White Sox Are Calling Up Zack Collins; Here's What That Might Mean For James McCann

The White Sox look like they are set to call up another prospect from their healthy crop of young talent. On Sunday, word surfaced that catcher Zack Collins, the tenth overall pick in the 2016 draft, would be joining the major league roster after reliever Thyago Vieira was optioned following Sunday's loss to the Yankees.

Miami-based radio host Andy Slater first broke the news in a tweet, and then The Athletic's James Fegan later confirmed the news. The team does not have to make the roster move official until prior to Tuesday's crosstown game at Wrigley Field, but the plans for Collins look pretty clear.

The callup of Collins might signal that there is some cause to wonder about what the team is planning for catcher James McCann. Signed for $2.5 million for this season and arbitration eligible and under team control for 2020, McCann has been such a potent member of the White Sox offense that he has earned All-Star consideration. He currently trails only Gary Sanchez of the Yankees among American League catchers in the voting. McCann is hitting .324 with 6 home runs so far this season.

Along with that, McCann has provided a great deal of behind the scenes value to the team. Teammates like pitcher Lucas Giolito have said that the has been integral to their growth from last year to this one because of the perspective he has brought from years playing against the White Sox while a member of the Detroit Tigers. Like McCann's teammates, general manager Rick Hahn has been effusive with his praise of the catcher.

"He’s been tremendous not just in terms of what we’ve seen offensively, but what he’s done for our pitchers in shepherding them through games," Hahn told reporters at Guaranteed Rate Field last week. "And the growth of some of our young pitchers as well as the role he’s played in the clubhouse. He’s been everything we had hoped for off the field, as advertised off the field and even better from an offensive standpoint."

It should not be expected that Collins is going to bump McCann from the starting role, but there is little use in bringing Collins to the majors if he is not going to get opportunities to play.

This will probably mean that McCann does lose a start here and there, but not necessarily much more than that. Given that the trade deadline is approaching next month and the White Sox have traditionally been active during that time, teams will undoubtedly be checking in with Hahn about McCann's availability.

A trade involving McCann does not look likely at this point, however. If he stays, Collins might be called upon to show some defensive flexibility.

At the University of Miami and through his first three seasons in the White Sox farm system, Collins played only catcher. But with Triple-A Charlotte this year, Collins has made nine starts at first base. There has been some question about whether Collins will stay at catcher anyway, and Jose Abreu will be an unrestricted free agent after 2019. There's a chance, then, that first base will be open next season, and Collins could slide into that spot in 2020 if McCann figures into the team's plans beyond this season.

The White Sox are two games below .500 and thirteen games out of first place in their division, but only 3.5 games out of the American League wild card race. Last week, Hahn hinted that the team might be inclined to be buyers rather than sellers during this year's trade season. That will depend on how the team does over the next few weeks, when they will have challenges in series against the Cubs, Red Sox, and Twins leading into the All-Star break.

Whether they are looking to suit up for a run at the postseason in 2019 or taking a more long term view, Collins figures to be an important part of the team's future.