James McCann is no longer a Mets catcher.
New York traded McCann late Wednesday night to the Orioles for a minor-league player to be named later, the clubs announced. Whoever the Mets get in the trade, it won’t be a notable prospect. According to sources, the Orioles provided the Mets with a list of five players from which to choose. The deal is expected to be finalized by spring training.
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After nearly two months of unprecedented spending, the Mets finally shed some salary, even if the amount is a relatively modest $5 million. According to sources, the Mets will pay $19 million of the $24 million remaining on McCann’s contract, which runs through 2024.
And because the Mets don’t seem to like going too long without making a move, they also reached an agreement late Wednesday night with infielder Danny Mendick on a one-year, $1 million contract, a source confirmed. Mendick, the latest addition to the 40-man roster, was recently non-tendered by the White Sox. The 29-year-old slashed .289/.343/.443 in 31 games in 2022. He tore his right ACL at the end of June, but he is on track for a ramp-up progression in spring training with the hope of being ready by the end of the six-week stretch. Mendick, who has two minor-league options remaining and won’t be a free agent until 2027, can play second base, shortstop and third base. While the Mets already have Luis Guillorme and others as options behind stars Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa, Mendick gives the Mets a better option than they had last season for infield depth in case of injuries.
Perhaps Mendick fares better with the Mets than his former White Sox teammate McCann, who never quite panned out.
Ahead of the 2021 season, New York signed him to a four-year deal worth $40 million. In terms of total salary, McCann, 32, is baseball’s fifth-highest-paid catcher. The Mets never got that kind of production. In the two seasons before joining the Mets, McCann had a .808 OPS and made an All-Star team with the White Sox. In two seasons with the Mets, his OPS was .610. Last season, he slashed .195/.257/.282 with three home runs while appearing in just 61 games because of injuries and poor performance.
Orioles see McCann as a No. 2 catcher who will take load off Rutschman, DH against certain LHPs and perhaps even play some 1B. They believe he was unlucky with his results last season. Had expected BA of .240 and SLG of .414. Actual numbers were .195 and .282.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 22, 2022
Perhaps he will do better with Baltimore. The Orioles, who see McCann as a No. 2 catcher behind Adley Rutschman and possible DH against certain left-handed pitchers, believe he was unlucky with his results last season. He had an expected batting average of .240 and an expected slugging percentage of .414. The Mets, though, had clearly decided it was time to move on.
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Earlier this week, the Mets all but said that McCann’s time with the club was nearing an end. Last week, the Mets reached an agreement with Omar Narváez on a two-year, $15 million guarantee that allows him to opt out at the end of next season. Unlike McCann, Narváez is a left-handed hitter, making for a better platoon partner, perhaps, with Tomás Nido. Narváez is also seen as a better defender compared to McCann, and earned rave reviews for his pitch framing, communication and creativity from the Brewers, his former team, and their pitching staff.
Without McCann, there’s also more of an open path for top prospect Francisco Álvarez to establish himself in the majors. He could also be a DH candidate. It’s unclear how much of a shot Álvarez has at breaking camp with the major-league team. He will first have to show he is healthy after undergoing right ankle surgery in October. The procedure was set to sideline him from baseball activities for six weeks, but at the time of the surgery, the Mets said Álvarez was expected to fully participate in spring training. The club could decide to give him more seasoning in Triple A to improve his defense.
Moving on from McCann was the latest sign of the Mets operating like a meritocracy. With expectations higher than their skyrocketing payroll, they’ve decided not to wait and hope for better results at key spots. Instead, they’ve just made changes.
(Photo of James McCann: Jim Rassol / USA Today)
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