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Milwaukee Brewers Sign Catcher Yasmani Grandal

By Sam Brahm

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Yasmani Grandal #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers strikes out in the eleventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game Four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Yasmani Grandal #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers strikes out in the eleventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game Four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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The Milwaukee Brewers made a stunning move Wednesday night and signed former Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal to a one year deal worth over 18 million.

After staying quiet for a while, David Stearns finally made a big move. And it just like a lot of his acquisitions, it was smart and unexpected. On Wednesday night, the Milwaukee Brewers signed switch-hitting catcher Yasmani Grandal to a one-year deal worth $18.25 million.

This was a typical Stearns move, making a big splash without anyone expecting it. The only catcher the Brewers were connected to this offseason was Wilson Ramos and he was signed by the New York Mets in December.

Yasmani Grandal was one of the best catchers on the market. He has been highly judged due to his play behind the plate in the NLCS, but he is actually a good defender and one of the best hitting catchers in baseball. This is a huge upgrade at the catching position offensively and it he will be a big part of the 2019 starting lineup.

Background

Yasmani Grandal has been in the National League all of his career. He played for the Padres for his first three seasons, but he played his best baseball when he was in a Dodgers uniform. He played in L.A. since 2015 and was a solid catcher for the team. He did reject a $17.9M qualifying offer from the Dodgers in the beginning of the season, which causes the Brewers to lose a draft pick with this deal. And Grandal also said no to a deal with the Mets that was for four years worth over $60 million as well.

Stats

Yasmani Grandal isn’t someone that hits for average. The best he hit was .247 which was in 2017, but that’s not the reason he was signed. It’s for the power and production. The past three seasons, he has hit over 20 home runs. And with Grandal moving to a nice hitter-friendly stadium, we could possibly see 30 home runs go off Grandal’s bat this season.

One underrated trait about Grandal offensively is his ability to work the count. Last season he had a 13.9% walk percentage, which is considered way above average, according to FanGraphs. And with Grandal being a player who once again doesn’t hit for average, this is a huge plus.

2018 Stats: .241 BA/24 HR/68 RBI/.349 OBP/.815 OPS in 518 PA

Advanced: 3.6 fWAR/.352 wOBA/125 wRC+

Defense is what fans will most likely worry about, but the stats show he is one of the top guys in the MLB at the catching position. Last year he was second in DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) among catchers and in almost all major defensive categories, he is in the top 10. He may not have an arm like Pina, but he is someone you can trust behind the plate.

2018 Stats: .994 Fielding Percentage/9 DRS/7 Errors in 1037.1 innings

Next. Dairyland Talk: Brewers trade Keon Broxton. dark

Overview

Huge move for the Brewers. No one expected this with the main focus being at second base and starting pitching, but this is a nice upgrade. The catching position wasn’t a big strength, but with this addition, this makes the lineup even more dangerous. This is just a rental, but adding someone with World Series experience and also adding a veteran presence can do a lot for a team. Welcome to the Crew, Yasmani Grandal.

And Remember…In Stearns We Trust.

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