The Reds will sign first-round catcher Yasmani Grandal to a major league deal worth $2.99MM, according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo. Jon Heyman of SI.com also hears that Grandal will sign for $2.9MM (Twitter link). The University of Miami product becomes the first 2010 draftee to sign a major league deal and will receive a 40-man roster spot.
Grandal, still just 21, played on the 2009 USA Baseball national team. The Red Sox drafted him in the 27th round of the 2007 draft, but he did not sign.
iains
Wow.. That kinda skews things with the Jays negotiating with Deck McGuire
jwredsox
Major League Deal?????
For a catcher?????
Did he call his own games at Miami?
iains
Just means he’s immediately on the 40 man roster… although it does shorten up his minor league time. I’m guessing the Reds are really thin at catcher.
jwredsox
I’m just wondering where he will play. Most college catchers take a while in the minors because they have to learn to call games which is something most don’t do while in college. And they were thin at catcher last I saw.
Ethanator99
Now who are the Reds going to take off their roster? Am I the only one that is infurated at these Kids thinking they deserve to be on a Major League roster without playing a single professional game?
jwredsox
Not many drafted players demand a major league deal. I bet this has nothing to do with Grandel’s demands but more of the Red’s fault.
TheBunk
Wow, great work Reds, this is going to really mess things up now.
Jay
How does it mess things up now… lol.. some posts on here just make me laugh out loud when I read them. Anyway……. Bad move still to make this a major league deal but even though we need to drop someone off the 40 man I am sure there is someone that can fall off without too much pain involved. The money seems fair… I just hope this guys hype is as big as hit bat and catching skills are.
Would have preferred the contract not be a major league deal for sure but who knows maybe they said to the Reds they wanted this or they would not sign. Nobody but the Reds staff knows.
Sniderlover
This is so stupid. I can`t believe these draftees are already getting on the 40-man roster when they are years away from doing anything.
MLB draft picks signing makes absolutely zero sense.
iains
Don’t forget Grandal was picked right after McGuire.. this one really throws a monkey wrench into the works
camisadelgolf
Mike Leake says ‘hi’.
Ferrariman
Zach Cox is gonna get PAID
Chris Martinek
Put him on the Mike Leake fast track.
jwredsox
I think the HGH theory is not real at all. First I don’t think Grandal’s agent would be dumb enough to demand a ML deal for a catcher which is the hardest position to groom for the majors and 2, if he did demand the deal it would be to reach Super 2 and get to arbitration faster = more money.
jwredsox
Your edit makes my post look really out of place
Gunner65
Nice … Reds have all top 15 picks signed … some scouts feel he isn’t going to need a lot of time in the minors because he has been calling games with the Canes … just needs to clean up his footwork.
Jay
Oh sweet was wondering if anyone had seen this guy or knew anything about him.
Like you I am thrilled about the top 15 being signed. #6 was signed tonight too if you didn’t hear.
jwredsox
Alright so he did call signs at Miami. That was what I was wondering. I which case he should be capable of being pretty ML ready.
camisadelgolf
Yonder Alonso, who has the same agent as Grandal, signed a Major League deal back in 2008, and Alonso won’t need to stick to a Major League roster until 2013. The deal for Grandal means the same thing in that he won’t need to be ready for MLB until 2015.
2010 = no option used due to less than 20 days spent on an optional assignment
2011 = first option year
2012 = second option year
2013 = third option year
2014 = qualifies for a fourth option year as a result of having less than five full seasons as a professional
2015 = must stick with a Major League roster or risk being lost on waivers
Guest
YEAH REDS YEAH