Brian McCann Formally Introduced By The Yankees

Dec 5, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees manager

(right) and new catcher

during press conference at Yankees Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees made it official earlier this afternoon, introducing their first piece of what they hope will be a championship puzzle in 2014 with catcher Brian McCann. At the outset, the Yankees expressed how happy they were to have McCann now in the fold, and what he will mean to carrying on the tradition of stellar backstops, from Yogi Berra through Jorge Posada. McCann must now live up to those expectations and more.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman presented gifts of flowers for McCann’s wife Ashley, along with three baby onesies, each donning McCann’s new number 34 for his 16-month old and his 2-month old children. After the gifts were presented, manager Joe Girardi took to the podium and spoke briefly about his feelings on McCann not only as one of the game’s best, but what his presence will mean to the Yankees organization for the foreseeable future.

Finally, McCann himself stepped to the podium and expressed how grateful and impressed he was with the Yankees’ pursuit of him from the onset of free agency. While he seemed a bit nervous with his new Yankees’ cap pulled down low over his eyes, he relaxed and answered questions from the various media members in attendance. To watch the entire Brian McCann press conference, click on the video below.