Should the Braves keep Brian McCann? For one year, yes
Brian McCann packs his gear. (AJC photo by Phil Skinner)
Brian McCann underwent shoulder surgery Tuesday and is expected to miss four to six months. This came at an awkward moment for both player and club. The Braves have until three days after the World Series ends to exercise their option to keep McCann for the 2013 season at $12 million. Should they decline, McCann would become a free agent.
To allow McCann to walk away — it’s doubtful he would be responsive to any Braves’ overture to re-sign at a lower price — is within the Braves’ contractual rights. Letting him leave, however, would not be in their best immediate interests.
Even as we stipulate that the McCann of the past 15 months has been a shadow of the man who made the All-Star team six years running, we must also acknowledge that, assuming a return to health, he’s an above-average catcher. The worthy backup David Ross notwithstanding, the Braves will need a No. 1 catcher in 2013.
Asked Wednesday if McCann’s surgery will affect the Braves’ choice, general manager Frank Wren said via phone: “It’s not a topic I’m discussing. We have three guys who have options, and we never discuss the decision to pick up an option until the deadline date.”
Which makes corporate sense: Why say anything until you’re required to say it? But there seems no compelling reason not to keep McCann for one year more, and no, to answer the next question, saving $12 million isn’t reason enough.
There are times when it might have been. The Braves traded Javier Vazquez, who’d finished fourth in the National League Cy Young balloting, in December 2009 because they weren’t crazy about paying another $11.5 million. This offseason is different. Chipper Jones retired, taking his $14 million salary with him. Derek Lowe’s partially offloaded contract is expiring, so that’s another $10 million. Jair Jurrjens, whose career fizzle is the strangest this franchise has seen since Nick Esasky got vertigo, is surely gone, and that’s $5.5 million. Michael Bourn, who made $6.8 million in 2012, is expected to demand nearly three times that in free agency, and it’s unlikely the Braves will meet his price.
Besides, the Braves had always planned to keep McCann through 2013, so it’s not as if this $12 million catches them by surprise. In sum, this is the first time since Liberty Media bought the club that money is less an object.
That’s the financial side. As for the physical: Catchers tend to age fast, and McCann hasn’t been nearly as good lately. (He was benched for the Braves’ one and only postseason game, a move once unthinkable.) Some of his decline — according to Baseball-Reference.com, McCann’s wins-over-replacement number this past season was a tepid 0.6; Dan Uggla’s was 2.7 — can be traced to injury. But how much?
That’s surely what the Braves will spend 2013 trying to determine. There will be no option attached to McCann next fall. Either he’s re-signed to a new contract or he’s a free agent. For a team that has reason to question the wisdom of re-upping the 30-year-old Uggla for five years at $62 million, the matter of what to do with a catcher who’s approaching 30 will be even more problematic.
Loading ...On the one hand, McCann has been a great servant — really good player, really good teammate, really good guy. On the other, he’ll be a catcher approaching 30, and with the younger Freddie Freeman at first base there’s no other positional landing spot. McCann’s best bet, at least monetarily, might be to look to the American League, where he could double as a designated hitter.
By autumn 2013, the Braves also will have a better feel for Christian Bethancourt, who’s 21 and ranked by MLB.com as the organization’s No. 2 prospect. Bethancourt isn’t ready — he hit .243 with an on-base percentage of .275 in Class AA and broke his left hand to boot — but he’s considered such a good defender that he stands to get a big-league look soon.
Ultimately the Braves will face the decision: To stick with the older and more expensive McCann, or to tap the younger and cheaper Bethancourt as the new No. 1? If McCann doesn’t return to form in 2012, the answer will be obvious. If he does, nothing will be obvious.
One year after losing Chipper, a B-Mac exit would be tough to take. That said, the quickest way to clog a payroll is to keep players who don’t figure to be half as good by the time their contracts lapse. Given that McCann isn’t yet 29, the Braves have every reason to bet $12 million that he’ll be better next year. The tougher call will be when they have to ask (and they will soon): How good will Brian McCann be at 34?
By Mark Bradley
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286 comments Add your comment
HB#1
October 19th, 2012
4:40 pm
For David: WAR good, McCann Bad.
HB#1
October 19th, 2012
4:42 pm
Sorry I couldn’t explain the subtleties of WAR in 120 characters or less. Just skip the long posts, read the short ones, and contribute to the conversation if you like. Is it really that much of an inconvenience for you to have to scroll past a long post?
