Yankees rumors: Astros interested in trading for Brian McCann

Brian McCann’s name has been coming up in trade discussions since Gary Sanchez arrived in New York with all the offense and defense of an every day starter. Most of the rumors have been centered around the Yankees potentially finding a deal with the Atlanta Braves, which would send McCann back to his original team and home state. This time, however, the rumor is different.

It was reported earlier on Wednesday that the Yankees had found a potential trade partner for McCann, but it was only later that it was announced that team was the Astros. McCann is still more than capable of serving as a team’s catcher, but he can also be a DH or even a first baseman in an absolute pinch. The Astros would be banking on him as a starting catcher, of course, in return for taking on his salary.

McCann has two years left on his five-year deal he signed with the Yankees, giving any possible future team a couple years to make a move with McCann in their lineup. The Astros are loaded with right-handed hitters in Jose Altuve, George Springer, and Carlos Correa, so McCann’s left-handed bat would be a nice compliment to that.

Brian Cashman would need to weigh his options of return on McCann with having to possibly pursue a new designated hitter in free agency. There are certainly options out there, such as Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista, but they are going to come at a very high cost. Would the Yankees be better off keeping McCann and using him as the DH, or trading him away for a return of players and having to dip into the piggy bank for a slugger this offseason?

There is no word yet on what kind of players Houston would be offering in return. It’s highly likely that Cashman would ask for pitching in return, as that is the Yankees’ greatest area of need. Whether or not the Astros would be willing to part with some young pitching in return for McCann’s bat and leadership in the clubhouse reputation is still unclear. If there is a deal to be made, however, that’s probably what will need to happen.

What would you want from the Astros in return for McCann?