Days After Being Traded By Yankees, Brian McCann Tells WFAN He Wasn't Ready For Reduced Catching Role
NEW YORK (WFAN) -- Brian McCann said Monday he'll miss his former Yankees teammates but knows it was time to move on.
The Yankees traded McCann to the Astros last week for pitching prospects Albert Abreu and Jorge Guzman. The seven-time All-Star catcher became expendable after rookie Gary Sanchez burst onto the scene this year for the Yankees.
There had been some rumblings that McCann was open to remaining with the Yankees as a designated hitter and backup catcher. But he said ultimately he wasn't ready for that role.
"I still want to catch every day," McCann told WFAN's Mike Francesa. "I still want to put in the work with 115, (1)20 games and catch every day. So that was kind of the final decision that I made when the season ended. I'm just not ready for that DH/catch-once-a-week gig."
McCann, 32, handled Sanchez's rise this season without complaint, realizing he was witnessing something special.
"I was fired up to watch it every day," McCann said. So I think something clicked mentally with him where he just took that next step, and the rest is history.
"I'm anxious to see how everything turns out, but he's as good as it gets."
McCann joins an up-and-coming Astros team led by 22-year-old shortstop Carlos Correa and 26-year-old second baseman Jose Altuve.
"I look around, and it reminds me kind of what the Cubs did," McCann said. "They have some of the best young players in the game. ... They're just getting started, but yet they're contending for MVPs."
As for what he'll remember most about his three seasons with the Yankees?
"For me, it was meeting new people," McCann said. "I met some coaches that, man, the hours they put in, the passion they have for the game -- I was so blessed to be a part of it. Again, I made a lot of friends, lifelong friends that I'll have. I'm very grateful that I was able to play three years there, but now it's time to move on, and I start a new chapter."
To listen to the full interview, click on the audio player above.
