The massive hole behind home plate officially was filled by the Yankees on one busy Tuesday. The team announced the signing of catcher Brian McCann to a five-year, $85 million contract that includes a vesting option for 2019.
McCann has a full no-trade provision, meaning he cannot be dealt without his consent. The seven-time All-Star is to be introduced at a news conference Thursday at Yankee Stadium.
McCann receives $17 million in each of the next five seasons, and the Yankees have a $15 million option for 2019 with no buyout. The final year kicks in if McCann has at least 1,000 plate appearances combined in 2017 and 2018, has at least 90 starts at catcher in 2018 and does not end the 2018 season on the disabled list.
The deal raises the Yankees’ luxury-tax payroll to $116.38 million for nine players, plus Jacoby Ellsbury’s salary, once that deal becomes official. The Yankees have said they hoped to get under the $189 million tax threshold next season, which includes about $177 million in salaries for the 40-man roster.
The Yankees needed to improve at catcher, and they have done just that by signing McCann, who turns 30 in February. Yankees catchers hit .213 in 2013 with just eight home runs. McCann, coming off shoulder surgery, batted .256 with 20 home runs and 57 RBIs last year. He is a lifetime .277 hitter. He was the clubhouse leader for the Braves as well, and he will bring that fire to New York.
“The singular and unwavering desire of this organization is to construct a team each and every season designed to play meaningful baseball deep into October,” Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. “In Brian McCann, we feel we have made a significant improvement to a key position, while adding a high-character presence to our clubhouse. Our work this offseason has just begun, but we feel this is an important step towards what will be an exciting and rewarding 2014.’’
— With AP