Catcher Yasmani Grandal has now been the top backstop available on the open market in back-to-back offseasons. But this winter’s trip to free agency turned out drastically different for Grandal than last year’s. Coming off a prosperous run with the Dodgers an offseason ago, Grandal turned down a four-year, $60MM offer from the Mets before signing a one-year, $18.25MM guarantee with the Brewers. Grandal’s Milwaukee pact was barely more than the qualifying offer he rejected from the Dodgers, but it did give the 31-year-old the opportunity to make a substantial amount for a single season and once again make a case for a lucrative long-term deal. A year later, it seems fair to say things worked out well for the switch-hitting Grandal.
In his lone season as a Brewer, Grandal showed yet again that he’s one of the most well-rounded catchers in baseball. He earned the second All-Star nod of his career, racked up 5.2 fWAR, slashed .246/.380/.468 with a career-high 28 home runs in 632 plate appearances, and ranked near the top of the league as a pitch framer. While Grandal’s stellar 2019 output wasn’t much different than his 2018 production, he wasn’t going to settle for another one-year deal this time.
Grandal officially departed Milwaukee on Thursday to become the highest-paid player in the history of the White Sox, who signed him to a four-year, $73MM deal with full no-trade protection in 2020 and a partial NTC thereafter. It’s an undeniably bold strike by Chicago, which hasn’t finished with a .500 or better record since 2012 and hasn’t clinched a playoff spot since 2008. However, the White Sox are aiming to wrap up a multiyear rebuild and put themselves back on the map in the AL Central division, where they’re wedged between two contenders (the Twins and Indians) and a pair of noncompetitive clubs (the Royals and Tigers).
The Grandal signing figures to help the White Sox move closer to relevance in 2020, as he’s a clear upgrade over their No. 1 catcher from last season, James McCann. Of course, as is the case with all big-money acquisitions, there’s risk involved – especially when talking about a 30-something catcher. To Grandal’s credit, though, he has been eminently durable and extraordinarily consistent to this point. And Grandal’s bat is so sturdy that it should work just fine at designated hitter, where he’ll be able to play on occasion to partially save himself from the wear and tear of catching. If there’s another reason to like this move for Chicago, it’s that the club didn’t give up any draft compensation for Grandal, who was ineligible to receive a QO.
In your opinion, did the White Sox make a wise move in handing Grandal a franchise-record payday? (Poll link for app users)
For a club emerging from a rebuild, a top of the line catcher is a great keystone. On top of his offense, his ability to help the young pitchers is very valuable.
I give it an A.
Also an A. Mainly because the competition for him. Sets the tone this off season. CWS are in a very nice position.
I gave it an “A” as well due to:
1) A veteran catcher being a vital piece for a young rotation
2) OBP being a huge area of need for the Sox
3) Contract length and AAV being very reasonable
4) From Yasmani’s perspective, he won BIG by turning down 4/$60M last year to get 5/$91M (essentially picked up an extra year at $31M)
@ramon spot on!
He’s a good hitter, but he’s not much of a catcher. I also think guaranteeing 4 years was too much. They probably could have had him for 3 years with an option. Not a “bad” deal, just nothing special. And I’m guessing they regret it in a couple years, too.
I don’t know where that’s coming from. He’s been a very solid catcher and as a veteran, should be a boon for that young staff. And since none of us have any idea who else was bidding for him or for how much, they may have gotten a great deal that they won’t regret.
I’m with you. Catcher is very risky position to invest in. 3 years sounds better not only that McCann is average plus catcher at a low cost. But the white Sox get an A for effort! I would have spent the money elsewhere and lower risk.
JW what metric you’re using to defend his inability as a defensive backstop. Widely regarded as a top framer and defensive catcher.
He a great hitter for a catcher and a great pitch framer, CWS should be grateful they signed him
Defensively, Grandal is mediocre at best. He can frame pitches, but he regularly has trouble just catching the ball, whether it is thrown from the outfield, infield or even just a pitch from the mound.
The guy catches 100+ baseballs every single night and has around 10 passes balls every year. I wouldn’t call it a regular occurrence.
