Free-agent catcher Brian McCann agreed to a long-term deal with the New York Yankees Saturday, a source tells ESPNNewYork.com.
How big? Try five years at $85 million. The deal also includes a sixth year vesting option that could bring the contract to $100 million. The deal is pending a physical, according to the report.
McCann was talking to the Texas Rangers as well, but Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News said talks had broken off.
The Yankees are in crying need of an upgrade at catcher. After letting Russell Martin walk last winter they saw receivers average .213 in 2013.
With the Atlanta Braves, Martin hit .256 with 20 home runs and 57 RBIs. He has hit at least 20 homers in seven of the past eight seasons.
The Braves made a qualifying offer to McCann, so the Yankees would forfeit the 18th overall pick in the 2014 amateur draft to them.
Earlier this week Braves starter Tim Hudson signed a free-agent deal with the San Francisco Giants.
McCann was linked to the Yankees more than two weeks again, SN's Justin McGuire wrote. The bronx “certainly a place that is on Brian's radar," his agent, B.B. Abbott, told the New York Daily News. "How could it not be? You've got an historic franchise and a great park, knowledgeable fans and a chance to win, which is what every guy plays the game for. From Brian's standpoint, it would be an attractive place to listen to.”
Francisco Cervelli likely will be relegated to backup duties, catching when McCann takes days off or is used as a designated hitter.
The Yankees' search for a long-term solution at catcher thus climaxes with possibly the best option since Jorge Posada retired in 2011.
Posada told the Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., the Yankees did their homework on McCann, putting aside concerns about his recent aches and pains.
"There were concerns with his health last year, but a guy that plays 120 games behind the plate that's very durable, that has been doing it for a while now — being able to catch that much," Posada said.
The Boston Red Sox also were believed interested, having decided not to offer a qualifying offer to free agent catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Take a look at the stat lines: Yankees backstops hit .213/.289/.298 in 2013, all figures among the worst in baseball. McCann, a seven-time All-Star, hit .256/.336/.461.