The Atlanta Braves have debatably the best catcher in all of Major League Baseball, and have for quite a few years. Not many players have been as reliable and offered the amount of productivity over recent seasons. Over the past couple of seasons, however, that yield has dropped off a little bit. Coming off of his worst season due in large part to injuries, there is a lot of dialogue about this possibly being his last season in Atlanta.
There is an possibility coming up through the minor leagues as a probable replacement in Christian Betancourt. Defensively, he is looking like a top prospect but his offense has yet to catch up to his potential. Another season in Mississippi and Gwinnett should help to improve those skills to the level that is needed to become an day-to-day big league option. He is a big kid with a outstanding amount of ability.
For now, Brian McCann will continue to be the everyday option which is most certainly not a bad thing. Coming back from shoulder surgery in November, he will most likely miss all of April and won't be back in the regular lineup until early May. Upon returning the demands will be through the roof and there is no reason to believe that he can't live up to those expectations. When healthy, he is still one of the most prolific catchers in all of Major League Baseball.
The Atlanta Braves are wanting for a very productive season out of their six time all star. They have no reason to think that he will not supply the offense that he is capable of. The biggest question is whether or not he can stay healthy, that is a monstrous question mark going into the season.
Being a catcher is a position where the body takes a beating every single game. Between foul ball bouncing off your body and blocking ball in the dirt, not to mention blocking the plate against base runners, this is a physically demanding position. By far it is the most challenging position to play, that makes the professional life expectancy of a catcher far shorter than the other eight positions on the field.
The Atlanta Braves will most likely let Brian McCann walk after the season is over, offering nothing more than a qualifying offer. He has earned the right to search the market and see what long term options are out there, so he will most likely turn down that qualifying offer in hopes of a multiyear contract. From a business point of view, signing him to an extended contract doesn't make a lot of sense. With that said, I expect this will be the final year that Brian McCann is a member of the Atlanta Braves.
There is an possibility coming up through the minor leagues as a probable replacement in Christian Betancourt. Defensively, he is looking like a top prospect but his offense has yet to catch up to his potential. Another season in Mississippi and Gwinnett should help to improve those skills to the level that is needed to become an day-to-day big league option. He is a big kid with a outstanding amount of ability.
For now, Brian McCann will continue to be the everyday option which is most certainly not a bad thing. Coming back from shoulder surgery in November, he will most likely miss all of April and won't be back in the regular lineup until early May. Upon returning the demands will be through the roof and there is no reason to believe that he can't live up to those expectations. When healthy, he is still one of the most prolific catchers in all of Major League Baseball.
The Atlanta Braves are wanting for a very productive season out of their six time all star. They have no reason to think that he will not supply the offense that he is capable of. The biggest question is whether or not he can stay healthy, that is a monstrous question mark going into the season.
Being a catcher is a position where the body takes a beating every single game. Between foul ball bouncing off your body and blocking ball in the dirt, not to mention blocking the plate against base runners, this is a physically demanding position. By far it is the most challenging position to play, that makes the professional life expectancy of a catcher far shorter than the other eight positions on the field.
The Atlanta Braves will most likely let Brian McCann walk after the season is over, offering nothing more than a qualifying offer. He has earned the right to search the market and see what long term options are out there, so he will most likely turn down that qualifying offer in hopes of a multiyear contract. From a business point of view, signing him to an extended contract doesn't make a lot of sense. With that said, I expect this will be the final year that Brian McCann is a member of the Atlanta Braves.
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