The New York Mets opted for the cheaper option last offseason when they opted to sign James McCann instead of J.T. Realmuto. McCann signed with the Mets for four years at $40.6 million while Realmuto inked a five-year, $115.5 million deal with the rival Philadelphia Phillies. These were the best two catching options in free agency, but McCann lagged behind Realmuto in 2021.
McCann was such an intriguing addition because of his emerging hitting metrics, which showed increased exit velocity and launch angle, which was not present early in his career.