With the chances growing Brian McCann will get a fatter contract than the best catcher the game, the Rangers purchased some protection by re-signing catcher Geovany Soto for one year.
However, it doesn’t remove one of the Yankees’ strongest competitors for the left-handed hitting McCann.
According to a person familiar with the Rangers’ strategy, they remain interested in McCann but like Soto, who received $3.05 million, enough to believe he could be an everyday catcher after being A.J. Pierzynski’s backup this past season.
“They are protecting themselves in case the McCann money gets wild,’’ the person said.
And it will.
Yadier Molina, the game’s best catcher, completed the first season of a five-year deal worth $75 million this past season.
Yet some believe McCann can do better even though he isn’t the defender Molina is and would get ample at-bats as a designated hitter in the American League.
A seven-time All-Star, McCann hit .256 with 20 homers, 57 RBIs and a .798 OPS with the Braves this past season. The feeling is the career .277 hitter would benefit from hitting in Yankee Stadium’s short right field.
In addition to the Rangers and Yankees targeting the 29-year-old McCann, the Red Sox are also in the mix.
Since Boston didn’t offer switch-hitting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia the $14.1 million qualifying offer, should he sign elsewhere the Red Sox won’t receive a compensatory draft pick. McCann being close with David Ross, the Red Sox backup catcher, is believed to be an advantage for the world champions.
Like the other 12 free agents who were presented with qualifying offers Monday, McCann has until next Monday to accept or reject his.
Also on the Yankees’ radar is Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran, Reds outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and Indians pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez.
And they will be serious players for Japan’s Masahiro Tanaka, easily the premier pitcher that will be on the market, once MLB and Nippon Pro Baseball agree on a new posting system.
According to talent evaluators, whatever team signs McCann would be wise to limit his games behind the plate to keep the left-handed bat productive.
“If you give him DH days, the bat will be better,’’ a scout said.
One scout pointed out that nine years of big-league catching has extracted a toll on the 6-foot-3, 220-pound McCann.
“He has always been a big-body guy with a big lower half,’’ the scout said. “He doesn’t move like he used to. He calls a good game, is a leader and a winner and does all the things you want.’’
A five-year commitment to McCann by the Yankees doesn’t necessarily mean they have given up on catcher Gary Sanchez, their top position- player prospect who will be 21 in December and hasn’t played a full season at Double-A yet.
Sanchez, who was given $3 million to sign in 2009, hit .254 with 13 homers, 61 RBIs and a .733 OPS in 94 games for Tampa (Single-A) this past season. In 23 games for Trenton (Double-A) he hit .250 with two homers, 10 RBIs and a .744 OPS.
If it takes Sanchez two years to be ready for the big leagues he could break in sharing the catching load with McCann. And like other highly rated prospects, until their tools turn into talent, there is no guarantee Sanchez makes it.