Not to mention the fact that the White Sox had no clear #1 catcher in their system following the upcoming season prior to the Yasmani Grandal signing.
Last year’s primary starter James McCann will be entering his final year of arbitration eligibility in 2020 and can become a free agent next offseason. Young Zack Collins has some strong upside as a high OPS slugger but has yet to show he can be a capable defensive starting MLB catcher. Catching prospect Yermin Mercedes who is built like a tank and was just added to the White Sox 40-man roster has shown more hitting skill than Collins but is an even more defensively challenged backstop who likely has no position in MLB other than being a DH.
Grandal not only upgrades the White Sox catching position in 2020 but also provides the team with a #1 starter for the foreseeable future.
Yeah. I thought there was a good chance he would go to the Braves for the exact same reason. He said he wanted to help guide a bunch of young high ranking pitching prospects and Atlanta is loaded with them. Now I see why the Braves didn’t sign him. I think the no trade clause was a big reason. The Braves have traded to acquire players that have no trade clauses like Mike Hampton and Mark Melancon, but in all of team history the Braves have never given a free agent a no trade clause in their contract. I believe they are openly against it. I actually like the Braves policy. It somewhat prevents them from being stuck in a situation where they have to keep a player they don’t need anymore.
That’s unbelievable that their largest contract ever handed out was 4/73 to Yasmani Grandal.
Could’ve been $250M last offseason but as a Sox fan, thank GOD it wasn’t.
Preller to the rescue
Looks like BVW knew what he was doing last year with his offer to Grandal.
Curious if he quit PEDs soon enough that long-term damage was avoided.
He had access to PEDs that helped his OBP and pitch framing? Because 28 HRs didn’t even put him in the top 60 HR hitters last year. Welcome to 2019, big guy.
I’m not saying he did or didn’t use PEDs, but there’s a lot more to performance enhancing drugs than producing more home runs.
He’s not referencing the HRs, but his PED suspention in the past.
Except the whole ped thing is nonsense. All players are on ped’s. Suspensions are handed down to guys who use stuff not on the league approved list. But let’s face it, they are all putting substances in their bodies to enhance their physical attributes in some form.
What a dumb comment
I agree.
Austin Hedges also can frame a pitch and throw out runners, but he hits .176 with 11 home runs. Peds would put this guy over the top.
Thw white Sox were never getting harper or Machado. if that who you’re referring to he quit
Their loathsome owner should have plenty of cash to spend. This team still needs a DH,RF and 2 front-line starters. It’s a shame he was allowed to run that storied franchise into the ground. He treats this major market team like a class A affiliate. Yet,the local press cowers to him and many of the fans have been brow beaten for so long,they just acquiesce.
In addition to cheapskate owner he doesn’t start paying rent to state, which owns their home ballpark, until they draw 2 mil fans. Plus the Bacardi club an eatery/ bar across the street which connects to the park via an overpass, JR refuses to share profits with the state
Troll much?
What long-term damage?
PEDs obviously have adverse effects, but none that really that outweigh the benefits, at least not athletically. That is true for “crude” traditional anabolic steroids, never mind more modern PEDs/regimens that are designed to avoid negative effects.
You may point to various injuries that some PED users face, but that is correlation, not causation. It is FAR more likely the “reasons” for PED use like previous injury or natural aging caused the injury than the PEDs themself.
This is an A signing for me. Even if this ultimately ends up as an overpay, the White Sox are so desperate for lefty production/somebody that can draw walks. Grandal checks both of those boxes. His defensive metrics are icing on the cake. Getting a lefty with a 30HR ceiling is a win for the White Sox.
Absolutely. The real risk for him taking the one year with MIL is the move to the midwest being from west-coast teams his entire career. He proved he is the deal, and a .380 OBP! Welcome to the White Sox.
Another grading you could track is about MIL letting him go? My grade on that is a D or F
The white Sox sign grandal to the franchise’s largest contract at 4/73 and you trash the brewers for not making the “splash”? You dirty dog.
