Brian McCann: Top Five Catcher for 2016

Brian McCann has been one of the most consistent catchers in all of baseball. Hitting 20 homers in 8 straight seasons, he is a top-five catcher for 2016.

The New York Yankees have been rumored to be interested in dealing some veteran players. While this isn’t usually the Yankees’ modus operandi during the offseason, the team needs to get younger and develop talent over the long-term. There is one veteran player the Yankees need to hold onto for a couple of more seasons, and that is catcher Brian McCann. In New York, McCann has the skills to be a top five catcher in 2016. 

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McCann was a mainstay while with the Atlanta Braves. In nine seasons, he hit 176 home runs, 661 RBI and a .277 batting average. He had six straight seasons with at least 20 home runs, made seven All-Star appearances and won five Silver Slugger awards.

Injuries started to creep up on Brian McCann in his final years with the Braves. He played 128, 121 and 102 games in his last three years with Atlanta. At the age of 29, McCann’s catching days could have possibly been over.

However, the Yankees made a big splash in the free agency pool by signing McCann to a five-year $85 million deal. Without a consistent catcher, the Yankees needed to make this move. And so far, it has paid off.

In his first season in New York, he hit 23 home runs, 75 RBI and a .232 batting average. He played in 140 games, the most since 2010. The 2015 season was much better. He hit 26 homers and 94 RBI with the same .232 average. He played in 135 games.

Coming into this season, Brian McCann was the eighth catcher taken and had an ADP of 159.8 (16th round). Whomever drafted him got a steal because he finished third among catchers on the Player Rater. Being a left-handed hitter with the short fence in right field in Yankees Stadium definitely helped his fantasy value.

Next: Zack Cozart and Devin Mesoraco Injury Update

Even at 32 years old, Brian McCann is still an elite-hitting catcher. He has the power numbers to help carry your team. He led all catchers in home runs and finished second in RBI. If you are  not the kind of fantasy owner to use an early draft pick on Buster Posey, you should wait a few more rounds before drafting McCann. He will start in my top five and will finish there, too.

Projections: 110 hits, 25 home runs, 81 RBI, .235 batting average

Draft: Round 13