McCann went 0-for-3 with a walk, a hit-by-pitch, a stolen base and a run scored in Thursday's 13-10 win over the Royals.
Following the trade that sent Luis Torrens to the Orioles, it appears more possible for McCann and Adley Rutschman to co-exist in the lineup between catcher and designated hitter. McCann has been in the lineup in four of the last six games, twice as the DH and twice as the catcher. He's slashing .225/.262/.400 with two home runs, one steal, five RBI, six runs scored and a double over 42 plate appearances this season.
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Orioles' James McCann: Supplies three hits in win
Rotowire
McCann went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 11-7 win over the Royals.
McCann collected his first three-hit effort in just his 11th game of the season. He singled home a run in the fourth and would eventually score. The 33-year-old got another base hit in the fifth and in the eighth, raising his slash line to .250/.250/.444 with two homers, five RBI, five runs and a 0:5 BB:K over 36 plate appearances. McCann primarily operates as Adley Rutschman's backup but manager Brandon Hyde has gotten his bat in the lineup as a DH at times, as he did Tuesday.
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Orioles' James McCann: Clubs second homer
Rotowire
McCann went 1-for-3 with a solo home run during a 7-4 loss to the Tigers in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.
The veteran catcher took Eduardo Rodriguez deep in the second inning, but the O's were already in a 3-0 hole at that point. McCann's playing time has picked up lately, as he's begun to see some at-bats at DH in addition to giving Adley Rutschman occasional breathers behind the plate, and while he's still batting only .194 (6-for-31) on the season after Saturday's twin bill, three of his six hits -- a double and two homers -- have gone for extra bases.
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Orioles' James McCann: Returns to bench Tuesday
Rotowire
McCann is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox.
McCann is back on the bench after he had been included in the lineup each of the past three days, making two starts at catcher and one as a designated hitter. The Orioles' lack of an everyday DH means that manager Brandon Hyde will likely continue to rotate several players at that spot, including No. 1 catcher Adley Rutschman. As such, McCann could continue to play more than most No. 2 catchers around the league, though he's still unlikely to see enough playing time to warrant attention outside of AL-only leagues.
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Orioles' James McCann: Pops first homer
Rotowire
McCann went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's victory over the Tigers.
McCann piled on with a solo shot in the fourth inning off Joey Wentz. McCann got the start behind the plate as Adley Rutschman slotted in as the designated hitter. McCann had a miserable .195 batting average last season and hasn't gotten off to a good start in 2023 either, as he's hitting .167 over 18 at-bats in his first season with the Orioles.
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Orioles' James McCann: Starting at catcher
Rotowire
McCann is drawing a start at catcher for the Orioles in Wednesday's game versus the Nationals, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
Adley Rutschman is also in there at designated hitter. McCann is just 1-for-11 at the dish so far after returning from an oblique strain.
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Orioles' James McCann: Back from IL
Rotowire
The Orioles reinstated McCann (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Sunday.
McCann spent just over the minimum 10 days on the shelf due to the left oblique strain he suffered back on March 20 in the latter stages of spring training. He'll settle in as the primary backup to standout catcher Adley Rutschman, though McCann doesn't project to play more than a couple times per week. The Orioles also have a third catcher (Anthony Bemboom) on the 26-man active roster for the moment, as Baltimore chose to option outfielder Kyle Stowers to the minors to make room for McCann.
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Orioles' James McCann: Could return Sunday
Rotowire
McCann (oblique) will catch Saturday for High-A Aberdeen and could return to the Orioles on Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports.
McCann begin his rehab assignment with Aberdeen on Friday and singled twice. The backup backstop has been on the shelf since the start of the year with his oblique strain, and even if he doesn't return Sunday, he should be back with the club early in the next week if there are no setbacks.
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Orioles' James McCann: Set for rehab games
Rotowire
McCann (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Aberdeen on Friday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
McCann won't be ready for activation from the injured list when first eligible as the O's had hoped, but he's not far off. A return at some point next week seems likely.
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Orioles' James McCann: Takes part in running work
Rotowire
McCann (oblique) was spotted running the bases Monday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
McCann remains on the 10-day injured list, but the fact that he traveled with the Orioles to Arlington for the team's three-game series with the Rangers is a sign that he's tracking toward a brief stint on the shelf. Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com noted Sunday that McCann has already been cleared for full baseball activities, so the catcher may even have a chance at being activated when first eligible Thursday if the Orioles don't think he requires a minor-league rehab assignment beforehand.