Just saying, they could’ve kept him. Instead they keep pukeboy.
No brainer waiting for Fred and Jeff
The $73 million will turn out to be a disaster. Grandal will remain an above average catcher for the next year, maybe two, but after that he will regress into the pre-2019 Gary Sanchez.
Well, Grandal was worth, what, 3.5 WAR in 2019? And Sanchez was worth an average of 3 WAR in his first three seasons in the league (prior to 2019). I think if Grandal is worth 12+ WAR over the duration of his contract the White Sox will be pretty satisfied with how this contract turns out.
Not to mention the added value to the rotation and ability to tutor Zach, who has worked with him since he was a teenager as both are in Miami. Think of the impact McCann had on Giolito, and think of the possibilities of Yaz working with the likes of Michael, Dylan, and Reylo. The sky’s the limit
Top catchers can contribute till there 40 years old these days. Grandal might be peaking as a catcher. Good signing.
I’m curious as to what catchers you think contribute until 40. I like the signing however. The ability to DH him will keep his bat in the lineup 140 games even in the later years of the deal.
^ This. People also said Fisk was a bad signing, he was a cornerstone for years. This seems to be that sort of statement.
@arinyc If Grandal went anywhere else, I might agree. But the rhetoric which has surfaced so far is that he will enter the White Sox organization in a responsible mentor-leadership position. He will be actively involved and surrounded by a team that has created a culture of getting hits, driving in runs and grinding out wins.
People make uneducated judgements about Jose Abreu, the White Sox captain. The fact is, Abreu is the type of player who will get a single when necessary. He has all those RBIs because he does his job, not just hit home runs and one-trick-pony like Gary Sanchez.
True, and Eloy and YoYo are showing the profile of emerging hitters who combine power with elite bat control. Yaz’s plate discipline will be instructive for a young lineup that’s still evolving. If Timmy can learn to take some walks, look out
Grandal has always been an overrated catcher. He doesn’t hit in the clutch, chases out of the zone often and is a very streaky hitter. Being the highest paid White Sox ever is laughable.
He had a .380 OBP last year. Over 100 walks and 139 strikeouts. If that’s what chasing out of the zone gets you sign me up.
Brewcrew is right…He doesn’t walk because be is such a feared hitter, he just never seems to swing at a pitch that’s even ½ an inch off the corner. The umpires seem to think that if HE didn’t swing, it must have been a ball. Amazing thing to watch.
I’d give it an A grade if the contract was a 3 year deal. Obviously to secure Grandal’s services White Sox had to give him 4. This is a strong B for me. But, the decline is imminent at some point. Making a 4 year deal, is a very solid signing. And around 18 million a season isn’t cheap, but in today’s market, far from an overpay for one of the best catchers (as of now) in baseball. Solid B for me.
This kinda reminds me of when Pudge signed with my Tigers and instantly made them perennial world series contenders for close to next decade.
Pudge was also a cheater
Great signing. He will really help with the development of the pitchers, and watch his offense jump in Chicago. I especially like the element of surprise with the Sox pouncing quickly, I’m guessing a few other teams hadn’t even finalized their sales pitch for him yet. (Hard to do that without a rotation, Twins!) Solid A.
Any fan who gave a grade anything less than an A or B is jealous that their own team whiffed on Grandal this offseason or are simply ChiSox ‘haters’, most likely nervous Cubs fans who see the White Sox championship window beginning to open as their own team’s title chances begin to close.
2 all-star catchers is ALWAYS better than just 1.
Cubbies fans are very often Sox haters and without a doubt a the ones rating this signing poorly.
B. It’s a reasonable contract, but it’s not an huge bargain.
we hung our hat on pudge…
It is an overpay for sure. Outside of that, it was a great signing for the Sox. And hey, sometimes you have to do that in order to get the guy you want.
Signing a free agent is almost always an overpay, It’s a great signing, however.. Top pitch framer can only help a young pitching staff progress.
The White Sox should be looking towards winning it all in 2022. Wouldn’t be surprised if this record contract gets overtaken soon.
