Brewers Show They're Serious by Splashing Cash To Add Former All-Star

By The Wildcard January 9, 2019 at 9:36pm

Catcher Yasmani Grandal and the Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to an $18.25 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday night because the agreement, first reported by The Athletic, was subject to a successful physical.

.@Brewers, catcher Yasmani Grandal reportedly agree to 1-year, $18.25M deal, pending physical. https://t.co/cdFn6JF42H pic.twitter.com/xFiYui39k0

— MLB (@MLB) January 10, 2019

Grandal turned down a $17.9 million qualifying offer from the NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers in November. He would be eligible for free agency again after this year’s World Series.

Now 30, Grandal was an All-Star in his first season with the Dodgers in 2015. He hit .241 this year with 24 homers and 68 RBIs as Los Angeles won its second straight NL pennant. He made $7.9 million.

Grandal has a .240 big league career average with 113 home runs in seven seasons.

He would supplant Manny Pina and Erik Katz, who combined to get the most games behind the plate for Milwaukee last season.

The Milwaukee Brewers did their best work last January, and they’re following the same pattern this year. First came yesterday’s surprise signing of catcher Yasmani Grandal, and now the Brewers are in heavy pursuit of an infielder to play second or third base, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 10, 2019

Grandal is the second player to reach agreement among the six who turned down qualifying offers. Pitcher Patrick Corbin agreed to a $140 million, six-year contract with Washington.

Outfielders Bryce Harper and A.J. Pollock remain on the market, along with left-hander Dallas Keuchel and closer Craig Kimbrel.

Born in Cuba, Grandal moved with his family to Florida, played for the University of Miami and was taken by Cincinnati with the 12th overall pick in the 2010 amateur draft.

He was traded to San Diego in December 2011 as part of the deal that brought pitcher Mat Latos to the Padres, then made his big league debut the following June.

Grandal was suspended for the first 50 games of the 2013 season because of excessive testosterone.

He was dealt to the Dodgers in December 2014 as part of the trade that sent outfielder Matt Kemp to San Diego.

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Milwaukee made a surprising run to the NL Central title last year and reached Game 7 of the NL Championship Series, losing to the Dodgers.

Grandal was just 2 for 11 with no RBIs in the series, then went 1 for 5 with no RBIs in the World Series loss to Boston.

He also struggled defensively in the postseason with a number of untimely passed balls, though he had been considered a strong defender and pitch framer.

Because Grandal turned down a qualifying offer, the Brewers would forfeit their third-highest draft pick this year, which would be about No. 105. Los Angeles would get a compensation pick after competitive balance round B, about No. 79.

The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.

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