The speculations are now at rest about Brian McCann, as he is now a Houston Astro. The Yankees have now freed up space to have Gary Sanchez as their everyday starter, but revceived back the bare minumum in return.
Brian McCann has been a disappointment in the Bronx, but his power alone is worth more than the Yankees received. They received right-handed pitching prospects Albert Abreu and Jorge Guzman. Both are talented right-handed pitchers from the Dominican, but neither will be ready before 2019. Abreu is ranked in the Astros’ top 30 prospects, but not Guzman. Aside from the two right handers, the Yankees have agreed to send $11 million to the Astros (32% of McCann’s remainding contract). $11 million may be cheap to the Yankees, but usually paying part of the departing players contract means more in return.
The Astros have an abundance of pitching talent in their system, yet they managed to only trade one worthy prospect away. In the process the Astros have a new catcher who’s salary they are not paying in full. This trade does feed to the Yankees plan of stocking up on prospects, but, not in full . Like the trade deadline moves proved, the Yankees are looking to win in the near future. To do that, they are obtaining prospects that are ready to be major league stars now. So, this trade is a little lop sided.
Trading McCann needed to bring in players that are ready to make the 25-man roster if not the 40-man. Aside from that, the Yankees even agreed to pay the Astros for McCann to play against the Yankees. McCann will be a big help in the middle of the Astros lineup, while the Yankees obtain two good prospects, but nothing to help their potential 2017 championship run.
