Our situation at catcher is something most teams would kill for. We have a difficult decision to make in terms of how aggressively to work to retain McCann. But it is not a bad problem to have.
Our situation at catcher is something most teams would kill for. We have a difficult decision to make in terms of how aggressively to work to retain McCann. But it is not a bad problem to have.
It really is that simple though. He could not make another penny beyond this year and live an extremely wealthy life. What does "being valued to his full potential" do for him? No one will remember him for how much money he makes. I wont hate McCann if he leaves but if he leaves it is for no reason but greed. I wont blame him, I blame his agent and the union. The agent is the one that fills their head with the "you have to get what your worth" crap and the union pressures them to take the most they can so it doesnt negatively affect the FA market for other players. There are very few people in this world that would not be satisfied with getting 50+ million dollars.
Guys with no trade clauses get asked to waive them all the time as well.
The only reason a player ever wants or needs a no-trade clause is to prevent his team from trading him without his prior approval. The 10/5 rule accomplishes the same thing, so there is no reason for McCann to require a no-trade clause past the first year of any contract he signs with the Braves. Such a clause will be a non-issue in any negotiations between McCann and the Braves, at least from the player's side.
There are few people in this world that would take less money than they are worth. That doesn't matter if salary is 10k, 50k, 100k, 1,000,000 or 50,000,000.
I don't see how a NL team win the bidding here, there's just so much less risk for a him as a C/DH than as a everyday catcher in his 30's. In fact, is there really such a thing as an "everyday catcher in his 30's?" Throw in some deep pocketed AL teams and we're screwed.
Yadi is 30 and signed until 2017. I have zero doubt if on the market, a NL club will offer him a 4 year deal.
Ive maintained all along that in order to keep McCann, someone with a big contract would have to go. Convincing/forcing Uggla to have the eye surgery may be a prelude to the off season. If he comes back able to see/hit he will be infinitely more tradeable. Had he waited til the off season to have surgery it would have been spring training before some team could see if they had any interest.
Even if McCann takes more to go elsewhere (as long as it isn't to an NL east team), I'll cheer the heck out of the guy. He deserves a payday. I obviously want him to be a Brave for life, and I'm sure if he wants to be Wren will make it happen.
At the point I was getting 10+ million a year money becomes a lot less of an issue for me. If you had the option to make 15 million a year and live where you grew up and around your family or 18 million a year and spend half the year on the other side of the country away from your family and friends you would take the money? There are about 300 million people in the US who wish they had to settle for 15 million dollars a year. What he loses in money he gains in legacy and respect. Players that spend all or 95% of their career with one team are respected more.
bravebonebook (08-13-2013)
Maybe I am just a better person than the rest of the world. Turning down 15 million a year to play for your home state team you grew up rooting for to make 18 million a year somewhere else is just pure greed and douchebaggery. Like I said I wont be mad at McCann. Like Andruw he signed one long term deal with the team which I respect him for. I blame the outside influences that make a man leave his favorite team for money he doesnt need. The only thing Brian can do to change that is if I hear him say the cliche bull**** that a lot of players say like "I need to make sure my family is taken care of" or "I would love to stay but thats up to the team not me".
bravebonebook (08-13-2013)
I'm not sold on Gattis. I think he is a better hitter. I think playing him in LF is hurting him. It take a lot of extra energy for him to play LF and to play a position he doesn't know.
He has good at bats....mostly. He needs to have a better OBP. But you see him get some hits the other way....you see the promise.
Teams will run on us....
McCann to Gattis is a downgrade. Does anyone disagree with that? If we downgrade to Gattis, where do we pick it up? OF is set. 1B is FF. Simmons is set. We'd have to upgrade at 3B or 2B. CJ is having a big avg year, hard to make that up. How do we get rid of uggla.....
I think McCann is a Ranger. I HOPE he's a brave.
I think the longevity of McCann means he needs to be a DH some times. If he stays in the NL, then he might need rest 3/10 days or 4/10 instead of 1/5.
Why are so many just writing it off that Mac is gone?
I don't see mac like other FA's. I braves make a competitive offer he will be a brave IMO.
4 yrs in the 45-50 million dollar range.
The thing is, we can have both. People don't need to act like it's one or the other. Gattis can still be a super sub and get plenty of playing time spelling mac every 5th day and playing LF and 1b the rest of the time. Also, we really need to see this off-season if he can handle 3b. He certainly has the arm for it.