The Mets have reportedly agreed to terms with free agent catcher on a four-year, $40 million contract, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Catcher James McCann and the New York Mets are finalizing a four-year contract for $40 million-plus, sources tell ESPN. After a long back-and-forth where a deal looked tenuous, the sides found detente and the Mets have their catcher. @Ken_Rosenthal was on the deal.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 12, 2020
SNY’s Andy Martino reported Thursday that McCann and the Mets had reached the five-yard line in negotiations as of Wednesday night and that it wouldn’t take much more negotiating for the sides to close a deal.
McCann, 30, was viewed as the second-best free agent catcher on the market behind J.T. Realmuto , and the Mets had been targeting McCann over Realmuto, per Martino.
In addition to the Mets, the Los Angeles Angels were among the teams pursuing McCann.
While Realmuto has the better career numbers by far, McCann has picked things up over the last two seasons.
In 149 games spanning 2019 and 2020, McCann has slashed .276/.334/.474 with 25 HR in 149 games. His exit velocity was 90.2 in 2019 and 90.5 in 2020. His hard hit rate was also up in 2020, to 47.8 (it was 44.2 in 2019). His xSLG in 2020 was .455.
A plus defensive catcher who is known to work well with a pitching staff, McCann was a favorite of some of his now-former White Sox teammates.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].