Houston Astros: Will Brian McCann be relevant next season?

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Although he’s been injured for the past month and a half, Astros catcher Brian McCann hasn’t been missed considerably. Martin Maldonado and Max Stassi have done well in his absence. Does that mean McCann won’t be a realistic option behind the plate in 2019?

When Houston Astros catcher Brian McCann suffered a knee injury in early July, the club knew he’d be out for an extended period. Hence, the front office acquired Martin Maldonado to take his spot.

Maldonado has turned into a valuable bargain buy, getting approval from fans and teammates due to his defensive prowess. But he will be a free agent after this season, sparking several inquiries.

McCann is under contract until 2019, though his age and durability suggest he’s near retirement. By next year, he might not be worth keeping.

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Of course, Houston’s general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch will make that decision.

If McCann sticks around, he will likely still be on the big-league roster. Max Stassi, despite his overall improvement, would remain the backup, unless the club scoops up another backstop in the winter.

Yet, the question centers on whether the 14-year veteran can remain dependable. The Astros catcher sports the worst numbers in his career at the plate.

Nonetheless, it seems that McCann’s power could disappear, especially with the recent knee surgery. He hit at least 18 home runs every campaign since 2006.

Surprisingly, the 34-year-old’s defensive numbers were his best since 2014 before his disabled list stint. However, they pale in comparison to guys like Maldonado and other upcoming free agents.

However, McCann does boast years of experience – also in the postseason. His presence was apparent quite a bit during last year’s trip to the Fall Classic.

Houston could have solved their future catching conundrum with a big-time acquisition at the deadline. J.T. Realmuto and Wilson Ramos were the big-ticket names, but the Astros didn’t pursue.

Essentially, that might have been the smarter move. Maldonado has been valuable, and he has helped pitchers thanks to his sturdy defense. Thus, the Astros might re-sign him for the next few seasons.

That complicates the situation even further.

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Houston would have to determine if Stassi or McCann is more dependable. It wouldn’t be a surprise to have Stassi sent back down to Triple-A, though he ranked near the top of most offensive categories amongst catchers during the season’s first half. Stassi also offers more youth and durability.

There is a chance that the Astros won’t need to make these decisions, though.

If Houston doesn’t re-sign Evan Gattis, the team could have three catchers on its roster. McCann could also move into the designated hitter slot, if the Astros deem him worth keeping.

There is also the possibility that McCann hangs up his cleats after this year, especially if Houston claims another World Series title. That would allow the Astros to seek additional help this offseason behind the plate without having a crowded backstop unit.

Houston will need to weigh the value of all its catchers and decide how to proceed. But it could be difficult, as there are only a few premium catchers in the league.

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And they are all essentially obtainable for the Astros this offseason.

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