The New York Yankees addressed a position of glaring need by signing the top free agent catcher. Mats Hummels Germany Jersey . Numbers Game breaks down the Yankees addition of Brian McCann. The Yankees Get: C Brian McCann. McCann, 29, was the top free agent catcher on the market and the Yankees had a gaping hole at the position -- their catchers hitting a Major-League-low 8 home runs with a .587 OPS last season -- so this seems like a suitable fit. McCann has hit at least 20 home runs in seven of the last eight seasons and, since 2006, his 171 home runs leads all catchers. His fWAR of 28.9 since 2006 ranks second among catchers, behind only Joe Mauer. More recently, however, there have been signs of decline, as might be expected since McCann has logged more than 1,000 games behind the plate. For example, McCanns 4.5 fWAR over the last two seasons ranks 16th at the position. Defensively, McCann is below average, with a negative Defensive Runs Saved in each of the last five seasons and a below-average caught stealing percentage in every season of his career save for 2010, when he threw out a career-best 30% of attempted base-stealers. Shoulder woes in recent seasons dont figure to make those numbers any better in the future. A left-handed power hitter, McCann figures to benefit from the short right field fence Yankee Stadium, though hes just 1-for-12 in three career games in the Bronx since the Yankees moved into their new home. He does have a .303 batting average and .902 OPS, with 24 home runs, in 114 career inter-league games, so the switch to the American League shouldnt cause major problems. With McCann leaving, the Atlanta Braves can turn their catching duties over to Evan Gattis, a free-swinging power hitter who forced his way into the lineup with a strong rookie season in 2013. McCann has signed a five-year, $85-millon contract, with a $15-million vesting option for a sixth season. Its significant money, to be sure, but the question will be how well McCann ages. While some decline is to be expected in a deal that will take him through age 34, if McCann is capable of playing 120 games and slugging 20 homers a season, then that will count as a major upgrade behind the plate for the Yankees; the kind of free agent signing that will improve their chances of returning to the postseason. Though the Yankees make noise about getting under Major League Baseballs $189-million lusxury tax limit for 2014, for a team with virtually unlimited resources, like the Yankees, getting to the playoffs really ought to be the bottom line. Scott Cullen can be reached at
Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Thomas Muller Jersey . Lee doubled and scored in his debut, Buerhle struck out a season-best eight over 7 2-3 innings and Miami beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 Thursday to split the four-game series. Jurgen Klinsmann Germany Jersey .J. -- New Jersey agreed with Petr Sykora to terms of a one-year deal on Wednesday, completing the former Devils bid to return to the NHL after an 18-month absence.CENTURION, South Africa - English golfer Ross Fisher was close to his first European Tour title in four years after extending his lead to five shots in the Tshwane Open on Saturday. Fisher, one ahead overnight, carded a 5-under-par 67, including seven birdies and two bogeys, at Copperleaf to lie at 18 under after three rounds. His fourth and last tour win was the Irish Open in 2010, when he allso played in the Ryder Cup. Per Mertesacker Germany Jersey. "It would be nice to win in a good fashion because I feel like the game is good enough to win by a good number of strokes," Fisher said. Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland shot 69 to be 13 under, and will partner Fisher in the final round. A shot further back were Englands Simon Dyson and Spains Carlos del Moral, who both made 71. cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '
