San Francisco Giants: Should They Sign Brian McCann?

Buster Posey is the leader of the San Francisco Giants. He’s the face of the franchise and he’s their best position player. At 26, he is a two-time World Series champion, a two-time All-Star, the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year, the 2012 NL batting champion, and the 2012 NL MVP. Defensively, he’s caught a perfect game by Matt Cain, he’s caught a no-hitter by Tim Lincecum, and he’s been the catcher for an elite pitching staff that has helped the Giants win two World Series in the past three seasons.

Aug 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann (16) smiles during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports

According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports, the Giants are one of many teams considering signing seven-time All-Star Brian McCann this offseason. Of course, this report is purely speculative. This doesn’t mean the Giants will actually sign McCann, but Heyman mentions that the Giants will at least explore the idea.

So, why would the Giants even consider signing another catcher, when they have a superstar catcher in Posey? Well, there might be some sense to this craziness.

There are a few reasons why the Giants should sign McCann. First of all, McCann could provide the Giants with exactly what they’re missing. The Giants need a left-handed bat with power, which will be a hot commodity among many MLB teams this offseason. Last season, McCann hit .256 with 20 home runs and 57 RBI in 102 games. Belt’s emergence this season as a legitimate power threat is certainly helpful to the Giants, but having more left-handed power in addition to Belt’s power could be quite advantageous to the Giants.

Second, having McCann behind the plate would ensure Posey’s health and stability. By signing McCann, the Giants would have to move Posey to first base and Brandon Belt to left field. Would this be a smart move though?

Let’s start by examining Posey’s move to first base. Posey is one of the best catchers in all of MLB, but Bruce Bochy sometimes starts him at first base in order to preserve his health. Catcher is a physically grueling position to play, and since Posey suffered a serious injury to his ankle only a couple years ago, Bochy wanted to ensure Posey’s safety and health for the entirety of a season. The Giants have even discussed moving Posey to first base permanently later on in his career.

Jul 19, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) throws out Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero (not pictured) during the fourth inning at AT

Posey has said publicly that he understands why it makes sense for the team and for himself to start at first base occassionally but that he wants to remain an everyday catcher in the future. He loves how cerebral the catcher position is, and, given how intelligent and thoughtful Posey is about baseball, it seems like the perfect position for him. However, the Giants might ultimately decide that Posey’s health is more important than his desire to catch.

Now let’s examine what moving Brandon Belt to left field would mean for the Giants. Belt is smart on defense and has great instincts, so he could play left field adequately but maybe not as effortlessly as he does at first base. Defensively, Belt is one of the best first basemen in the NL. It’s unclear if he could play left field as effectively as he plays first base over the course of a whole season.

McCann is an elite catcher, offensively and defensively. Not many teams would say no to a catcher of McCann’s caliber … but maybe the Giants should.

Moving Posey to first base or even third base eventually would make sense for Posey and the Giants. However, he’s still young and wants to catch. The Giants don’t want to upset their best player and the leader of their franchise. Not only does he want to catch, but he should catch. He’s an elite catcher, and he knows the pitching staff better than anyone. The pitching staff trusts him and knows that Posey will do whatever he can to help a pitcher and his team win. Posey is also a student of the game. He’s diligent in his scouting of the Giants’ opponents. Also, he’s fundamentally sound in his catching.

In addition, Belt is an elite first baseman, defensively. Belt is only 25, and he’ll certainly win many Gold Gloves in his career…if he stays at first base. Belt has already made several adjustments to his swing, which have propelled him towards reaching the immense amount of potential that he’s always had. The Giants shouldn’t force him to play a position where he’s not as comfortable, especially since he is just starting to become a complete player.

McCann is an incredible player. There are several arguments for why the Giants should sign him and for why the Giants shouldn’t sign him. Who knows if the Giants will actually pursue him, but the Giants will have to face some tough decisions if they think he’s worth signing.