NEW YORK -- Brian McCann still wanted to catch, a lot. So with his options limited in the New York Yankees lineup, the seven-time All-Star gladly accepted a new opportunity in Houston.McCann waived his no-trade clause and was sent, along with $11 million, to the Astros on Thursday for a pair of young minor league pitchers.The Yankees acquired right-handers Albert Abreu and Jorge Guzman.It had to be the right fit, McCann said on a conference call. It wasnt going to be just anywhere.McCanns playing time diminished in the second half of the season as rookie Gary Sanchez emerged as a power hitter behind the plate. Sanchez hit 20 home runs in just 53 games.It was like nothing Id ever seen before. He was the best player in the game, McCann said.The 32-year-old McCann hit .242 with 20 homers and 58 RBI this year.We entered the offseason with the acquisition of a catcher as a primary focus, Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said in a statement.Brian McCann is a great fit for the Astros as he is not only a good defensive catcher, he is also a left-handed hitter with proven run-producing ability, he said. His experience and his ability to impact his teammates will be a significant benefit to our team.Jason Castro made the most starts at catcher for the Astros last year, batting .210 with 11 homers and 32 RBI.Evan Gattis, known more for his slugging than his catching, also saw time at the spot.Houston and the Yankees met in the AL wild-card game in 2015. They both went 84-78 this year and missed the playoffs.Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the trade gives the team financial flexibility for potential free agents and trades.Houston stepped up and I think all parties got what we wanted, he told reporters.McCann made 86 starts at catcher last season, his fewest since he was a rookie with Atlanta in 2005. He figured next year in New York likely would mean catching once a week, plus some platoon time as a designated hitter.I wanted to catch every day, he said. I feel like I still have a lot of good years left.McCann also likes what he sees in the Astros, praising a lot of great young pieces.I wanted to be a part of it, he said.McCann hit 24 homers in 2006 and has hit at least 18 home runs in every season since then. He has 245 career homers with 888 RBI while batting .266.This was McCanns third season in New York after signing an $85 million, five-year deal as a free agent.McCann is due $17 million in each of the next two seasons, and the Yankees will pay $5.5 million both years.The Yankees had a $15 million option for 2019 with no buyout. The option became McCanns if he had at least 1,000 plate appearances combined in 2017 and 2018, had at least 90 starts at catcher in 2018 and didnt end up that season on the disabled list.The 21-year-old Abreu was a combined 3-8 with a 3.72 ERA for two teams in Class A. The 20-year-old Guzman was a combined 3-4 with a 4.05 ERA with two rookie-level teams.Air Max 270 Se Reflective Off Noir Pas Cher . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said. Air Max 270 React Noir . Kiriasis and brakeman Franziska Fritz finished two runs in one minute 55.41 seconds -- a mere 0.01 seconds ahead of Meyers and Lolo Jones, who likely bolstered her Olympic hopes by helping give USA-1 a huge push in the second heat. http://www.airmax270reactpascher.fr/fausse-air-max-270-2021/fausse-air-max-270-ultramarine.html . The head of USA Boxing came out swinging Tuesday with an open letter to Tyson -- a former Olympic hopeful himself -- that accuses the former heavyweight champion of trying to poach fighters who might be candidates for the U. Air Max 270 2021 . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. Air Max 270 React Electro Green Pas Cher . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed.Mark Warburton has backed Niko Kranjcar to return fitter and stronger after surgeons reported the Rangers playmakers knee surgery had been a success.The Croatia international midfielder ruptured his cruciate ligament last month in a freak training ground accident and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.Rangers boss Warburton accepts the 32-year-old faces a lengthy rehabilitation period, but is hopeful Kranjcar will make a full recovery. The Englishman told Rangers website: Nikos operation went well, the stitches came out on Monday, which he is pleased about and the inflammation is down.He is going through the normal four weeks [recovery period] and then after four weeks he will revisit the surgeon and hopefully get the green light to push on from there.It is a really structured week-by-week programme, there is no cutting corners and unfortunately it is a very common injury in football now but the programme is set. Kranjcar was injured in a training ground accident It is a week-by-week programme and you cant be doing well at four weeks and jump ahead to eight, it doesnt work that way, you have to go step after step.He is in great hands and his attitude is first class and we have no doubt he will return back fitter and stronger than ever.Warburton has also been left frustrated after seeing promising midfielder Jordan Rossiter suffer another a setback in his fight for fitness.The 19-year-old Liverpudlian is nursing a calf injury, having not played since late August when he hobbled off against Kilmarnock. Six months half price Upgrade to Sky Sports now to watch Man U v Arsenal on Saturday and get the first 6 months half price Jordan is getting there, he had a small setback and there is a lot of work being done with him, said Warburton.Jordan is a boy who just wants to play football. His ability is more than evident to anyone who has seen him play this season.The frustration is obvious, but hes working hard and these things happen, these frustrations come with the game.Jordan is veryy frustrated at the moment, but there is no doubt his quality is there and well see it sooner rather than later Im sure.dddddddddddd Rangers midfielder Jordan Rossiter is still out of action with a calf problem Meanwhile, Warburton has sent first-teamers Philippe Senderos, Danny Wilson, Matt Crooks, Martyn Waghorn and Barrie McKay north with the Light Blues U20s side for Tuesdays development league clash with Ross County.Centre-backs Senderos and Wilson are making their way back from injury and Warburton wants the rest of the group to pick up some valuable action ahead of Saturdays Ibrox clash with Dundee.Warburton said: We had a decent session on Monday and four or five of the boys will be involved in the U20s game on Tuesday at Ross County.That is good for them and means they can get some pitch time after the break, that has worked out well for us and they have a good playing surface up there. Philippe Senderos will be in action for the U20 side on Tuesday We will probably look to involve Philippe and Danny from a defensive point of view, Matt Crooks and Barrie McKay will get some pitch time and Waggy will play too.Waggy, all credit to him, was keen to play in the last 20s game, but it was an artificial surface and we were hesitant.They are putting four or five first-teamers out as well, so hopefully it will be a good test and they will look forward to that.We were down to two centre-halves and all credit to the medical and performance guys for working so hard and to the boys for putting the effort in.They boys are back and training with us and they need minutes now, at the moment Clint and Rob have the jerseys but it is about being ready when your chance comes along.Upgrade to Sky Sports now to watch Man Utd v Arsenal this Saturday and get the first six months half price!Also See:ONeill rules out ScotlandBarton leaves RangersUnited face QueensGet a £10 free bet! ' ' '