By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 12/3/2013 1:13 P.M. ET
NEW YORK -- The Yankees will create tangible proof on Thursday in the Bronx, parading new catcher Brian McCann before a gathering of reporters and photographers to herald the slugger's first moment wearing pinstripes.
For now, a news release has made it official. The Yankees announced on Tuesday that they have signed the 29-year-old McCann to a five-year contract extending through the 2018 season, including a vesting option for the 2019 campaign.
The deal, worth a reported $85 million over the first five years, gives the Yanks a much-needed offensive upgrade behind the plate. A seven-time All-Star, McCann owns a career .277 batting average and leads all Major League catchers in home runs since 2005.
"The singular and unwavering desire of this organization is to construct a team each and every season designed to play meaningful baseball deep into October," Yankees managing general partner and co-chairperson Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement.
"In Brian McCann, we feel we have made a significant improvement to a key position, while adding a high-character presence to our clubhouse. Our work this offseason has just begun, but we feel this is an important step towards what will be an exciting and rewarding 2014 season for our fans."
The Yankees and McCann reached agreement on a contract before the Thanksgiving holiday, but the deal was held up from being officially announced until McCann could undergo his physical.
After the Yanks watched their four catchers slug an MLB-low eight home runs in 2013, McCann's left-handed stroke is expected to mesh nicely with Yankee Stadium's short right-field porch.
The long ball is a strength for McCann, as he is one of just 11 Major Leaguers -- and the only catcher -- to hit at least 20 home runs in each of the past six seasons, having played his entire career to date with the Braves.
This past season, McCann batted .256 with 20 home runs and 57 RBIs in 102 games. He missed the Braves' first 30 games of the year while recovering from right shoulder surgery.
While McCann's calling card is his offense, he threw out 24 percent of baserunners attempting to steal, which is on line with his career average. He also has a reputation for handling pitching staffs well, posting a 2.98 catcher ERA in 2013, the lowest such mark in the Majors since the Dodgers' Paul Lo Duca in 2003 (2.73).
A native of Athens, Ga., who was originally selected by Atlanta in the second round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, McCann is a five-time Silver Slugger Award recipient (2006, '08-11) and has hit three home runs with nine RBIs in 12 career postseason games for the Braves.
Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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