In a surprising announcement, free agent outfielder Curtis Granderson said in a radio interview Tuesday that he is considering accepting the Yankees’ qualifying offer of $14.1 million for one year, echoing what his agent said last week.
“Well, it’s definitely something you’ve got to think about and I appreciate the Yankees extending that offer to me,” Granderson said during an appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.
“You definitely got to continue to weigh all your options to see what’s the best fit for you. … You know, there are 29 other ball clubs out there and we’re now at a point where every team has the chance to be a contender here in the near future.”
One thing that is swaying Granderson toward remaining with the Yankees is his close relationship with Joe Girardi, writes Anthony McCarron of the Daily News.
“I enjoyed my time with him for four years. He and I have actually got a Chicago connection, him going to Northwestern, me going to the University of Illinois-Chicago. So we always talk some things about that. And then just being in the clubhouse with him. He knows the game. The way he handles the team is great.”
“He makes sure he gets all his players prepared so he doesn’t have to be always in your face because he knows you’ve done the work and his coaching staff has done a great job of getting you ready to play for the game. So once they locked that up for another four years that was a great sign and is definitely something to consider moving forward.”
The big thing here is Granderson staying another year to reestablish his value in a park that is perfectly suited for his swing. He has until Monday to accept the offer.
