Free agent catcher Brian McCann has agreed to a five-year deal with the New York Yankees for $85 million, with a sixth-year vesting option that could bring it to $100 million, according to a source.
The deal is pending a physical.
The average annual salary of $17 million for McCann is the highest ever for a free-agent catcher. Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer's $24 million is the highest AAV for a catcher overall. The Twins have announced that Mauer will move to first base full time beginning in 2014.
Two other sources say the Colorado Rockies made a late, strong run at McCann. The Rockies earlier had bid $63 million on first baseman Jose Abreu, according to Denver Post beat writer Troy Renck.
The Texas Rangers were in on McCann until the end. The Red Sox expressed interest but were uncomfortable with a deal of that length.
The initial report that McCann and the Yankees were on the verge of a deal came from Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
