The Mets are discussing catcher James McCann in trades, reports Andy Martino of SNY. No specific clubs are mentioned as having interest and it doesn’t appear anything is close, but the discussions are notable nonetheless.
Going into yesterday, the club already had three catchers on their 40-man roster going into yesterday, with McCann joined by Tomas Nido and Francisco Álvarez. Last night, the club agreed to terms with Omar Narváez, adding a fourth catcher into the mix. That created immediate speculation that the club would look to move one of their other receivers, with McCann a fairly logical choice.
McCann, 33 in June, had a strong two-year run with the White Sox over 2019 and 2020, hitting .276/.334/.474 for a wRC+ of 114. He parlayed that into a four-year, $40.6MM deal with the Mets, but has taken a dip since then. He hit .232/.294/.349 in 2021 for a wRC+ of 80 and then dipped further to .195/.257/.282 this year for a wRC+ of 59. He also made multiple trips to the IL and only got into 61 games. Defensively, he’s been a bit below average in his Mets tenure, posting a -3 Defensive Runs Saved and a -0.8 from FanGraphs’ framing metric.
McCann’s deal was slightly backloaded, as he got a $600K signing bonus followed by salaries of $8MM in the first two seasons followed by $12MM in each of the two seasons to come. That leaves two years and $24MM still to be paid out. Given his underperformance, it makes sense for the club to see if any team is willing to take it off their hands.
They don’t really need the cost savings, since money seems to be no object under owner Steve Cohen. Roster Resource pegs their current payroll at $344MM with a competitive balance tax figure of $356MM. That’s miles beyond the top luxury tax tier of $293MM. Since the club is a second-time payor, they’ll pay a 90% tax on any spending beyond that $293MM figure. Given that obvious willingness to spend, they don’t need to pinch pennies by shedding McCann’s contract, but it’s worth pointing out that those high taxes mean shedding a contract would come with double savings. McCann’s contract comes with an annual CBT hit of $10.15MM, since it’s based on the average annual value of the deal. A 90% tax on that means $9.135MM, so moving McCann and and his $12MM salary would actually save the Mets almost $20MM.
Regardless, it’s unlikely that any club would want to take on that salary in full, given his disappointing performance over the past two seasons. The catching market no longer has the most exciting free agents like Willson Contreras, Christian Vázquez and others, but there are still a few names left. Teams like the Cubs, Diamondbacks, Astros, Giants, Pirates, Padres, Tigers, Rays, Angels, Marlins and Red Sox either have reported interest in catching upgrades or make sense for one. They might look into McCann but they could also just sign someone like Gary Sánchez, Roberto Pérez or Tucker Barnhart. Those players would likely be limited to one-year deals at significantly lower salary than what McCann is set to make.
If the Mets are truly motivated to get McCann out of the way, they would likely have to include something else in the deal or just eat a portion of his salary. Álvarez is one of the most highly-regarded prospects in the game but is considered a bat-first catcher at this point. It’s possible the club could carry three catchers with Álvarez frequently slotting in as the designated hitter. However, four catchers seems rather untenable, meaning that McCann and Nido will likely see their names in trade rumors until a deal comes together.
No teams are mentioned because nobody is pickup that contract. Hosmer has a better contract league min.
Well if you say so it must be true
The numbers say it.
“Facts are stupid things – stubborn things, should I say.” -Ronny Reagan
Ronny who?
Little known delegate of the Continental Congress, half brother of Herbie Hancock.
Considering that no team is mentioned, and considering it’s the Mets NY media, if there were any interested parties, the teams would’ve been mentioned. Attention-seekers always want the spotlight, so they let you know everything…when there is something to mention. In this case, pretty sure that there’s no interested party.
The Mets most likely are out there doing one of two things. 1 – Trying to trade him for someone else’s bad contract or 2) Begging someone to take him off their hands, and they’ll be willing to pay for him to go away in money and taking on a 28-year old Single A player.
But can Hosmer catch? How’s his framing?
Can McCann?
McCann can!!! I think his glove says “McCannon” on it.
Well if his gloves say it, it has to be true.
That’s how I know I’m the worlds greatest grandpa, even though I don’t have grandchildren
Somebody might pick up that contract. A small portion of it.
Correct…they call it league minimum
The Mets wanna trade him to the Cubs for Pete Crow Armstrong.
Last I checked PCW still had a lot of work to do.
Check again, boss.
Went over his head.
Flew all the way to Vegas…..
So, which outfielder/reliever does Texas acquire along with taking on McCants salary?
