Orioles acquire James McCann from Mets

The Orioles found their backup catcher late last night.

James McCann has been acquired from the Mets along with cash considerations for a player to be named later. The team made the announcement.

McCann, 32, appeared in 61 games with the Mets this season and batted .195/.257/.282 with six doubles, three home runs, 18 RBIs and 19 runs scored. He spent nine weeks on the injured list with a fractured left hamate bone that kept him sidelined from May 11 to June 24 and a left oblique strain that left him inactive from June 10 to Aug. 4.

The right-handed hitting McCann is a career .243/.296/.380 hitter in 783 major league games. He was an All-Star with the White Sox in 2019, when he hit a career-high 18 home runs.

The Mets are paying $19 million of the $24 million remaining on McCann’s contract over the next two years, according to reports.

Adley Rutschman was the only catcher on the 40-man roster until the trade.

McCann, who spent five seasons with the Tigers and two each with the White Sox and Mets, has a lifetime 5.0 WAR per Baseball-Reference.com. He’s thrown out 34 percent of runners attempting to steal.

To make room for McCann, infielder Tyler Nevin has been designated for assignment.

Nevin, acquired from the Rockies in the Mychal Givens trade in 2020, hit .197/.299/.261 in 58 games this season. He’s blocked at the corner infield and outfield positions.

Givens rejoined the Orioles this week, with the deal becoming official earlier today. He was McCann’s teammate this summer with the Mets.

The Orioles also have signed starter Kyle Gibson and infielder/outfielder Adam Frazier to major league contracts during the offseason.