As a brewers fan I knew he wasnt going to stay. Still stings none the less.
Least he didn’t go to the cubs or cards. Well rarely see him.
Solid catcher, not quite as fun to watch as Lucroy was in his prime. I’m not sold on his ability to handle a pitching staff. Crew doesn’t have what you’d consider an above average staff, but clearly they were better in 2018 with arguably similar talent. Catcher could be the lynch pin there. Still a very solid catcher and the Sox should get a few good years yet.
I give it a B. The deal is actually an A on the face of it, but all big deals involving veteran Catchers and 1st basemen face “grade deflation” from me because of the risk. Both positions have a tendency to fall off the table rather quickly. Catchers because injury and injury-related decline. First-basemen because decline from an elite bat to merely a very good bat can kill their value.
I mean, what is the last big contract handed out to an age 30+ C/1B that worked out recently? Buster Posey went from one of the most team-friendly contract in baseball to nearly un-tradable in relatively short order….despite being younger. Yadier Molina’s extension isn’t looking too good. Brian McCann or Russell Martin’s deals didn’t really work out. We can NEVER FORGET the Joe Mauer contract. All of those players have borderline Hall of Fame cases too(Posey is probably the only lock due to his WS rings). Never mind lesser catchers like Sal Perez(who is still only 29 years old….) or Jonathan Lucroy(who never got a big deal, but did command a substantial prospect haul).
I love Grandal and the deal is objectively good IMO. But my personal style is to not spend on catchers or relievers. But rather hunt for the next Mitch Garver/Roberto Perez/Tom Murphy that pop up out of nowhere as stars for a couple seasons before falling off the face of the planet as quickly as the appeared.
Molina’s contract did work out. Martin’s did not (but Grandal is a much better hitter). It is a bit scary to sign a catcher to a premium contract at that age, the money overall isn’t soulcrushing. They need to show their fanbase they intend to compete as well.
I have Molina being worth between $25M(bWAR) and $38M(WARP) for both 2018 and 2019. He is still owed $20M for his age 38 season in 2020. It isn’t a disaster, but you probably don’t do that deal again.
I know you want to indicate to fans your intent to contend, but signing a catcher when you are likely 2-3 years away doesn’t make a ton of sense
The White Sox are a good bet to surprise this year. By the time they break camp, this lineup will be a nightmare for pitchers and they’ll have signed a big arm to go with Giolito. Beyond that, there’s an abundance of talent between Kopech, Cease, Lopez, and Rodon.
Moilna’s extension has worked out…He was an all-star in 2019 and won a gold glove in 2018…and he might play until he is 40…I think it is looking just fine
I’m guessing that the plan is for Grandal to catch around 90-100 games a year, and have his bat in the lineup almost every day as a DH. There’s no way a 31 year old catcher doesn’t see the value in easing off the workload to stay fresh.
Having him in the dugout when McCann catches will also be a great asset, especially for Lopez.
I gave it a B. I think he’s a player that definitely helps them but I feel they gave him one year too many and at too high an AAV.
Puzzling contract considering they could have offered a deal to McCann for a fraction of the price? Unless they are planning on putting Grandal on 1st if Abreu is gone in 2021?
And he is changing leagues and is over 30?
This deal would make more sense if Abreu had declined his QO.
Why?
Where do they play Grandal in 2020? DH? Do they bench or tt MCCann? Do they trade Abreu and put him on 1st?
At catcher… And DH. And 1B. There’s plenty of playing time to go around for those 3.
I think McCann and Grandal understand we have at least 4 more rookie pitchers coming up this season and 2 young catchers who can use their experience as well.
What is important to remember, the entire White Sox team is 22-25 years old. The oldest player is Jose Abreu at 32. There are a few guys between 26-29. That’s it. There’s just too many young people for Abreu to handle and McCann figured that out within a couple weeks. Hopefully, Grandal already gets it, but soon he will see for himself.
