Last week, former Dodgers’ catcher Yasmani Grandal signed a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers worth $16 million with a mutual option for a second season that includes a $2.25 million buyout.
Grandal had been connected to the Mets earlier in the offseason, and had reportedly turned down a four-year contract from the team in the $50-60 million range.
After signing on with the Brew Crew, Grandal faced some scrutiny for ultimately taking a shorter, cheaper contract for less guaranteed money. When Grandal went on MLB Network, he claimed “I felt like part of my responsibility as a player was to respect the guys that went through this process before I did…”
He then added “Guys like Brian McCann and Russell Martin, Yadier Molina. These are guys who established markets and pay levels for upper- tier catchers like me. I felt like I was doing a disservice if I were to take some of the deals that were being thrown around.”
After that, he went on to state “I wanted to keep the line moving especially for some of the younger guys that are coming up, to let them know, if you’re worthy, then you should get paid what you’re worth. That’s where I was coming from.”
To comment on what Grandal said, MLB Network’s own Ken Rosenthal went on to add that “Molina average annual value was $20M in three-year extension. McCann was $17M in five-year deal, Martin $16.5M on five-year deal. Grandal evidently viewed potential $15M AAV in four-year deal with Mets as step back. Got $18.25M for one year from Brewers”
Mutual options are rarely ever accepted, so Grandal seems to be staring at another go around in free agency in 2020 if he and the Brewers do not work out an extension before then.
