Brewers Sign Yasmani Grandal to a One-Year Deal – Yes, You Read That Correctly

Raindrops keep fallin’ on my head.

But that doesn’t mean my eyes will soon be turning red.

Crying’s not for me

‘Cause I’m never gonna stop the rain by complaining.

Because I’m free.

Nothing’s worrying me.

#Brewers in agreement with free-agent catcher Yasmani Grandal on a one-year contract, sources tell The Athletic.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 10, 2019

Grandal deal with Brewers worth $18.25m. One year.

— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) January 10, 2019

Yup. That’s a thing that is happening. The Brewers are getting the best catcher on the market, and one of the best overall catchers in the game, on an extremely reasonable one-year deal. It’s possible I might explode into a fireball as I type this sentence.

Grandal, 30, is a switch-hitter, a good defender, and an exceptional framer, who hit .241/.349/.466 (125 wRC+) this past year. And for basically the price of a qualifying offer, the Brewers get him for 2019 without any risk thereafter. Suffice to say, this is a significant upgrade for one of the Cubs’ biggest divisional competitors, who now also have two very nice back-up catchers in Manny Pina and Erik Kratz.

Oh, and this signing means the Brewers will be extending well past their previous levels of spending. Good for them on that front.

Did I mention the fireball?

Yes, he had some very public struggles in the postseason defensively, but the sample there is so small that it shouldn’t be scaring anyone off. Clearly, Grandal feels like the market for his services will be better next year, and wants to put in one good year with the Brewers before trying to score big again when he’s not attached to a qualifying offer.

On that front, the signing will cost the Brewers their third highest pick in the draft. Big freaking whoop.