A Look at the Top Free Agents by Position for the Dodgers

I get it, you do not want to see Yasmani Grandal in a Dodger uniform ever again. The postseason passed balls and the regular season defensive blunders have you saying something along the lines of “go away and stay away.” But, to your wishes of departure, I say nay and present to you the most elite catcher on the free agent market and, quite frankly, the only one that actually improves this team.

Grandal has been in the league for seven years. Debuting with the Padres in 2012 and getting traded to the Dodgers in 2015, he has quietly been one of baseball’s best offensive and (believe it or not) defensive catchers.

Offensively, there is just no denying the raw power. Since his debut in 2012, only Salvador Perez and Brian McCann have hit more home runs than Grandal has and only Buster Posey has a higher OPS+ in the same stretch.

Grandal brings as good a bat as anyone right now. In a market where catchers do not hit anymore, this is incredibly valuable. In 2018, Grandal was one of just four catchers to have an OPS+ of 100 or more. That means every catcher with the exception of Grandal, JT Realmuto, Yadier Molina and Yan Gomes were below average hitters by that measuring stick.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: just trade for Realmuto. Well, pump the breaks.

JT Realmuto is so good it is unfair. His offense is the second coming of Buster Posey and while his defense is atrociously bad, his offense and ability to play first base make up for it. But, the Dodgers have two young catchers coming up in Keibert Ruiz and Will Smith. If you assume they need at least one more year of minor league seasoning, Grandal on a two-to-three year deal makes a world of sense while JT Realmuto, a definite starter until 2021, does not.

I value Grandal at roughly $10 million a year and that is a much better price to pay than the prospects it will take to stay competitive in the Realmuto race especially with Yan Gomes off the market.

Defensively, you say nightmare, I say not really. Yes, he has led the league in passed balls over the last three years but Grandal also has a career DRS of 63 at catcher. Since 2015, his lowest single-season DRS was 6 which occurred in that 2015 season. You can read the in-depth defensive comparison I wrote on Grandal versus Realmuto here.

Grandal has a real case to return to the Ravine. The fan base’s potential to riot may be a big turnoff for both sides but, if you ask me, a reunion makes a lot of sense.

Honorable mentions for catching free agents go to James McCann and Jonathan Lucroy. I am not in love with either of them and honestly, I would rather see the Dodgers just stay in the house if it comes down to one of those two. But, for the sake of talking free agents only, McCann and Lucroy it is.