2012
1:27 pm
Something that can’t be forgotten in this is the Braves have one of the best catching prospects in the league in Christian Bethancourt. Betchancourt should be ready to take that catcher spot if McCann leaves and if McCann does stay the team will have no spot for Bethancourt. The question is does the team believe that McCann will be able to catch and produce at 33 or 34. If they don’t think so, I think the better option is to spend the money elsewhere and let Bethcancourt come up and play. I know it sounds awful because Mac has produced but in the end this is a business and you have to make smart decisions as a team.
The Walrus
May 16th, 2012
1:28 pm
Let’s keep in mind: we’re not just talking about McCann in the next season or two. We’re talking about 5 or 6 years from now. Will he be as valuable to this team 5 or 6 years from now? By then he’ll be over 30, playing one of the most demanding positions in all of sports. By then think of all of the others we’ll need to consider…
Heyward
Freeman
Kimbrel
Hanson
Venteers
Minor
Beachy
DelGado ?
Teheran ?
It’s not just about signing one guy for another good year or two. Signing McCann means a long-term commitment of money that might be better used elsewhere.
And it truly pains me to say that; I love McCann.
Jeff
May 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
If McCann is not extended then someone should drop an atomic bomb on all that land the Liberty CEO is collecting. He spends his money trying to own more land than Ted Turner when he should be trying to out do what Ted used to do for the Braves when it came time to pony up the big bucks.
asdf
May 16th, 2012
2:41 pm
Wow, can’t beleive all the people on here saying that McCann is on the way down. Absolutely no evidence, just speculation. And while Bourne is excellent, you better beleive that he won’t play out a full contract; I guarantee he won’t be here 4 years from now no matter how the contract is termed. And I like the idea of Heyward, but the guy has just been a dissapointment to this point.
fan of the game
May 16th, 2012
2:45 pm
@ 1 eyed jack
please dont ever compare another catcher to johnny bench, but i sure do like mac hes a player and we need players.
someone in the front office needs to gather the kids that we have and sit them all down include terd and a few other top notch prospects close the door and explain to them that they can become the braves of yesteryear they have a real chance to do some special things in this game i.e. win multiple championships and win the love and adoration of millions of fans not just in the atlanta area but all over the united states.
with all the talent we have especially on the mound and the players we have added bourn uggs the future is real bright in atlanta if the organization makes the right moves.
jmho
go braves
Braves FANS Do NOT/HAVE NEVER "torched cars"!!!!
May 16th, 2012
2:54 pm
aJeff Schultz… SHAME on you!!!… Are you trying to get Braves Fans to “TORCH cars”??? We have NEVER done that!!!
DetroitBraves
May 16th, 2012
3:05 pm
It’s about dollars and years, but everyone knows that. Catchers don’t generally age well into their 30s. We can probably all name some exceptions but that’s generally true. I don’t envy the Braves position. His contributions would be sorely missed given how difficult it is to find an offensive catcher, but better that than to sign him to a long-term deal only to have him decline precipitously at a significant proprotion of the budget. Personally, I would probably take what the club might consider to be a realistic shot but if the initial offer is well below what he and his agent are thinking in terms of dollars or years I think I would quickly let it go. Last I heard, Bethancourt’s glove (and arm) should play so well in the majors the Braves shouldn’t feel cornered into extending McCann.
JBD
May 16th, 2012
3:22 pm
I love McCann but the Braves can’t afford to pay him. He is the best offensive catcher in MLB but you have to remember it is at catcher. McCann usually bats fourth or fifth in our lineup and he has never had a 100 rbi season with his last 2 being in the 70’s. It is too demanding of a position to pour money into because the Braves can easily get a starter to have 65 rbis for a lot less. While the Braves heart loves McCann the brain has to realize that his best seasons are behind him and he will not remain productive at an elite level for the number of years the market will bear for him. They should utilize the option to get 1 more year out his prime and try to resign Bourn with the money freed up from lowe. Then use chippers money and try to get David Wright or a power hitting left fielder to replace chippers production.
Nativebird
May 16th, 2012
3:45 pm
And who is going to replace chipper…francisco? Are you kidding me? No…..that money will have to be invested in another big time player. There are no “savings” when chipper retires….they need a replacement, if not at third…elsewhere. Face it…Liberty Media has to come up with some more payroll..or this franchise will continue to languish. A turnstile minor league player machine producing good cheap young 3 year players for other clubs with payroll.
Aardvark Base
May 16th, 2012
3:54 pm
Here’s the bottom line, Jeff. The NL needs to adopt the Designated Hitter rule. With this season’s loss of Pujols and Fielder, it is now very evident. McCann will be MUCH more valuable to the Braves as a DH in years 4-5-6 of a contract. Otherwise, I think you have to let him go to a team that is willing to pay him much more to be a part-time Catcher, part-time DH. And therefore play 155 games instead of 130.
AlanFalcon
May 16th, 2012
4:00 pm
If B-Mac is not resigned by the Braves I’ll past on them completely and take as many fans as I can
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tana
May 16th, 2012
4:13 pm
The issue isn’t if McCann is a hometown hero or not, but his age. Are you willing to give a long term contract to a position that is not an everyday position for a 30+ year old. His defense is no Rossesk defense, so it will only decline. His hitting is no Hall of Fame hitting, it will decline. If you want to keep the core, someone is the odd ball out. To keep the Freemans, Heywards, Prados, Hansons, and Kimbrels, we have to cut ties with the position where we actually have young prospects.