Sambo 4 Rambo
October 19th, 2012
5:17 pm
Some of you are plain stupid. Theyve made it quite clear that they have planned for his 12 mill in 2013. Its not a suprise. Did i see where someone suggested him playing third?? I wet my panties I laughed so hard! Mac moves about as well as syrup from a jar, and his poor arm strength has declined every single year. I truely believe no base runner in MLB fears being thrown out by Mac. But with that said, hes still the best option around to fill in the hole. Worry about it next year, our focus needs to be on CF, LF or 3B
David Puddy
October 19th, 2012
8:42 pm
HB#1…..good point.
BravesFanSince80s
October 19th, 2012
9:56 pm
Someone who comes on here and claims we’re stupid for our opinion and then completely ignores the pretty large class of FA catcher that will be available this off-season, play WWWWWWAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY better defense than McCann, cost probably less than half what we’d pay McCann, and then try to claim McCann is our “best option” need to do a little looking in the mirror when calling others stupid…
Kandy Krowley
October 19th, 2012
11:35 pm
No matter how poorly someone performs, you should keep them around.
P Rose
October 20th, 2012
9:22 am
Whacked Out Fan
October 17th, 2012
5:26 pm
Any thought of converting BMAC into a third baseman? Just a wild thought.
Many years ago the Big Red Machine converted Johnny Bench from catcher to third base. It extended his career.
Also, Joe Torre was a catcher with the Braves. He was converted to third base by St. Louis after being traded for Orlando Cepeda in 1969.
He went on to win a batting title, RBI crown and MVP.
Another former catcher that was converted was Dale Murphy — his move was to Center Field and that turned out pretty good too…
With Chipper gone and the Braves ever so famous for no longer signing big name/mone free agents — BMAC at third isn’t a bad idea….
How About it Frank”n”Wren….Freddie GGGGGG?
McCann to third!!!!
_______________________________________________
I love this idea. It appears to me that Mac’s troubles are a result of his being flat worn-out. Maybe that is what happens as you approach 30 and you’re doing 200 squats every night. Let the young guy catch, move Big Mac over to third, and watch his resurgence begin.
BravesFanSince80s
October 20th, 2012
10:23 am
you’d have better success if you move Freeman to 3B and McCann to 1B guys, Mac can’t move well enough to play third. Not gonna happen…
David Puddy
October 20th, 2012
10:44 am
Moving all of these fat bubbas around the infield will not yield a championship caliber ball club. Perhaps we should spend millions on aging FAs, no?
chase
October 20th, 2012
10:48 am
need to try and re-work that option and extend him for 3 years at a total of 21 million (7 mil a year)
then re-sign ROSS
Then try and get a hold on BOTH UPTON BROTHERS and move PRADO to 3rd
or go for broke and Sign one UPTON or PAGAN and bring in JOSH HAMILTON!
BravesFanInNashville
October 20th, 2012
12:18 pm
First of all before I say this, I’ve been a huge fan of Brian McCann’s for years. Loved how he signed long term when Francouer turned down a similar opportunity with the Braves.
He can’t play third base for many reasons.
1.) Just like he can’t throw out runners as a catcher and therefor everyone runs on him, he’d be the most bunted on 3B in the league because his mobility is a snails pace faster than a parking meter and when he does get to the ball late he doesn’t have enough arm to make up for the extra steps he just gave the batter.
2.) He would have no range to field balls hit into the hole between 3B and SS or shots hit down the line.
3.) He could not come in and make the bear handed play on a slow roller that we’ve seen Chipper make so masterfully for the last decade and 1/2. Those balls would be automatic infield hits unless the hitter fell down out of the batters box.
The best case scenario for the Braves and Brian McCann is that he comes back healthy because he rehabs really really hard and gets himself in the best shape of his life since he’s playing for a contract next year. He’ll never have a bigger incentive than this winter to commit himself to a training program. Working out this year will literally pay him back many millions of dollars. If he does’t do it this winter he’ll get 1/2 of what he could have earned if he reported to camp in great shape.
Even if he does get into and stay in great shape there is the question of his eyesight. That hasn’t been an easy fix either. As people age those problems will only get worse. He’s so talented and a really easy person to root for but as a business decision this is tricky because it has many downsides for the Braves.
I think the Braves will pick up the option (which may not be the best move) and see how he does when he can start playing. Insurance will pay for his games missed so they’ll only have to pay him for true availability. It’s really possible we could see a trade is he’s healthy and playing well to an AL team next July or before.
