Former Detroit Tigers catcher signs minor-league deal with Braves

Former Detroit Tigers catcher signs minor-league deal with Braves
Detroit Tigers catcher James McCann takes the field before a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Detroit, Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP

DETROIT — Former Detroit Tigers catcher James McCann, one of the more recognizable names still on the market with Opening Day fast approaching, has found a new home.

McCann signed a minor-league deal with the Atlanta Braves on Monday, according to several reports. He will be assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett, giving Atlanta additional catching depth after injuries at the position.

His arrival coincides with the departure of another former Tiger, Curt Casali, who was released by the Braves this week after failing to make the club out of spring training.

McCann, 34, was drafted by Detroit in the second round in 2011 and played five seasons (2014-18) with the Tigers before the team declined to tender him a contract following a subpar 2018 campaign. He revitalized his career with the Chicago White Sox over the next two seasons before signing a four-year, $40 million deal with the New York Mets. After two seasons in New York, he was traded to Baltimore, where he spent the past two seasons as the backup to young star Adley Rutschman.

Casali, 36, was also a 2011 Tigers draft pick but never reached Detroit. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013 so the Tigers could retain the rights to Rule 5 pick Kyle Lobstein. Casali has bounced between 11 organizations but carved out an 11-year big-league career, though he has never had more than 256 plate appearances in a single season.

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