Bobby Bo
And Bret Saberhagen
Rangers: UNC Basketball legend Rashad McCants, Bobby Bo, and Bret Saberhagen.
Mets: Josh Jung
Throw in Strasburg and Jayson Werth and you’ve got a deal.
Who is McCants?
Phone had typing issues and autocorrect is stupid
*McCann
Oh my, an Ingenius play on McCann, how dastardly clever…
Now that I think of it, McCant Hit
McCants, an ingenious word ploy on McCann, how dastardly clever…
University of North Carolina legend Rashad McCants (2002-2005)
Wow a 3 year old basketball player
I imagine Cohen is absolutely fine wasting money rather than trading anything of value.
He’s no upgrade for most teams.
He played well in Chicago. I’d like to see him return to the White Sox. Perhaps the team might then trade Grandal for prospects while paying down some of Grandal’s salary
We’re probably about to see a 3-way trade that sends Danny Jansen to the Mets, Alejandro to the Angels, and James McCann headed back to the Blue Jays for some reason. Prospects would go to Toronto with McCann, maybe a few to the Mets, and Cavan Biggio or someone to the Angels.
So the Jays give up two catchers, and Biggio, for McCann and prospects? Why would they do that?
They are afraid of paying the Catcher Hoarder penalties in the new CBA annex.
If the Mets attach a good enough prospect, Bloom will bite
Why in the hell would Toronto trade two better Catchers just to pick up McCann and trade away Biggio?
I don’t know what universe you’re in.
I always love seeing the trade suggestions of Mets fans.
Do you know he’s a Mets fan? Either way, I read it as a joke. Maybe it needed a /sarc alert.
You’re quite the jealous little fish fan, aren’t you? Sooo jealous of us because we have a team that’s not afraid to spend. Meanwhile your general womanager is making your team worse with every move she makes. Enjoy!
This is a little kid lol
I think you are on to something vaderzim. Just ignore these haters.
Edit meant on something
lol
Lol. R u for real? Hahaha
I always thought the McCann-Mets deal didn’t make a ton of sense. It was for too many guaranteed years and too many dollars overall.
Should’ve been 2 years/$18M w/ a pair of $2M buyouts on a pair of $12M options.
Guarantee that the White Sox wish they would have kept him over Grandal( who can’t get a hit ever in close games)
Amen to that.
You must not have seen McCann bat recently.
Cubs would be a good fit and would probably take all the salary if the Mets attached a prospect or two. Cubs need a second catcher and have a ton of payroll flexibility. Mets would get off about 40 mil once you take into account McCann’s salary and the luxury tax implications.
Get them to throw in Carrasco too.
How often do teams pay with prospects to eat that much salary?
Pirates gave Liriano to the Jays, who was owed far less money, and attached two top 15 prospects… Reese Mcguire and Harold Ramirez.
Definitely a salary dump. But that was how many years ago? Liriano wasn’t owed as much money and didn’t have as much negative value. The very next year Houston traded 2 months of him for 6 years of Teoscar Hernandez. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen but asking dor examples. People say this on every bad contract but rarely does it happen and not for much money. Lets dump Ellsberry salary prospects. Lets dump Hosmer. Lets dump Corbin. Would take a ton of prospect capital.
Fwiw, I’m a Cubs fan. You’re right it doesn’t happen a ton, but imo it should happen more. The Mets should be willing to do it, because even though their money seems limitless, if McCann isn’t worth 2/24 (he’s not), he’s definitely not worth the 2/40+ he’s actually costing them. They can reinvest that money in the pen or save it for the sake of deadline acquisitions. The Cubs should be willing to do it because they have the salary flexibility, they only have 1 catcher right now and 0 under contract for 2024, and they should be doing everything possible to strengthen the farm. I don’t even think it would take a marquee prospect to be worth it for them. One or two guys in the Mets organizational 10-20 range or thereabouts.
Stick to making instructional videos, Mr. Emanski.
Prospect value has to be worth at least the same as the negative value of the contract. Most teams would rather have 20 million worth of prospects they like vs not paying the 20 million salary. Better to just eat the $ and not have holes in your system. Except the rare times you can find a team interested in prospects more than you are.
Eat eighteen mil two years and six mil is palpable even for the Pirates.
You don’t pay much attention to how the pirates operate.
If Mets will pay $20 million of the $24 million for the next two years, Pirates can trade them an unranked and older middle reliever prospect.
Fat chance that the Pirates pay $4 million an over the hill catcher when they already have 2 waiting to be promoted
For less than 4 million they might be able to sign the ghost shadow of Robert Perez who they love or just roll with their aaaa catchers making minimum wage who probably produce as well as McCann. It’s possible though if they see something in him.
