When the New York Mets despatched catcher James McCann to the Orioles this winter, they weren’t in search of a prime prospect; Baltimore returned a rookie-level outfielder who had but to get out of the Dominican Summer League. They weren’t trying to save cash; the Mets agreed to pay all however $5 million of the $24 million owed to McCann over the subsequent two years.
New York merely needed to eliminate him.
The commerce freed up a roster spot amid an offseason that featured document spending, with the Orioles utilizing the circumstances to safe a veteran backup for younger star Adley Rutschman. McCann has served effectively within the position, along with his work behind the plate and in conferences drawing reward from pitchers and supervisor Brandon Hyde. His offense, a trait of lesser significance for backup backstops, has nonetheless left a lot to be desired, however maybe he was saving his finest for vengeance.
In the Orioles’ 10-3 victory over New York on Friday night time at Camden Yards, McCann tied his profession excessive with 5 RBIs, stealing the highlight from longtime Baltimore supervisor Buck Showalter’s return to Camden Yards because the Mets’ skipper. Entering the day batting .197 with a .570 OPS for Baltimore (68-42), McCann completed with three hits, every driving in at the least one run, for his second multi-hit sport as an Oriole. Starting behind the plate with Rutschman at designated hitter, McCann additionally caught a strong pitching effort, with three Baltimore pitchers combining to permit 4 hits.
The sport was scoreless till the fourth, when McCann slapped a two-out, two-run single into heart. The Orioles’ lead vanished within the sixth when right-hander Dean Kremer, who had cruised via 5 1/3 innings, issued three straight walks earlier than permitting a game-tying single to Francisco Lindor.
Assisting McCann, a 10-year veteran, in pounding the Mets (50-59) was rookie infielder Jordan Westburg. After Mike Baumann changed Kremer and produced an inning-ending double play, Westburg drew a one-out stroll within the body’s backside half, then raced across the bases to attain from first on Ryan O’Hearn’s lofted single. Baltimore added three extra runs within the body, with McCann bringing house two with a double to deep left, stealing third base and scoring on a sacrifice fly from Rutschman.
Westburg broke the sport open within the seventh with a three-run blast to heart area, marking the primary house run at Camden Yards for the Orioles’ No. 4 prospect.
Before McCann slapped an RBI single to proper — giving him run-scoring knocks to every area — later within the inning, he already had as many four-RBI video games in opposition to the Mets since they let him go as he had in 182 video games with them throughout 2021 and 2022. An All-Star in 2019 who additionally carried out effectively within the shortened 2020 season with the Chicago White Sox, McCann signed a four-year, $40.6 million cope with New York. He hit .220/.282/.328 over the primary half of that contract to immediate the Mets to maneuver him for Baltimore minor leaguer Luis De La Cruz, who has but to play within the DSL this season.
McCann is now amongst various veterans whose contracts the Mets have paid right down to commerce them away, with New York parting with aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer forward of the commerce deadline amid this disappointing season. McCann, in the meantime, is on one of the best workforce within the American League, with Friday’s victory sustaining the Orioles’ two-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays within the AL East.
Around the horn
- Orioles heart fielder Cedric Mullins (proper groin pressure) is scheduled to start a rehabilitation task with Double-A Bowie on Saturday and also will play Sunday. Mullins has been sidelined since July 15, when aggravating an damage he initially suffered May 29.
- Right-hander Tyler Wells will pitch a brief outing for Bowie on Saturday, his first look since being optioned to Double-A on July 30. Wells was Baltimore’s prime starter within the first half, however after struggling in three outings out of the break, the Orioles optioned him for what Hyde known as a “reset.”
- Bowie shortstop Jackson Holliday, the group’s and baseball’s No. 1 prospect, was activated from the injured checklist after lacking the previous week with an sickness.
- In his skilled debut, No. 17 total choose Enrique Bradfield Jr. went 2-for-2 with a stroll and a steal within the Florida Complex League.
This story shall be up to date.
Mets at Orioles
Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com