ESPN.com’s Buster Olney discussed Brian McCann’s next contract, Torii Hunter’s next team and a possible trade for the Yankees in his latest Insider-only column. Here are the highlights…
- There’s been little traction in extension talks between the Braves and McCann, according to Olney. However, the Braves control the catcher’s rights through 2013 with a $12MM club option. Olney suggests the 28-year-old could ask for more than Yadier Molina obtained from the Cardinals ($75MM for five years).
- Olney expects many teams to have interest in Hunter when he hits free agency this offseason. The right fielder has said he’ll be looking to sign with a team that has a real shot at winning the World Series.
- The Yankees would be open to dealing a starter, but haven't discussed any trades involving Freddy Garcia so far.
6 years 90-100 million for McCann and the Braves, and that is a hometown discount, but they both love each other so maybe.
I doubt Atlanta goes longer than 5 years if they make him a legit offer. That would put McCann at 34 which you will probably start to see lower production in the next 2 years anyways. Yadier Molina is a little different because while he is more of a defensive catcher. I could see offering something around 4-years $65M
If Bethancourt is ready to go by 2014 and Mac is asking anywhere near 20 a year, which is a huge chunk of the 90-95 mil a year budget, it may be time to part ways. I love the guy but if Bethancourt is as good as advertised, it may not be a smart move to lock Mac down for that long for that much money.
Agreed. I love McCann, and I couldn’t imagine him in another uniform, but the Braves simply can’t contend with one player taking up that much of their payroll.
with derek and chippers contracts coming off the books that will be enough to cover and still will be getting more bang for the buck. i know alot of the kids will start getting expensive but with chipper retiring he is the only logical replacement for the leader of this team. unless heyward steps up his play and club house skills. he still would be awful young to be the leader
I don’t think Bethancourt is as good as advertised, but would make an excellent backup.
I’d offer 6/85 or 5/80.
Exactly and I am a big Bethancourt fan. They do have a pretty big decision to make but I think they will look to see how Bethancourt does in the minors this year and try to go from there
That’s an awful lot for McCann I think. The big question of course is how long he can last at catcher. If he puts up .285/.357/.485 (his career line) at catcher for 6 years then maybe he’s worth $90MM. But he can’t play anywhere else except first, and if he has to go to first towards the end of that deal (ignore Freddie Freeman for a moment) then he’s grossly overpaid to be a league-average slugger by first baseman standards.
Torii Hunter has been talking about wanting to stay with the Angels for the past two years because he believes they have a really good shot at winning the WS, but I hope that if thats all it really is about, he will take some kind of discount. The Angels don’t have much money left, and Hunter will be a great option off the bench, that way we could have Trout in Left
Trout in left sounds fishy to me. Center would be better.
Wells – Left
Bourjos – Center
Trout – Right
Honestly, Trout’s value is maximized at center. Putting him in right reduces his value, because his value comes from a decent bat but having the ability to play a premium position.
Bourjos I would see if they could trade him. If they can get true value for him because he plays cf swap him, and stick anyone you got. People will overpay for cf.
Bourjos has a lock on center for many years to come.
I thought there was talk of trading Bourjos
Other teams inquire, but not going to happen. Izturas, Aybar, Trumbo are tradebait.
“Trout in left sounds fishy…”
I see what you did there!
Never bring a life to a pun fight.
-wtk
The question is does Torii Hunter give a team a real shot at winning the World Series.
As for Freddy Garcia, he’s a disaster. I fully expect an attempt by Dan Duquette to trade for him during some point during the 2012 season.
If you’re talking about yesterday’s game, he was a disaster. Too early to tell he is after the good year he had last year. Sure, chances are low he won’t repeat it, I’m just pointing out it’s far too early to say he’s a disaster.
Sounds like he is coming to St. Louis…. our kind of guy.
Of course there has been little traction between the Braves and Brian McCann because they are currently in the process of trying to make up for last seasons falter and talking about something that won’t become a true issue until another year and a half probably is a little lower on their agenda. Even after this year they have a whole ‘nother year of the guy so I doubt the talks will start this year. Plus, when have the Braves ever been a team that let’s their actual negotiations out into the public until they are complete? You never see “Braves close to extending…” or Braves close to signing…” I don’t think we’re gonna get news of this happening until it happens if you get my ddrift.
When you do the reports are usually false. Like the reports years ago saying we were close to signing Furcal or Griffey Jr or Burnett.