Brian McCann says goodbye to Hot'Lanta, signs with the Yankees

No, YOU'RE the man, Brian. (Photo courtesy NYPost.com)

ATLANTA--The New York Yankees are once again in the business of spending money...LOTS of money...to try and win a championship.

The Pinstripes jumped right off the train and signed silver slugger Atlanta catcher Brian McCann to a five-year, $85 million contract. To be fair, the deal is pending a physical, but it's all but sealed. All said and done, the contract does include a possible sixth season, which would push the total upwards of $100 million.

There's even word the deal includes a full no-trade clause.

“[This is] a bittersweet day for him,” McCann’s agent B.B. Abbott told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He has a special place in his heart for Atlanta.”

The Yankees believe McCann's power will fit right into the new Yankee Stadium, with it's shallow porch in right field. He's a career .277 hitter, and has hit at least 20 home runs every year, including 2012-13 after missing the first month of the season due to surgery on his shoulder.

The Braves are at least getting something out of this deal, because they did make a one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer to McCann. They will now receive a compensatory pick, somewhere between the first and second rounds, when MLB holds their June draft.

When the best hitting catcher in Braves history leaves Turner Field, Evan Gattis is the number one option still in the dugout. Gerald Laird and Christian Bethancourt are also on the roster.

Brian McCann: Enforcer For The Love Of The Game

((HT: FS Brewers/MLB))

Carlos Gomez is not, apparently, Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez when it comes to admiring his handiwork...


But Braves catcher Brian McCann will be more than happy to tell you when you break the code...

Gomez, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman and Gerald Laird were ejected. The umpires said that the Gomez run counted even though he had never touched home plate, invoking Role 7.06(a), which says an "obstructed runner shall be awarded at least one base beyond the base he had last legally touched before the obstruction."

Gomez and Maholm have a history... On June 23 at Miller Park, a Maholm fastball hit Gomez in the left knee. Gomez thought Maholm had intentionally struck him.

When Gomez rounded third base, he pointed at his knee while yelling at Maholm... connecting the two incidents...

At least, in theory...

Chris Johnson Doesn't Appreciate Those Who Watch Homeruns

((HT: MLB/FSFlorida))

This was one of those incidents that had a lot of things wrong with it...

And, mostly, it was because of how entirely young the Miami Marlins are...

It all starts with a home run... by a pitcher...

Here's what went down...


So, did Fernandez cause the furor by staring...? Yes...
Was it immature...? Yes...
Was McCann in the right by trying to explain etiquette to Fernandez...? Yes...

Do young kids in a group lend itself to immaturity...? And, when confronted by veterans does something like this escalate...? Yes.

Fernandez wasn't a fan of what Evan Gattis did when he homered earlier, so he may have retaliated. But Fernandez said McCann told him "You can't do that Buddy. He talked to me like a friend, a father."

Which may have put an end to the whole thing- until the next time Fernandez pitches against the Braves...