Not Prudent
October 20th, 2012
12:27 pm
If he’s not going to be ready until May or so, cut him NOW and use that money toward acquiring STUDS in LF & CF; re-sign Ross and pair him with a good defensive catcher until Bethancourt is ready to step in in 2014.
I’m a McCann fan but lets get real; his skills have diminished and he’s coming off major arm surgery.
Time to move on …
Mike McDonald
October 20th, 2012
1:37 pm
“As of now, the Yankees are officially the Atlanta Braves. They have a nice little season. They qualify for the playoffs. And then bad stuff happens to them.”
So wrote ace NYT sports writer, George Vecsey. The thrust of the article lamented the Yankees’ practice of overpaying for aging not-so-super stars. However, the quote clearly indicates that Atlanta is the MLB poster child for feckless playoff performance.
Absent a total change of ownership and front office and field management, there’s virtually no hope for improvement in Atlanta from the last 20-year pattern of the Braves, under several ownerships.
Speaking of George Vecsey of NYT, he is one of a long line of great NYC sports writers who intimately know the game, incisively write about it and remain fiercely independent. No homers or hummers, there.
Choke full of vomit
October 20th, 2012
3:34 pm
Remember the time when Johnny Estrada went down(good hitter,def. catch as well), guess who they called up, young up ‘n’ comin’ B-mac. But man, o’l Johnny didn’t do too bad, had very good plate discipline. Clutch player, went w/ the pitch, o’l yanni was Top Notch!
Reason
October 20th, 2012
7:06 pm
Keep him a back-up catcher.
Mark Bradley
October 20th, 2012
7:07 pm
Georgia wins toss. Elects to kick. (Or defer, to be technical.)
David Puddy
October 20th, 2012
8:01 pm
Georgia is not relevant at this point…..other than tailgating, buying hats, t-shirts and, jackets with the logo.
The rev al
October 21st, 2012
8:55 am
Comments by F. Wren suggest he believes the braves are set for the future. No way they will spend enough to keep Bourne which will be a Huge loss to the team. He is an amazing fielder, a threat as a lead off man to steal the bases every time he gets on base and a solid .280-.300 hitter. Braves management will pocket most of the money from chippers contract and the ten million they no longer have to pay for Derrick Lowe. All they have to do is find a journeyman third baseman and center fielder and all will be well. Meanwhile Washington is becoming a top tier team committed to winning as are the Phillies. It will be a while before the braves get to the playoffs again.
Sambo 4 Rambo
October 21st, 2012
4:25 pm
Going into free agent listings and looking for a catcher this year is waaaaaaayyyyyyyy off the mark. Considering we have the best one – two catcher duo in baseball. And i dont see where signing ross will be an issue. You focus on that issue next year when the contract is up (like i stated) and whos to say the kid dont bounce back from surgery and mash!? Might wanna look at the field and see where we have blank voids and focus on replacing a legend……..and just like the braves were, the 80’s are useless!
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
October 21st, 2012
5:53 pm
The Braves will obviously pick up Mac’s option for 2013 and it is the right thing to for the franchise, as Offensive catchers like McCann are few and far between.
That said, I concur with previous posts. The only way Mac stays in Atlanta beyond 2013 is if he moves to 3rd base. Otherwise the wear and tear behind the plate make it financially untenable for our Bravos to invest in Mac for another 4-6 years.
BravesFanSince80s
October 21st, 2012
8:11 pm
Brian McCann didn’t have surgery to repair a hangnail Sambo 4 WHATEVER, he had major reconstructive surgery on his throwing shoulder. He has knee issues, back issues, EYESIGHT issues, and hasn’t really been able to catch everyday for quite a while. Now if the option year were for a lot less money, we might not be having this discussion, but the fact remains that his option year will be the most he’s ever been paid as a Brave and given the circumstnaces, that just isn’t a smart financial move for a mid-market club. You don’t tie up 15 percent of your annual payroll on one player coming off a poor prior season and a half and major surgery. One more point of contention, YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE A CATCHER WHO HITS BETTER THAN ANY IN THE NL TO WIN!!!!!!!!!!
graphite
October 22nd, 2012
8:18 am
Better spend some of that money with the Indians to get the curse removed.
Hatfieldgeoff
October 22nd, 2012
8:56 am
Brian McCaan is a good hitter whose defense has always been overrated. He has an average arm and lets quite a few balls get by him. Even sitting out one day a week, the position is just beating him up so he is a much weaker hitter the last two months of each season. He needs to get into better shape for the rigors of playing catcher. Again this would probably cut down on injuries and give him more energy throughout the season. If he doesn’t my guess is next year will be the same as this one and he will be somewhere else in 2014.
