Brian McCann Tells WFAN the Truth About Lost Yankees Role

Following the trade that sent Brian McCann to the Astros from the Yankees for a package of Minor League pitchers, McCann spoke out about his proposed reduced role had he stayed in New York.

Brian McCann was a consummate professional this past season as he was eventually fazed out by the phenomenon known as Gary Sanchez. Never one to utter a discouraging word about his teammates or managerial decisions, the writing was on the wall for McCann by early September —  that in 2017, he would no longer be an everyday player for the New York Yankees.

So even though there were persistent rumors that McCann would be open to the idea of being a steady DH and part-time catcher going forward, the seven-time All-Star recently put those rumblings to rest while speaking on WFAN.

“I still want to catch every day,” McCann told WFAN’s Mike Francesa. “I still want to put in the work with 115, (1)20 games and catch every day. So that was kind of the final decision that I made when the season ended. I’m just not ready for that DH/catch-once-a-week gig.

McCann would go on to say that he found himself super excited this past season to simply come to the ballpark to witness what Sanchez, the 2016 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up would do next.

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“I was fired up to watch it every day,” McCann said. So I think something clicked mentally with him where he just took that next step, and the rest is history.

“I’m anxious to see how everything turns out, but he’s as good as it gets.”

When asked about continuing his role as a clubhouse leader and wrangler of a solid — albeit banged up pitching staff in Houston, McCann responded with the type of joyful optimism that will be sorely missed when the Yankees head to spring training in a few months.

“I look around, and it reminds me kind of what the Cubs did,” McCann said. “They have some of the best young players in the game. … They’re just getting started, but yet they’re contending for MVPs.”

Putting a big red bow on his time well spent as a member of the Yankees, McCann said this about the best part of playing in The Big Apple:

“For me, it was meeting new people,” McCann said. “I met some coaches that, man, the hours they put in, the passion they have for the game — I was so blessed to be a part of it. Again, I made a lot of friends, lifelong friends that I’ll have. I’m very grateful that I was able to play three years there, but now it’s time to move on, and I start a new chapter.”

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On behalf of Yankees fans all across the world, I’d like to wish McCann a fond farewell, and much success as a member of the Astros. Well, unless he’s playing against the Yanks, of course.