And the sky is blue!
He has zero trade value lol. Send him to the Pirates with a top 5 prospect if you wanna unload that contract.
“James McCann” has been trending on Twitter for the last 24 hours. Astonishing
Twitter does local trends now. So McCann has likely been trending in New York.
Twitter also let’s this trend now that are actually trending
I cannot imagine being a fan of the Mets as a kid right now.
They won 101 games last year and will win more next year
@david1979 Make sure that the NL East get this memo.
They sent the memo to the Braves and Phillies, not the bottom-feeders.
Good. Because we all know that always historically goes well for the Mets in all of the years their newly-found fans celebrate greatness during the offseason until they’re done during the season.
MFB: Better than disappearing in May like you did last year.
I didn’t disappear in May.
If you were actually on this site, you would know that. But your new screen name either indicates that you’re either a brand new Mets fans or a troll or a seasonal Mets fan that forgot his last screen name and had to create this new one.
Cmon MFB. You act like a squirrel troll for the off-season and hate on the Mets. Then run far away during regular season. I see nothing is changing this year. Lol
He’s a Seinfeld fan according to his screen name
And did nothing In the playoffs lol Mets fans
No one is going to pick up that contract unless there is some way to sweeten the deal. We’ll take my Tigers as an example. Tigers have plenty of payroll room to take on his contract. Tigers could then maybe give the Mets something they need, maybe a BP arm. The Mets could then include a prospect or two the Tigers would want.
Otherwise, if the Mets can’t find a taker it is because teams are waiting for them to just cut McCann loose where they can then pick him up for the league minimum.
They are definitely paying most of the salary or giving up an 18 million dollar prospect
Nope. Someone is definitely picking up that contract. They will be the ones sending the prospects to get McCann.
You think someone is going to pay 24 million for 2 years and send prospects? I’d give that about zero chance.
Marlins might be interested. They have a history of making terrible trades involving catchers.
BRING OUT YOUR BUSTS
BRING OUT YOUR BUSTS
WE’LL TAKE YOUR BLOATED CONTRACTS FOR A SMALL FEE
I’m not dead yet!
I’m feeling better! I think I’ll go for a walk!
In some states you can get arrested if you bring out your busts in public. Just saying . . .
Welcome to Rhode Island
Of course they would like to trade him but guess what? Finding someone to complete the deal is going to be difficult unless the Mets eat a lot of money. Seemed an over pay from the start.
Nah it’s only 24 million. Ok maybe a tad wee bit difficult.
Why? With $24mil you can’t even buy 10% of Xander Bogaerts!
McCann makes sense for the Tigers, Rockies, Rays, Red Sox, problem is none of those teams are going to want to take his remaining salary. However, the Mets can get a better return based on how much money they are willing to pay down
Barely for most of those teams.
Oof, I’d just keep Haase and hope the best for Jake Rogers. Narvaez, maybe.
Blackmon
Oh so that’s how it works.
I actually wonder if Carrasco and McCann to Boston for a quality RP would make sense. Mets would probably still have to stay on the hook for a little salary, but Carrasco fits Boston’s needs, and McCann will prob do well after being traded, and of course he helps defensively.
Maybe Carrasco, McCann and $12M for Houck or Schreiber? Idk if Boston would have interest in that, even with the value Cookie brings.
Problem is “quality RP” and “Boston” has been an oxymoron the past few seasons. Best case on that might be Barnes for McCann and cash as both would be “change of scenery” types
NYM ability to unload McCann, Ruf and actually get a usable return is an intriguing offseason plot line that was NOT on my bingo card.
Good luck
The Cubs may be willing to take a flyer on Ruf to platoon at 1B with their rookie Mervis. But they aren’t going to give up much of a prospect.
How good is his defense?
Not too good, if by defense you mean blocking. He ranked #109 out of 120 MLB catchers ranked by BP on his block rate. His framing isn’t that bad, however, ranking him at #25 out of the 120.
So, not a bad receiver, but doesn’t move well behind the plate.
Good arm and good on blocking balls in dirt. Framing varies with the umpire.
McCann and Carrasco to the Pirates for Jared Jones and another low level prospect.
Mets would be the ones sending the prospects and lots of them. They have zero interest in McCanns salary. Would trade Carrasco this weekend because they have no interest in him either.
McCann and Carracci for Chris Sale and his orthopedist
McCann, Carrasco and Ruf to the Nationals for Patrick Corbin plus cash.
Posted this above by accident lol…
send us Stras and Werth (I think the Nats are still paying his deferred salary) while you’re at it!
