November 3rd, 2018 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka It came as a no surprise to no one when, on Friday morning, it was announced that Dodgers had given new free agent catcher Yasmani Grandal a qualifying offer to remain with the team for the 2019 season for the pre-determined (by MLB) amount of $17.9 million.
It’s not that the Dodgers actually want the soon-to-be (on November 8) 30-year-old La Habana, Cuba native back as their everyday or even back-up catcher next season, in fact, quite the contrary. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi made the lofty QO (as they are commonly called) to the La Habana, Cuba native fully believing that the once highly touted backstop would immediately decline it, opting instead to try to land an even loftier multi-year free agent contract with another team. Doing so would give the Dodgers a competitive balance draft pick between the second and third rounds of the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft in June, which was the real reason why they gave Grandal the qualifying offer.
Although Grandal has 10 days to decide whether or not to accept the QO, early indications suggest that F&Z’s plan may have backfired on them. Much to their surprise (and to the disappointment of Dodger fans), there were widespread rumors on Friday that Grandal may actually accept the qualifying offer, especially after his dismal performance down the stretch and into the 2018 postseason.
Much like the little girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead, when Grandal was good, he was very good indeed. But when he was bad he was horrid. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
As every Dodger fan knows all too painfully, Grandal became a huge defensive liability during the final weeks of the 2018 regular season and throughout the postseason. In fact, were it not for the fact that Grandal is a switch-hitter, he probably would have seen considerably less postseason playing time than the 14 games in which he appeared, going a combined 4-for-29 (.138) with one extra base hit (a double), one RBI, five walks, and 15 strikeouts.
And then there’s his defense.
In his 13 postseason games behind the plate, Grandal allowed four passed balls and had three wild pitches get past him that he could have (and should have) blocked.
By comparison, back-up catcher (and later primary catcher) Austin Barnes appeared in 10 postseason games, allowing zero passed balls and having only one wild pitch get past him. The problem was Barnes went a combined 2-for-32 (.063) with no extra base hits, two RBI, three walks, and 14 strikeouts during the postseason.
Do you see where all of this is going?
During Thursday’s end-of-the-season press conference and with the understanding that Grandal would, in all likelihood, be gone next season, I asked Friedman if top catching prospects Will Smith and Keibert Ruiz – ages 23 and 20 respectively – would be given an opportunity to compete for the starting and/or back-up catching job(s) during spring training 2019.
“I don’t know. I mean right now I think that it’s a little early to ask that and I think that it would be putting them in a tough position,” Friedman answered. “I think spring training is probably a little aggressive, but I wouldn’t be surprised that, at some point during the year, if one or both of them were in a position to knock the door down. But out of spring training, it’s a big ask and we shouldn’t plan our off-season with that in mind.”
Although this wasn’t exactly the answer I was expecting and, in all honesty, hoping for, it did have a “So you’re telling me there’s a chance” feel to it, albeit only slightly.
For observant Dodger fans, they undoubtedly noticed that Smith received a September 1 call-up to the big league club. That being said, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made it abundantly clear that he would not see action in a major league game and most certainly not in a postseason game.
The Dodger skipper was quick to add, however, that Smith’s call-up was to reward him for his outstanding season and hard work at Triple-A Oklahoma City during the 2018 season and to “Give him a taste of what it’s like to be in a major league clubhouse,” as Roberts put it. During the 2018 season, Smith split time between Double-A Tulsa (73 games) and Triple-A OKC (25 games), hitting a combined .233 with 20 home runs and 59 RBI.
Throughout his three-year minor league career, Smith has shown excellent power at the plate, especially in 2017 when he hit 15 doubles, three triples, and 11 home runs in his 72 games with the Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
As for young Keibert Ruiz, who rocketed his way through Low Single-A Great Lakes and Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2017 and spent all of 2018 at Double-A Tulsa, he is currently playing in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, which is known as a springboard to the majors for baseball’s top prospects representing all 30 MLB teams. Through his first 12 AFL games, Ruiz is 13-for-45 (.289), with one double and six RBI.
Even at only 20 years old, Valencia, Venezuela native Keibert Ruiz is already drawing comparisons to some guy named Yadier Molina. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
How all of this plays out is anyone’s guess and it very well could all be moot if Grandal does indeed accept his qualifying offer. However, barring a miraculous resurrection of his less-than-stellar end to the 2018 season and postseason, don’t be surprised if F&Z are already on the hunt for an experienced MLB catcher; say… like… 27-year-old former Miami Marlins All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto, who also just so happens to now be a free agent.
