Report: Brian McCann on verge of signing deal with New York Yankees

Jul 30, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann (16) in action against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

UPDATE: Multiple outlets are now reporting a 5-year, $85 million agreement between McCann and the Yankees.

We have known for a long while that long-time Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann wouldn’t be returning to the team for 2014, but now, there is a report circulating that could pinpoint McCann’s exact destination of employment for next season.

FOX’s Ken Rosenthal (who credited Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News) reports that McCann is near a contract that would pay him $16 million annually over a 5-year period with the dreaded New York Yankees. This will not set well if Braves fans if it comes to fruition, as the Yanks famously downed the Braves in two different World Series match-ups over the late 1990’s and they are largely considered to be the “Evil Empire” of Major League Baseball.

It’s important to note that this is simply a report that McCann is “close” and not a definitive breaking news story, but either way, it shifts the focus from what was thought to be a widespread tour of free agency for McCann. As for the Braves, they’ve seemingly moved on with plans to utilize some combination of Evan Gattis, Gerald Laird, and Christian Bethancourt next season behind the plate, but for anyone holding on to faint hope of a triumphant return for McCann, it may be time to pack up that notion.

Stay tuned for additional news as it breaks.