Bobby Cerasuolo
October 22nd, 2012
10:39 am
Here’s what the Braves really should do. Pick up McCann option then trade Uggla Pastornicky and Spruill to the O’s for Luis Exposito Chris Davis and Nolan Reimold. Now with McCann while he is rehabbing move him to 3rd a move I think will prolong his career and make room for the younger players then sign Upton and Pagan heres the lineup for next year.
Pagan LF
Simmons SS
Prado 2nd
Heyward rf
Upton CF
Freeman 1st
McCann 3rd
Exposito/Gattis C
BravesFanSince80s
October 22nd, 2012
12:15 pm
Brian McCann can not play 3B in the major leagues!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ARG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What the hell is the matter with you people?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yuuup
October 22nd, 2012
2:36 pm
I remember something like this happening about 6-7 years ago except it was McCann replacing a older and injured Johnny Estrada. I love Mac as much as the next guy, but unfortunately for him this is a what have you done for me lately business.
Mac is a very average at best defensive catcher, his throwing out base runners is horrible, and he just came off the worst offensive production of his career. When you add that to a 12 million dollar payday, it usually doesn’t bode well for that player. I like him, but the Braves should probably go cheaper and younger at the catcher position. I am sure there are several available catchers on the trade and free agent markets that could give us the numbers that Mac gave us this past season at a fraction of the price. Besides, Heyward, Freeman, Prado, and Kimbrel are the new faces of this franchise now that Chipper is gone.
HB#1
October 22nd, 2012
4:21 pm
Everyone who’s suggesting we move McCann to thirdbase is clueless about baseball. Period. You can safely ignore those comments.
HB#1
October 22nd, 2012
4:21 pm
Everyone who’s suggesting we move McCann to thirdbase is clueless about baseball. Period. You can safely ignore those comments.
TLHRob
October 22nd, 2012
4:56 pm
Kudos for the Esasky reference Mark. That one was really going back a while now, but definitely on point…have to wonder about having that big RH power bat in the lineup in 91 and 92.
steve
October 22nd, 2012
8:19 pm
I think the Braves owe B-Mac his option year based on everything he has done for the organization, not his fault he took a beating behind the plate, we have so many good young players that if our owners really cared about winning championships they would up our payroll to 120 million and we could get great free agent players instead of bargain basement ones, no brainer in we are so close to having a dominating team and those types of teams bring a lot more fans to the ball park which in turn means more revenue, if they don”t care about winning then they need to sell now .
Peter
October 22nd, 2012
11:27 pm
How about the GENIUS of WREN……!!!!!!!!!!!!
Both Blanco and Infante are going to the World Series……. Obviously they both sucked and that is why he traded them…….
Gosh..we got Rick Ankiel, and Uggla…. are we not lucky Braves fans !
BravesFanSince80s
October 22nd, 2012
11:38 pm
the Braves don’t “owe” any player they’ve already made quite wealthy in years past when said player has become an injury liability. Hank didn’t finish in ATL, Murph didn’t finish in ATL, nuff said…
Omar Infante
October 23rd, 2012
7:12 am
I miss Atlanta and all my fans there, but I am very excited to be playing in a World Series this season.
Thank you, Frank Wren. I hope you are satisfied with Dan Uggla and all the money you are paying for a slow, poor-fielding .220 hitter who hits an occasional solo home run.
Sincerely,
Omar
Peter
October 23rd, 2012
8:14 am
For all Braves fans who are looking for out fielders. Perhaps Blanco will be a free agent ?
Please tell me we will ever be a contender to win it all with Wren at the helm…… HIS TRACK RECORD IS HORRIBLE…STARTING BACK IN HIS DAYS IN BALTIMORE.
Fredi's humidor
October 23rd, 2012
11:08 am
Look for Wren to go after Josh Willingham (34 in February) & give up several pitching prospects.
He strikes out a lot & will make a nice compliment to Uggla, likely hitting well below his career average once in a Braves uniform..
Beachy working on patience as he begins throwing program | Atlanta Braves
October 23rd, 2012
1:07 pm
[...] The Braves have until three days after the World Series to come to a decision on the options for Brian McCann ($12 million), Tim Hudson ($9 million) and Paul Maholm ($6.5 million). I’d be surprised if all three aren’t picked up, but we’ll see how that goes. In case you missed it, here’s DOB’s story on McCann’s shoulder surgery and Mark Bradley’s take on the Braves’ upcoming decision. [...]