Dodgers: Yasmani Grandal’s Return May be the Best Case Scenario

The Dodgers are still looking for a second catcher to at least platoon with Austin Barnes.  At this stage of the off-season, Yasmani Grandal’s return might be the best case scenario.

The Dodgers find themselves in a holding pattern as the off-season is reaching the later stages.  Pitchers and catchers will report to spring training in under forty days now and the Dodgers still only have one Major League catcher in Austin Barnes.  The free agent market still has two options in Yasmani Grandal and Martin Maldonado.

Martin Maldonado is a solid defensive catcher although he struggled towards the end of the 2018 season just as Yasmani Grandal did.  Offensively, Maldonado won’t outhit Austin Barnes and while he has some pop in his bat, he should not be relied on to drive in runs for the Dodgers.  Yasmani Grandal on the other hand, is the best catcher left on the market.

Despite his rough ending to the season and playoffs, Grandal ranked as the second best catcher defensively in baseball according to Stat Corner’s catching report.  In fact, in each of the last three seasons, Grandal ranked second in runs above average and in 2015, Grandal finished as the third best catcher in baseball.

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While passed balls became an issue behind the plate towards the end of the season, Grandal is still a better backstop than 95% of the catchers in the league and he could be primed for a nice bounce back season in 2019, especially if the Dodgers get him back on a one year deal.  Then he would help bridge the gap to Keibert Ruiz in 2020, while re-establishing his own market before hitting free agency again at the end of next season.

Yasmani Grandal is a lock to hit twenty home runs a season while delivering above average defense behind the plate.  He is one of the best pitch framers in baseball, and combined with his bat, he would be a welcome sight back for LA.  The Dodgers are open to bringing back Grandal, as long as it’s on a one year deal.

At this point in free agency, the A’s and Dodgers are two of the main teams still looking for a catcher but the A’s are not likely to break the bank for a catcher.  In addition to a salary in the 12-15 million dollar range, Grandal would cost his team draft pick compensation since the Dodgers gave Yasmani the qualifying offer.

The Dodgers have been linked to J.T. Realmuto but the Marlins are still shooting for the moon in asking for Cody Bellinger.  Francisco Cervelli is another solid option behind the plate for the Dodgers, but his salary of 11.5 million is nearly what Grandal would cost.  A Grandal-Dodger reunion would be the best case scenario at catcher for the Dodgers as long as it’s on a one or two year deal.