I love McCann but business is business and I garuntee if he DHes in the AL his career will be extended 3 or more years than if he keeps catching here in Atlanta. He isn’t the heart of our line up, he isn’t the spark. He is simply a solid player who has shined during bad seasons with the Braves. Mind you all we have only been to the playoffs twice in his career, and the first he didn’t even start more games than Estrada. So in theory is he even “that key piece”?
I’d much rather spend the money on Bourn sparking it up in the leadoff role than McCann hitting into shifts 75% of the time.
urban redneck
May 16th, 2012
4:17 pm
pay bourn instead of b-mac
Skeezix
May 16th, 2012
4:55 pm
I love Brian and would hate to see him leave. I would love for him to be a Brave for his entire career. But last year I asked the question (of Dave or Mark or Jeff, don’t remember who) – Can Freeman play another position (I never got an answer)? If he can, it is simple, move Freddie and put Brian at first. If Freeman can’t move, then the Braves have to trade Brian. Soon, Brian’s body won’t be able to take the strain of being a starting catcher and he will probably be better off, and extend his career, as a DH/back up catcher in the AL.
Skeezix
May 16th, 2012
5:00 pm
……….and of all things, Derek Lowe is 6 and 1.
Go figure.
Marvin Mangrum
May 16th, 2012
5:47 pm
Regardless of what the Braves give him, if he doesnt hit 30 homers, drive in 100 runs or hit for more than 250, he aint worth a mil, much less $12 mil, much less whatever they are asking, and for you to say, ” and the bad taste in the mouth after Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz deals”, look here after you been paid to do ALL THAT, you aint paid again for doing all that, you are paid for doing all that AGAIN. Those guys, Aaron, Murphy, etc, etc, etc and all that, they werent worth it, thats why they were let go. And Mac aint hitting, he aint throwing out runners and at least he quit hitting 4th. And one more thang, hes making $11 mil this year, Id take a tenth of that and run screaming, so you know, you need to get real. MaCann aint worth $100k right now, and you say just give him a raise we suckers will pay it. I aint been, this will be the 3rd year, and my first game was Koufax in 66. And it aint worth it.
Don’t re-sign McCann
May 16th, 2012
9:29 pm
Don’t re-sign McCann… He is clearly trending down stat wise and his defense will suck in another few years… Sign Bourne to a long term deal.
flagboy?
May 16th, 2012
9:31 pm
. . “at worse” or “at worst”?
pretty sure it’s the latter.
Can McCann
May 16th, 2012
9:32 pm
McCann’s defense is below average. His hitting becoming mediocre for his position. I wouldn’t even pick up his option for next year. Trade him now while you can get something.
mace224
May 16th, 2012
10:18 pm
Let’s see. Francisco to replace Jones, Bethancourt replaces McCann. This is depressing.
The truth is...
May 16th, 2012
11:38 pm
McCann has never hit over 24 home runs or had 94 RBI’s in his career, and he hasn’t hit over 300. in 5 years. He’s an overrated hometown hero. Sorry guys but it’s true.
Morning Reads for Thursday, May 17th — Peach Pundit
May 17th, 2012
5:35 am
[...] A few that I like… – Marlins: 8, Braves: 4 – A minor league homerun derby will be held on the USS Yorktown. – Here are 16 misperceptions about China. – A teaser poster for the new Anchorman flick was released this week. – Peter Suderman reviews The Dictator. – Times have been announced for the Chick-fil-a kickoff games. – Here are five great shows for a recession. – Will the Braves re-sign Brian McCann? [...]
Chris
May 17th, 2012
7:31 am
“McCann is the heir apparent to Chipper as the heart and soul of this team. The Braves should reward him the way the Cards did Molina.”
Dawg left out an important point: Molina is a leader, effective field general, great defensively, and helps makes average pitching staffs better. McCann is none of these. He is a hitter and that’s about it. Don’t overpay for this guy.
Grayson Scott
May 17th, 2012
12:03 pm
As a lifelong NL fan, this really hurts to say, but NL teams are at a competitive disadvantage in situations like this because of the AL’s DH rule. NL teams are reticent to give market value contracts for the same number of years to certain players, i.e. Pujols, Fielder, McCann?, etc., because AL teams figure if they lose it defensively they still can hit in the DH position at the tail end of the contract.
Who knows besides McCann and his inner circle how much money will play a part in this process, but I if he’s offered 5 years and $100 million by the Braves and 10 years and $200 million by an AL team, I’d be shocked more that Ted Bundy was in the electric chair if he signed with the hometown team.
Larvell Blanks
May 17th, 2012
12:14 pm
There were fan backlashes after the way the Braves handled the exits of John Smoltz and Tom Glavine.
That may be true, but as I recall, most of the backlash was about how pissily the players handled their exit, with Glavine complaining about being mistreated (after being paid a million dollars to try to make the team) and Smoltz basically whining about everything. If the Braves don’t end up re-signing McCann, I think McCann will handle it in a much classier way (and will be well-paid by someone else).