Former Tigers catcher who bolted for rival resurfaces in MLB with Diamondbacks

More than a decade after he made his MLB debut with the Detroit Tigers in 2014, veteran catcher James McCann is getting another shot in the big leagues.

The 35-year-old, who was selected by the Tigers in the second round of the 2011 MLB Draft, reportedly signed a Major League contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. The signing, first reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, paves the way for McCann to return to a big league battery for the first time since last year.

McCann spent the last two years backing up Adley Rutschman with the Baltimore Orioles, where he hit .228/.274/.382 in a combined 134 games. His age and lengthy injury history prevented him from getting another Major League opportunity before Opening Day in 2025, prompting him to sign a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves before the start of the season.

McCann had been playing at Triple-A Gwinnett, but his contract included a rolling opt-out clause in the event that another team offered him a guaranteed deal at the Major League level. Fortunately for McCann, an injury to Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno created an opening behind the plate in Arizona, and the Snakes came calling.

Former Tigers catcher James McCann gets new MLB opportunity with Diamondbacks

McCann spent the first five seasons of his Major League career with the Tigers until he became a free agent when he was non-tendered after a lackluster 2018 campaign. He spent the next two seasons with the Chicago White Sox, where he revitalized his career before signing a four-year, $40 million contract with the New York Mets in 2021. McCann was then traded to the Baltimore Orioles during the 2022-23 offseason after two seasons with New York.

With 11 seasons and 917 games of Major League experience, McCann provides the Diamondbacks with some much-needed veteran experience behind the dish. He should be able to slot right into Arizona's lineup, at least on a part-time basis, to help stabilize what has been an injury-ridden, underperforming pitching staff for the Diamondbacks this season.

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