The Yankees dropped $85 million across five years on catcher Brian McCann and didn’t waste a second letting everyone know what they expect.
At a Yankee Stadium press conference Thursday to introduce McCann, manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman weren’t shy about what they purchased.
“We feel we have the next great Yankee catcher,’’ Girardi said of the 29-year-old McCann, a seven-time All-Star.
Considering Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, Thurman Munson and Jorge Posada have established a Yankees catching legacy and Girardi’s habit of playing everything down the middle to avoid putting pressure on players, his words resonated.
After Girardi gushed, Cashman drooled over McCann.
“We are hoping he clearly continues the type of production on the offensive and defensive side he provided in Atlanta. If he continues to do that, we are talking about a potential Hall of Famer,’’ Cashman said. “We are buying someone with that type of reputation. We have a lot of needs, and this fills one of them.’’
McCann’s reputation in Atlanta was a man’s man who leads by example and when something needs to be said, he isn’t shy about speaking up. However, he stressed the 2014 Yankees are Derek Jeter’s team.
And he embraced hearing his name linked to those of former Yankees greats.
“What it means to be part of his organization: It means a lot, especially being a catcher with all the tradition that’s been in this organization,’’ said McCann, a .277 career hitter with 176 homers in nine big league seasons with his home-town Braves. “I hope to fall in line with all the great catchers, continue to build and win championships.”
A chat with former Braves first baseman Mark Teixeira resulted in McCann hearing the Yankees offer a chance to win and value families. That stuck with McCann, but so did a three-hour dinner with Cashman three weeks ago.
“I think when the Yankees call you and you go through the process that I went through, you are blown away,’’ McCann said. “There is a reason they are the New York Yankees. Everything is bigger, and they pay attention to detail on everything. They make you feel the way you want to feel. It was a perfect fit.’’
The Yankees and McCann hope the Stadium’s cozy right-field porch is a perfect marriage for the left-handed hitter, who is one of 11 major leaguers and the lone catcher to hit at least 20 homers in each of the past six seasons.
“It’s nice for a left-handed hitter who uses that side of the field,’’ McCann said. “I feel it makes you a better baseball player. I played in Philadelphia against them and it’s the same thing.’’
Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. echoed a lot of voices in baseball talking about McCann.
“He beat the crap out of the Phillies. I am glad he is out of the [NL],” Amaro said. “He is a great guy and seems like a good leader. You are not only buying the player, you are buying the person. You can’t say anything but superlatives.’’
Time will tell. Chuck Knoblauch was on the path to Cooperstown when he arrived in The Bronx and didn’t come close. Jason Giambi, too. Mike Mussina added to a borderline Hall of Fame career as a Yankee and CC Sabathia could follow.
Now, it’s McCann’s turn, not only to live up to the money but also the high expectations his new manager and GM put on him from Day One.