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Orioles' James McCann: Placed on 10-day IL
Rotowire
The Orioles placed McCann on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a left oblique strain.
McCann told Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com on Thursday that he's feeling much better and doesn't believe he'll be out long. Anthony Bemboom will serve as Adley Rutschman's backup in the meantime.
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Orioles' James McCann: Likely to need IL stint
Rotowire
McCann (oblique) is "likely" to need a stint on the injured list, Orioles general manager Mike Elias told MLB.com on Monday.
McCann tweaked his left oblique back on March 20 and hasn't played since. While the catcher considered it to be a "minor" strain, it doesn't look like he'll be well enough to avoid a trip to the IL. Anthony Bemboom looms as the likely roster replacement.
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Orioles' James McCann: Status for Opening Day in question
Rotowire
McCann (oblique) said his hitting session Sunday merely went "OK," and he remains uncertain whether he'll be available for Thursday's season opener in Boston, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
McCann hit off a tee in the batting cage in an attempt to gauge how much he had progressed in his recovery from left oblique discomfort, an issue that cropped up a few days earlier. While McCann didn't suggest that he experienced any sort of setback, he didn't come away encouraged that he took any major steps forward either as he aims to put the injury in the rear-view mirror. The Orioles will likely wait and see how McCann feels over the next couple of days before deciding if he's fit to serve in a backup role behind No. 1 backstop Adley Rutschman on Opening Day. If McCann requires a stint on the injured list, however, the Orioles could add Anthony Bemboom to the 26-man roster to work as Rutschman's understudy.
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Orioles' James McCann: Uncertain for Monday
Rotowire
McCann (side) is going through hitting progressions before Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies, but he is unsure if he'll play in Monday's spring finale versus the Cardinals, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
McCann has been battling soreness in his side and been held out of the lineup for the past few days. The backup backstop being able to participate in hitting drills is a positive step forward, but it's possible that McCann will need to open the 2023 campaign on the injured list.
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Orioles' James McCann: Experiencing soreness in side
Rotowire
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Saturday that McCann has been out of the lineup lately as a precaution while the catcher manages left side soreness, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
McCann is expected to serve as the backup to Adley Rutschman in 2023, and while he hasn't been able to play as of late because of the side issue, it sounds like this isn't a serious injury. McCann should be a full-go for the start of the 2023 campaign.
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Orioles' James McCann: Settling in with new team
Rotowire
McCann has gone just 4-for-24 through eight Grapefruit League games.
McCann has two doubles, one RBI and a run in spring games so far. Despite the lackluster batting, the veteran catcher is a lock for the Orioles' Opening Day roster as Adley Rutschman's backup, though the veteran could also see some action at first base. McCann may struggle to match the 61 games he played last year, which also saw him post a career-worst .195/.257/.282 slash line, but his veteran presence should be a stabilizing force in the clubhouse for a team that's ready to introduce a large number of prospects to the majors.
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Orioles' James McCann: Could see time at first base, DH
Rotowire
McCann was told by the Orioles at the time he was acquired that he and Adley Rutschman could both see time at first base and designated hitter, in addition to catcher, this season.
McCann put up a .610 OPS over the last two seasons for the Mets, so it's difficult to believe the Orioles will actually attempt to squeeze him into the lineup very much on days he's not catching. Rutschman did see ample time in the DH spot last year, though, so if this is a route to save his legs then it's good news for his fantasy value. Even with a decent amount of playing time, McCann is unlikely to be relevant outside of deep, two-catcher leagues and single-league formats.
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Orioles' James McCann: Headed to Baltimore
Rotowire
McCann has been traded from the Mets to the Orioles along with cash considerations in exchange for a player to be named later, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The Mets have been shopping McCann around all offseason and have found a taker in the Orioles. New York will cover $19 million of the $24.3 million still owed to the catcher over the next two seasons, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. McCann will back up Adley Rutschman in Baltimore, so playing time figures to be sparse. The Mets still have Omar Narvaez, Tomas Nido and Francisco Alvarez as catching options.
