No confirmation on new deal despite Brian McCann strong on the plate - MLB Update
Atlanta Braves are tight-lipped on renewal of contract with catcher Brian McCann despite the fact he has been terrific on the plate. With a record of six home runs and 22 RBIs, he can easily earn confidence of the management and can fetch better deal at
the end of the season.
The Braves enjoy a $12 million option on him for one more season. Based on this, one can go slow in believing that the Braves will be inking a new deal anytime soon.
No club wants to freeze money before developing reasonable understanding about what is going to happen in the future.
If a deal takes place, the benchmark will be a $75 million deal, St. Louis Cardinals agreed with catcher Yadier Molina. This along with the fact McCann performed as perfectly in the season as he has been doing during last many years, he will have the upper
hand in negotiations.
McCann duly understands the kind of calculations the club will make before awarding contract. Not taking offence of anything, he is upright in acknowledging how every activity in this world is motivated by business interests as opposed to emotions and loyalty.
“I understand it’s a business. They have to do what’s best for them, and I have to do what’s best for me. I’m just going to play as hard as I can and let everything else fall into place,” McCann said.
Frank Wren, who is a General Manager of the Braves, refused to comment about how the club will deal with McCann. While not giving even iota of hint about modalities, he says, the club maintains a tacit understanding with McCann and the latter knows it.
“We have a mutual understanding of how we’ll approach this process,” Wren said.
Only downside with McCann is his flaw at being mediocre in defence and that can be a potential point of contention while the negotiations go on.
Although there have not been big mistakes made thus far in the season by him, this will be an issue high on agenda of the Braves’ management.
As season progresses further and McCann shows up in greater number of games, the Braves will have a better idea of what kind of deal to offer him.
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