YANKEES SIGN BRIAN McCANN FOR FIVE YEARS AND $ 85 MILLION

BRIAN McCANN

The New York Yankees have signed 'free agent' catcher Brian McCann to a five year contract worth $ 85 million. The contract has a vesting option for a 6th season worth $ 15 million and a full 'no trade' clause. The deal is pending until McCann has a physical.

The average salary of $ 17 million is the highest ever for a 'free agent' catcher.

McCann who will be 30 in February hit .256 with a .796 OPS with 20 home runs last year.

McCann will be a big improvement over Chris Stewart and Austin Romine the Yankees catchers last season who combined hit only .256.

In the meantime the Red Sox continue to look for a replacement for Jarrod Saltalamacchia who is a 'free agent'. They had conversations with McCann's agent but were not willing to commit to five years.

The catching market still has some options for Ben Cherington.

 He is in conversation with 'Salty' and the sticking point there seems to be two or three years. The Sox want two 'Salty' wants three. He could pursue other catchers notably A.J.Pierzynski or Dioner Navarro. Or Ben could pursue a trade,something he has hinted he might do as Ryan Hanigan of Cincinnati is possibly available.

McCann was the best 'free agent' catcher on the market this year. He was limited to 102 games last year.

The Yankees seem to have solved their long term catching problem. They have had issues since the departure of Jorge Posada in 2011.