I think Werth may finally be off the books. And the Mets already have Scherzer, who the Nats will still be paying for another 5 or 6 years.
Seriously though, a straight dollar for dollar trade involving Corbin plus cash would help the Mets luxury tax position, because of the way Corbin’s deal was structured.
That’s fair. Personally, I don’t think the Mets need another lefty starter with Peterson and Quintana in the fold.
They may well try to trade him, but with his contract and subpar play that may be hard to do. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him released.
It’s Martino so take it with a grain of salt but, if true, Scherzer and JV must’ve had input on this.
Brian McCann would be a better option at catcher for teams and he hasn’t played in 2 seasons.
Which begs the question… Has there been a (non-Posey) which has taken a year off and came back? Just curious.
Thurman Munson
Ryne Sandberg. He “retired” to keep his salary out of a divorce settlement. Then returned once everything was settled.
Wow, the contract is actually worse than I thought.
Call the Cubs..they love misfit players especially if you attach some 19 year old over protectable prospect that they can sell to their fan base as the cornerstone of the next rebuild.
24mil over the next two years which is nearly +40mil when considering the tax hit.
You gonna have to give up some prospects to get someone to buy that contract.
Send him to OAK with a couple decent prospects and we’ll give you Pina. We’ve got the salary room and Mets will save about 45mil.
McCann and Carassco to the Cardinals for Knitzer and a couple prospects. McCann could be Contreras backup!!
Replace Knitzer with a Schnitzer’s marble rye and you’ve got yourself a deal. Giddy up.
McCann to the blue jays Jansen swap change of scenery for both guys perfect trade
Baseball Prospectus ranks McCann 25th among catchers in Fielding Runs Above Average and Framing Runs Above Average, which is not bad at all, although he was bad at blocking. A team needing a backup catcher could do worse, but the Mets will have to eat salary to move him, something that Mr. Cohen would seem to have no qualms about doing.
Yanks will give the Mets Donaldson & Hicks for McCann.
Not an upgrade over #18 so you can rule AZ out.
I hope they are somehow able to keep Nido, a hard worker and did a great job last year in tough circumstances.
Nido is a solid defensive back up who the pitchers love throwing to
If metrics mean anything, Nido was the second-best defensive catcher in baseball in 2022 by Baseball Prospectus’s measures, behind only Yankee Jose Trevino, who won the AL Platinum Glove Award.
So the Mets will pay all of his contract and send a couple of prospects along with him?
Nope.
“If the Mets are truly motivated to get McCann out of the way, they would likely have to include something else in the deal or just eat a portion of his salary.”
White Sox figure out the financials, McCann is Giolitos personal catcher. He hasn’t been the same since McCann left.
White Sox should be all in on the reunion. For the fact alone that Giolito and Lynn would benefit greatly. Bring ‘em back!!
They should go get Reese McGuire- they guy that handles his meat in strip mall parking lots
James McCann would be a great reunification fit with the White Sox. He was the best overall White Sox catcher this long time fan has witnessed not named Carlton Fisk or A.J. Pierzynski. Aside from providing a solid bat he also gave the White Sox a premier game caller and was particularly effective helping Lucas Giolito attain ace status in 2019 and 2020. McCann would be a great platoon option with Yasmani Grandal in 2023 like he was in 2020. He could also be the White Sox primary catcher in 2024 while they figure out who their next core backstop will be.
McCann should be available very cheaply. There could also be a trade fit between the the two team that involves the White Sox shedding some salary in exchange for a portion of McCann’s. The White Sox have some veteran bullpen depth and an extra lefty available in veteran Jake Diekman with Garrett Crochet returning from TJ surgery in 2023. The White Sox are on the hook for $4.5M guaranteed dollars with Diekman’s $3.5M 2023 salary and $1M 2024 team option which could also be picked for $4M.
If the White Sox don’t mind ponying up more in a trade then Blue Jays catcher and Elmhurst native Danny Jansen could be the answer. He’ll be 28 in April and is 4+ years younger than McCann. Jansen also comes with two more cheaper arbitration eligible years of team control.
Would you the Tigers get a super.huge package back for Greene?
Or would Cohen be ashamed.of. hiring a.mere “rookie” for under $20M?
Mets trade James McCann, Mark Vientos, and Carlos Corrasco while paying for half or all of the 14 million owed to Corrasco. Cubs give the Mets 2 of: Alzolay, Kilian, Assad. Mets get 2 young controllable bullpen guys and the Cubs get a 4 starter, a 1B/3B prospect (blocked in NY), and a split-time catcher with Gomes for the next 2 years.