Orioles get McCann, $19M from Mets for player to be named
BALTIMORE » The Baltimore Orioles acquired catcher James McCann and $19 million from the New York Mets on Wednesday night for a player to be named.
McCann was an All-Star in 2019 for the Chicago White Sox, but hit just .195 with three home runs and 18 RBIs for the Mets last season. He joins a Baltimore team that already has perhaps the top young catcher in the game in Adley Rutschman, but McCann, 32, could be a capable backup.
McCann is due $12 million in each of the next two seasons as part of the $40.6 million, four-year contract he signed with New York in December 2020. As part of the trade, the Mets agreed to pay the Orioles $11 million in 2023 and $8 million in 2024.
He became expendable when the Mets agreed last week to a $15 million, two-year deal with free-agent catcher Omar Narváez that was announced Thursday. Narváez, who turns 31 in February, gets an $8 million salary next year, has a $7 million player option for 2024 and can earn award bonuses.
New York also has defensive standout Tomás Nido and touted prospect Francisco Álvarez behind the plate, and like McCann they both bat right-handed. Narváez provides a left-handed stick.
McCann struggled at the plate with the Mets, hitting .220 with 13 home runs, 64 RBIs and a .610 OPS in 182 games over two seasons with the team. By the time New York entered the playoffs last season, he had lost his starting job to Nido.
Myers, Casali join Reds. who cut Moustakas
CINCINNATI » Wil Myers agreed to a $7.5 million, one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds, joining his third big league club after spending the previous eight seasons with San Diego.
Veteran catcher Curt Casali reached a $3.25 million, one-year deal with Cincinnati. The contracts
for Myers and Casali each have a mutual option for the 2024 season.
Veteran infielder Mike Moustakas was designated for assignment. Moustakas, 34, hit .214 with seven homers and 25 RBIs in 78 games in his last season with the Reds.
Myers, 32, has started at first base, third base and each of the outfield spots. He is a .254 hitter with 153 homers and 521 RBIs in 1,063 games.
Source: Cubs, Barnhart agree
CHICAGO » The Chicago Cubs bolstered their defense again, agreeing to a $6.5 million contract with Gold Glove-winning catcher Tucker Barnhart.
Barnhart, who turns 32 on Jan. 7, is expected to back up Yan Gomes.
Barnhart returns to the NL Central after struggling in his only season with Detroit. He spent his first eight seasons with Cincinnati, winning Gold Gloves in 2017 and 2020.
Drury agrees to 2-year, $17 million deal with Angels
ANAHEIM » Infielder Brandon Drury has agreed to a $17 million, two-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
Right-hander Oliver Ortega was designated for assignment to make room on the Angels’ 40-man roster for Drury, who hit a career-best 28 homers last season while playing
for Cincinnati and San Diego. He won the Silver Slugger award as a utility player.
Drury gets $8.5 million in each of the next two seasons.
He played all four infield positions and right field last season, and he got his second taste of postseason experience during the Padres’ run to the NL Championship Series, where he batted .400 with a homer and five RBIs against Philadelphia.
Drury excelled last season against left-handers, recording a .955 OPS and 12 homers. He is a career .252 hitter with 79 homers and 277 RBIs.
Rodón puts on pinstripes
NEW YORK » As soon as he struck an agreement with the New York Yankees last week, Carlos Rodón reached for a razor.
“I was like, screw it. I might as well shave now because I know in about a week if I tried to shave and I have razor bumps, it’s not going to look great,” the pitcher said.
He shaved again Thursday for a Yankee Stadium news conference to discuss his $162 million, six-year contract, the 30-year-old left-hander appearing at a ballpark without a beard for what he said likely was the first time since rookie ball in 2014.
New York famously has a team rule against beards and long hair.