MLB

McCann, Yankees agree to deal

A year after seeing Russell Martin leave as a free agent, the Yankees made a bold move to replace him, agreeing to a five-year deal with catcher Brian McCann worth $85 million, according to sources.

With the move, which is pending a physical, they showed that despite a desire to get payroll under $189 million to avoid the luxury tax, the Yankees will continue to spend.

McCann had been one of the Yankees’ primary targets this offseason and he met with manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman in New York last week, according to a source.

The two sides spent Saturday night finalizing the deal, with the Yankees increasing their offer from $82.5 million. The contract also includes a vesting option for a sixth year that would raise the value to $100 million.

The Rangers, Red Sox and Rockies also had been interested in McCann.

The 29-year-old will fill the spot left vacant when Martin signed with Pittsburgh last offseason. The Yankees had hoped some combination of Chris Stewart, Francisco Cervelli and Austin Romine could replace Martin, but injuries and ineffectiveness spoiled those plans.

Now they will turn to McCann, who hit .256 with 20 home runs and 57 RBIs last year with the Braves and was an All-Star for the seventh time.

He has hit at least 20 homers in each of the last six seasons and has a left-handed swing that many believe is custom-made for Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch.

Though the Yankees still have high expectations for catching prospect Gary Sanchez, he is not major-league ready. McCann would provide a solid bat in the middle of the lineup and perhaps eventually transition to first base, potentially making room for Sanchez behind the plate down the road.

McCann was among the players at the top of the Yankees’ wish list and this deal would prove it. The Dallas Morning News was the first to report the sides were close.

The Yankees have made it clear they intend to get payroll under $189 million and still have significant holes to fill and Alex Rodriguez’s status still unknown.

Additional reporting Joel Sherman