New York Mets planning for other moves after James McCann

The New York Mets’ decision to focus on James McCann sets them up to make other moves to improve the roster.

It is seemingly a matter of time before the New York Mets and James McCann come to an agreement. The two sides are reportedly discussing a four year deal, with the current hangup being the exact dollar amount for the contract.

While the Mets definitely needed an upgrade at catcher, McCann is a significant gamble. He has really had a total of one season’s worth of games to show improvement, and while he had blossomed with the White Sox, there are still question marks. That is especially the case when the top catcher in the majors, J.T. Realmuto, is a free agent.

Although McCann is more of a gamble, there are specific reasons for the Mets’ interest. He has been a solid defensive catcher with a strong arm while showing improvement in his pitch framing skills. McCann will also be much cheaper than Realmuto, fitting into the budget a lot easier.

That latter reason essentially sounds like the Same Ol’ Mets. And that would be the case if those savings were going right into the pocket of ownership. Instead, signing McCann would be a precursor to other moves as the Mets are reportedly set to aggressively pursue both Trevor Bauer and George Springer.

Those two are the keys to the Mets offseason. Bauer would give the team a badly needed second top of the rotation arm to begin the 2021 campaign. Springer, meanwhile, would add a dynamic five tool outfielder to the top of the lineup, changing the complexion of the Mets offense.

Within the lens of those potential future acquisitions, McCann makes more sense. Although he is a gamble, the Mets can afford to take the chance that his offensive improvements can be sustained if they bring in Bauer and Springer. But that is a big if given the competition for their services.

The New York Mets are setting up future moves with their pursuit of James McCann. Time will tell if this was the right move to make.