By Tim Ryder
According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, catcher Yasmani Grandal declined his 2020 option with the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.
Grandal, 30, was set to make $16 million with Milwaukee next season after signing a one-year, $18.25 million with the Brewers last January. After declining the mutual option himself and the team held for 2019, Grandal became a free agent.
The Cuban native hit .246/.380/.468 with 28 home runs, 26 doubles, 77 RBIs, and 139 strikeouts over 632 plate appearances in 2019, but where Grandal truly shone was behind the plate.
Among all qualified MLB backstops, Grandal’s +1 defensive runs saved ranked eighth and his 17 framing runs above average (FanGraphs) were best in the majors.
New York Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen offered Grandal a four-year, $60 million deal last winter, but was rebuffed. The Mets instead shifted their attention to Wilson Ramos, signing the 32-year-old to a two-year, $19 million contract.
Grandal explained his decision-making process to reporters at Milwaukee’s press conference announcing his signing last winter.
“A lot of teams made good [offers] and I am grateful for that, but I felt like part of my responsibility as a player was to respect the guys who went through the process before I did […]”
“Those guys who established pay levels and markets for upper-tier catchers like me. So I felt like I was doing a disservice if I were to take some of these deals being thrown around.”
Heyman notes the Cincinnati Reds as a logical interested party, as they were last offseason, for Grandal’s services.
The lifetime .241/.348/.446 hitter (eight MLB seasons) was drafted 12th-overall by Cincy in the 2010 draft before being traded to San Diego (along with Yonder Alonso, Edinson Volquez, and Brad Boxberger) for Mat Latos in 2011.
We’ll keep you posted with any new developments.
