2:00pm: McCann will require surgery on his knee that will sideline him for the next four to six weeks, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports (via Twitter).
It seems doubtful that’ll change the team’s immediate approach all that much, though if Stassi is struggling in a regular role three weeks from now, perhaps the organization would consider some type of addition behind the plate.
10:39am: The Astros will place Brian McCann back on the 10-day disabled list due to a right knee injury and will select the contract of Tim Federowicz from Triple-A Fresno in his place, as Jake Kaplan of The Athletic tweets. The Astros will also activate Joe Smith from the 10-day DL. Houston’s 40-man roster is currently at 38 players, so they won’t need to make a corresponding move for Federowicz’s addition, though they’ll need to open a 25-man spot for Smith.
McCann has now been on the DL three times with right knee soreness dating back to August 2017. For a 34-year-old who was long one of the league’s most durable backstops, perhaps that’s not exactly surprising. Still, whether it’s due to his apparently ongoing knee discomfort or simply due to a decline in skills, McCann is currently enduring the worst season of his Major League career. Through 173 plate appearances, he’s batting just .206/.283/.323 with five homers and three doubles. He’s the league’s second-slowest runner as well, per Statcast, topping only Albert Pujols in terms of sprint speed (22.6 feet per second).
Max Stassi will serve as the primary catcher in place of McCann — and it’s very arguable that despite McCann’s contract, that should be the arrangement through season’s end. The 27-year-old Stassi is hitting .255/.335/.482 with seven homers and 11 doubles through 158 plate appearances so far in 2018, and while he’s been below average in terms of throwing out would-be base thieves (22 percent to McCann’s 33 percent), Stassi rates as the top framing catcher in the league, per Baseball Prospectus. In fact, Stassi leads all big league catchers in BP’s Fielding Runs Above Average metric.
As for Federowicz, the 30-year-old journeyman will return to the ‘Stros for a second time in 2018. He came up earlier this season and went 1-for-7 in a tiny sample of work. Federowicz has turned in a brilliant season in Triple-A so far, hitting .328/.404/.560 through 151 PAs. That’s largely how Federowicz’s career has gone to this point. In parts of eight Triple-A campaigns, he’s mashed at a .306/.376/.508 clip, but he’s managed just a .195/.243/.312 batting line through 325 PAs in the Majors.
so we couldn’t bring up some kid instead that bum Federowicz?
no reason to commit a 40 man spot to Stubbs unless McCann is going to be out a while. they’ll want those spots later in the season for Tucker/Whitley/James
Why do fans think back up catchers or 3rd catchers are suppose to hit like an above average major league players. Most teams starting catcher are below average hitters. About time you people figure out teams prefer to have their catchers be defensively reliable and don’t really care if they can’t hit at all.
Roberto Perez is about the best example I can come up with to support your argument. Great defensively, but old boy hits like a pitcher. I’m struggling to come up with a backup C who had a formidable stick. Maybe Manny Sanguillen late in his career or Joe Nolan when he backed up Johnny Bench at the tail end of his career.
No reason to start another guys’s service clock to be backup C, especially when the veteran call-up is OPSing .964 in AAA and the now starting big-league C looks like their long-term answer offensively and defensively already.
You’re a bum!
I would agree about service time, but Stubbs is 25 years old already. He will already be pushing his mid 30s by the time he reaches free agency. They must not think he is ready or they don’t truly believe in him as a long term option.
Will be interesting to see how Stassi does playing basically everyday for a while
I can’t believe both Pujols and McCann are slower than BigSexy!
Wash your mouth out with soap.
I am stunned that Victor Martinez can outrun not just one , but two players! Having watched entire infields playing in the outfield when Victor bats, you could tell me McCann riding piggyback on Pujols would be faster and I would believe it.
Sweet Stassi Molassy
Also, in case a.j. Hinch is reading this, i need 5 starts behind the dish for Gattis otherwise his fantasy value is shot for next year, k thnx luv u buhbye
I need 20 in my league and that ain’t happening
It’s not starts it’s just games played. I wouldn’t mind seeing him 1 inning at a time back there lol
Would still like to see the trade for Realmuto. Then get either Hand or Britain and we are set.
I don’t believe it’s that easy, and I don’t think Britian is available for trade.
you probably could get Wales and Scotland maybe even northern Ireland but you’re kidding yourself if you think you can get Britain
I’d much rather have Scotland than Britain anyway
Package for Realmuto builds on Kyle Tucker or maybe Whittley. You okay with that?
Tucker and Whitley will not be going anywhere, if Luhnow was willing to move then we would have Sale. He knows the key to being able to afford Altuve, Springer, Correa, Bregman long term is to also have some low cost players playing big roles. He plans on keeping the whole core so he will not move one of those top guys. I’d be shocked if Alvarez was moved either. Trading from our farm starts at the Martin, Bukauskas level, and Luhnow has proven he is fine not making a deal if it requires him moving someone he declares off limits
Agree with everything, but we have a lot of bait available for Realmuto. I would have Fisher, White, Reed, and Kemp, in with that minor league group. We can also have Keuchel on the block, as we will lose him next year anyway.
Please cite the example of a team big market contending team trading away a rental starter whose one of the most popular players? Just not gonna happen.
You are telling me what Luhnow wouldnt do and I’m telling you what Miami will require. The Nationals turned down Miami when they approached them about their high end OF prospects.
Britain? like.. The GREAT Britain? u kiddin me? untouchable
More like mediocre britain, amiright?
Tucker and Whitley won’t be around much longer then
Both trades would would be costly, but imagine the end result. A genuine power closer, and sorely needed lefty. The most complete catcher in baseball. Hitting over .300 with power, solid defense, strong arm, and good speed on the bases. As long as we keep Whitley and Tucker, I say, Go For It!
The Orioles are not going anywhere, so I dought their owner will nix a deal for him again.
Astros should take a look at Wilson Ramos. He’s a rental that could really give them a boost in the line-up.
Astros don’t need a Catcher. They need bullpen help or maybe someone in the OF. Stassi and gattis are better than most teams have without injuries, case in point, Brewers, Nats, Indians, Mariners, red Sox, etc.
When is the last time a team won the World Series trading for a starting catcher.
Teams care more about their pitchers being familiar with their catcher than if he hits .300. The Astros aren’t going to possibly ruin the chemistry to make a big spashly move by trading for Realmuto or Perez.
Cervelli? Should be available..
He will be, but he’s still on the concussion DL. Been out for longer than the required 7 days, so there may be an issue there.
I know it’s highly unlikely, but I’d love if they traded for Salvy. Salvy is one of my all-time favorite Royals but I just don’t think his heart is in for a rebuild. Plus I kind of like the Astros, and if he goes anywhere I’d like to see it be there.
That could actually be ideal. Have salvy for this Rew year window of pennants. He’s a great energizer on a winner. Childhood friend of altuve . Could be one of a few good fits. Charge a rebuild in a bottom 3 league wide finish this year. Hope Melendez is a replacement in a couple years.
Hoping that McCann recovers quickly and fully from his surgery.
Where’s Peter O’Brien at these days?
He’s not doing great in double-A, but he still showing some rave review worthy power.
How’s his defense though?
Well Stassi just got HBP in the hand and pulled from the game. This could get really interesting really quick. Hopefully not. Hopefully Stassi will be back tomorrow.