McCann’s A Yankee: 3 Things We’ve Learned

Written by Midday Host Armen Williams, heard 1-3p weekdays on the Team

On Saturday evening, it was reported that the New Yankees and free agent catcher Brian McCann had agreed to a five-year, $85 million deal (a six-year, $100 million total option).

Here are three observations on what we can take away, in regards to the Yankees, from this signing:

3. While Yankees President Randy Levine has been publicly stating that the team would make efforts in staying under the $185 million luxury tax for the first time since it's establishment in 2003, it's apparent that this won't be the year.

This is a large free-agent signing to start the off-season when the Yankees still have question marks and holes to fill in virtually every area of their roster.

It's noble of the Yankees to have a goal of eventually getting under the luxury tax but the most pivotal off-season this team has seen in 25 years just isn't the right time.

2. We can mark 'catcher' off the list of needs for this 2014 New York Yankees club.

Last season, the Yanks had a committee of four different names that filled in behind the plate: Chris Stewart (109 games), J.R. Murphy (16 games), Francisco Cervelli (17 games) and Austin Romine (60 games).

Expect Stewart to become a non-tendered free agent as the other three still remain on the Yankees roster.

1. The Yankees are not going to waste any time. The original plan was to wait on McCann until the winter meetings, but according to Joel Sherman of the NY Post, the Yankees had offered $82 million whenever McCann's camp said, "$85 and we're done".

Obviously, the Yankees pulled the trigger.

David Waldstein of the New York Times is reporting that the Yanks are set to meet with Robinson Cano this upcoming week.

While it's widely speculated that Cano and agent Jay-Z are going to wait as long as they can to make the most money, we've learned that the Yankees will open up the checkbook a little wider if it means getting it done.