If you look at McCann’s career numbers, you’ll realize his first half was a fluke. He makes for a good backup but certainly not a #1..
g8752: Clearly you are either not a fan of the White Sox or have very pedestrian knowledge of their roster and farm system. I suggest you further educate yourself or just continue to read most of the comments posted here before making any more observations.
Abreu has signed a long term deal, I don’t see Grandal playing much at 1b, there’s really no need.
Don’t know if Grandal will live up to this contract. However, it’s great to see the White Sox back in the game. Have to give the organization an A for this signing.
He’s a top 5 catcher in the game. His contract is fine.
For Grandal it’s an A he got way more money than he is worth. It would be surprising if he manages the same WAR he had last year even once during this deal.
B because I’m a sad Brewers fan 🙁
I gave it an F because I am a contrarian.
I don’t get how eveyone thinks this is so good. James McCann was an all star last year and is one of the best defensive catchers in the league. He honestly has better numbers than grandal. And we all know how grandal can be hot and cold. Interesting move I give it a D should have gone after mookie…..
The story in Chicago is we have two all-star catchers now working with about 10 or more young pitchers who are inconsistent, coming off injury, inexperienced or all together brand new.
Who would you rather have working with them?
Good for maybe year 1 then inevitable catcher going into mid 30’s drop off. I see why they did it. Been in rebuild mode need a splash for fans. But likelihood of contract maintaining value all 4 years doubtful.
A great signing by the Sox. I grade his signing as a B. The simple fact is I never grade free agent signings any higher. Always a risk but that’s the way it is. He will help this team on their journey to the next level Beyond the overall skill set he brings. Grandal’s signing should open the door for additional signings. Thinking along the lines of Mad Bum or Wheeler. I especially admire the way the Sox signed Grandal at a rather clandestine fashion. Not many fans or media really saw this coming. Good work-Don’t stop now boy’s!
The haters have been showing the hate with Grandal signing with the White Sox. This was a good move for both him and the White Sox organization. Hahn has been following his plan with rebuilding the White Sox’s farm system through drafting players, trades and international signings. Grandal choose the White Sox because he saw the young talented pitchers he would be working with along playing with fellow Cubans like Moncada and Abreu then Robert when he comes up from AAA.
Have to say an A. Sucks to see him go but that guaranteed 4th year was the difference in the Brewers interest I hear. Certainly not paying a 35 year old catcher that much his final year. Sox have the DH advantage.
Good deal Sox. The AL Central is slowly turning into a 3 team race.
I give is a solid B
In those 4 years I’m guessing 108 homeruns
So no mention of his 27% throw out base stealers % and his horrible 2nd half which he has done more than once in his career
Better than JM but overpaid for a 31 year old catchet.
is a catchet a new position? where does he play?
He meant catcher. You could not figure that out?
C .31 year old catcher , on the decline soon and paying him 18 million at age 35. Sox won’t be relevant until he is hobbling around bases. Money better spent on top of line pitcher . If they get cole or Strasburg then I’d grade a lot higher
B+, only because of the risk in the final year.
Grandal will immediately give the team a left-handed bat who can hit for power and provide solid defense behind the plate, notably with framing.
It is probably a slight overpay, but that is what you have to do when you want the best players on any given market year.
If they can add another quality bat who can generate a high OBP, this will be a solid lineup.
I give it an ‘A’ because ‘Grandal’ is an anagram for (Jon) ‘Garland’.
And I’d do the same if the Chisox signed Walker Buehler.
A+, but only because finally the White Sox can make deals based on the player’s talent, not on whether or not he would be in Manny Machado’s Top 8 on his MySpace.
Four years may be too long but he can DH when his catching days are over.
Not a White Sox fan but I’m very impressed with this deal and the direction of the team.
After looking at the current team and the near prospects this team is about to take over the AL Central. They need starting pitching but this is a great year for free agent pitching.
Grandal stood up for all catchers out there last year and now he’s being paid appropriately. Four years. The QO is garbage when you have a family and kids and all you can tell them is that we’re going to be here one year. Like military families but without any of the myriad of support processes. Good for Yasmani!Glad to see the Sox going in to compete in 2020. They could be a hell of a team.