Yankees: 3 free agents to sign and 1 to avoid this offseason

Sign James McCann

The Yankees’ decision to tender Gary Sanchez a contract doesn’t mean he has to be their starting catcher next season. It’s only really a reflection of the franchise’s desire to avoid losing him for nothing in free agency.

The team still has the flexibility to trade Sanchez or bench him before Opening Day. The idea of going into the 2021 regular season with Kyle Higashioka and Sanchez as the team’s only two credible options behind the plate should be unacceptable to New York’s front office.

In a perfect world, the Yankees could open up their checkbook to sign the most talented catcher on the open market. Unfortunately, J.T. Realmuto’s salary demands seem to be outside of Cashman’s price range. That will require New York to look at other options.

That makes McCann, the consensus No. 2 catcher available on the market a quality consolation prize for the Yankees. He lacks Sanchez’s star potential as a hitter, but his floor is significantly higher than what the Yankees have gotten out of the catcher position during either of the last two seasons.

Signing McCann won’t be cheap, but it might prove to be a bargain in comparison to what Realmuto gets. The Yankees should spend the funds required to upgrade the weakest position on their roster.