White Sox: James McCann solidifies the best catching duo
The Chicago White Sox have two amazing catchers in the fold and they plan on using them to help get this team over the hump in 2020.
The Chicago White Sox signed their All-Star catcher James McCann to a contract extension on Monday afternoon. This is exciting news for the White Sox as this just means that a great player is coming back into the mix after he had a career year in 2019. They have a great core of young players that they’re building around so McCann is the definition of a piece that is placed around those young players.
McCann was great in 2019 with both his bat and glove. He helped some of the pitchers elevate their game. That includes Giolito, who all of the sudden went from the statistically worst pitcher in 2018 to a Cy Young candidate in 2019. A lot of that can be credited to having McCann behind the plate. They are hoping all of this can be repeated to some degree in 2020 as this team expects to compete for a playoff spot in the American League.
One of the biggest reasons this is such great news is the fact that it comes a week after the White Sox signed Yasmani Grandal to a four-year deal. Grandal is considered to be one of the best catchers in the world and he is coming to a team that already has an All-Star catcher. This is going to be the best catcher duo in the league. These are two big-time players that will be in the White lineup in 2020. They both play the same position so obviously they won’t both be catching every game but the other can be the designated hitter when the other needs a break from being behind the plate.
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The important thing for the management team is to make sure both of these players remain fresh in 2020. They will certainly both get starts behind the plate but they need them both to contribute offense like we know they can. If the one not starting is also able to be in the lineup as a DH that would go a long way in the White Sox having a solid lineup from the leadoff man down to the nine hitter. This is such an exciting tandem and you should be excited to watch them.