Stay tuned…
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I see that several teams including the Yankees and the Mets are interested in Realmuto.
J.T. Realmuto is a free agent? Thought he was controllable for two more years.
Yes, offering the QO to Grandal was a no brainer. I am no QO expert, but isn’t there another option for the Dodgers with Grandal?
If Grandal accepts the QO isn’t he also a nice trade piece (If players accepting the QO can be traded)? Lots of teams need help at catcher, including the Dodgers, having Grandal on a one year slightly overpaid contract isn’t all bad for the Dodgers. Sure he sucked in the post-season this year, but he could bounce back and a one-year bridge to Smith and Ruiz is probably needed.
If Smith, Ruiz, Farmer, Wong or Barnes are ready to handle the catching duties in 2019, Grandal could be a very valuable trade piece with his one-year contract.
You are correct … sort of.
Realmuto is NOT a free agent (poor wording on my part). However, apparently because he lost his arbitration case last season, he re-signed with the Marlins for only one years (2018) for $2.9M (he was shooting for $3.5M). As such, he’s not a free agent free agent, but he is a free agent – i.e. he can sign a multi-year deal and for whatever a team is willing to pay him.
As OBF noted, he is drawing A LOT of interest and from some heavy hitters (pun intended). My guess is that he will be the most sought-after experienced (albeit with the Marlins) catcher on the open market this off-season.
Let the games begin.
No Dude, Realmuto is NOT a free agent. He can NOT sign with any team of his choosing. He IS arbitration eligible for the 2019 AND 2020 seasons. That means only the Marlins can sign him for the next TWO years. The only way to get Realmuto is to meet the Marlins rightfully outrageous trade demands. That will start with Ruiz and Verdugo plus pitching. So, put down the pipe and operate under the assumption that he won’t be traded to the Dodgers even if Grandal rejects his Qualifying Offer.
“Dude” – That’s what I was referring to when I said that he is not a free agent free agent, but is a free agent in the sense that he (through his agent) wants out of Miami and are working towards that end … but whatever.
This from MLBTR on November 3:
https://thinkbluela.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Realmuto.jpg
Is it possible if Grandal except the QO and the Dodgers do get Realmuto Grandal and Smith get traded for relief help.Barns would be Realmuto backup and a bridge to Keibert Ruiz.
My guess is that the Dodgers would have a difficult time recovering the full $17.9 million (QO money) owed to Grandal if they trade him.
That being said, if they can get Realmuto (a long shot, in my opinion) for a reasonable price, they would probably be willing to eat some of that Grandal money.
Although I’m not too keen on the idea of trading Will Smith, the prize (also in my opinion) is Ruiz.
It’s going to be an interesting off-season for the Dodgers, that’s for sure.
Possible but improbable. Dodgers more likely wait out the 10 day period during which they could have preliminary discussions with the Marlins. If Grandal accepts the offer then Dodgers are content to go into 2019 with Grandal and Barnes, then in 2020 both Smith and Ruiz could be ready for regular duty behind the plate.
In addition to his post season meltdown, how many plays at the plate throughout the season resulted in Grandal dropping the ball? I don’t know the number but it sure seemed like a lot to me.
I think it was like eleventy billion.
Let the kids play!!!
and how many more times (to infinity and beyond) were Grandal and pitchers crossed up during games with signal calling? Then there were the handful of times that Grandal could not even locate balls that were within 2 feet of him?
He’s the greatest catcher who ever lived … just ask him.
Ah yes, a legend in his own mind.
In 2020 we have Ruiz and Smith still are Dodgers where would they play one catcher and where would the other play
I believe Ruiz is limited to catching whereas Dodgers have used Smith at catcher, 3b, and 2b. Not far behind Ruiz and Smith is Connor Wong who can also play multiple positions as well as catcher
I’m a true Dodger fan! But I’m a little discouraged about their chances of going to another world series because I dont think they wanted to improve the team because they weren’t good enough in 2017 or 2018. I don’t think what they did was enough. It makes me think if they do make it, they will lose again. Like they are the best in the nl but not good enough for the best in the al. I don’t know, losing two years in a row doesn’t look good and the moves that were made doesn’t seem like it’s enough. The world series window is closing, and it’s making fans like me a laughing stalk.
It looks like the Phillies are going to be the best if they got JT Realmuto, they’ll get Harper and Machado! It just seems like management is content because they had the highest attendance last year.