November 13th, 2018 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka I had it right.
…sort of.
I had projected that one of the two Dodgers who had been given a $17.9 million qualifying offer (as set by MLB and the MLB Players Association) would accept it and that the other would not.
I fully expected that Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal, who had a horrible fall from grace late in the 2018 regular season and through the playoffs, would accept the Dodgers QO because he would, in all likelihood, have a difficult time finding any other team out there willing to give him more than $17.9 million, even if only for one season.
On the other hand, I fully expected that Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, who pitched exceptionally well after returning from a couple of serious injuries, would reject the QO because at 31 years old, he was in a very good position to land a multi-year deal, perhaps even from the Dodgers.
I had it backwards and I couldn’t be happier.
Shortly before Monday afternoon’s 2 p.m. PT qualifying offer deadline, it was announced that it was Ryu who had accepted the Dodgers qualifying offer and Grandal who had not.
This was absolutely the best-case scenario for the Dodgers and their fans.
(Image courtesy of @DodgerInsider)
It’s no secret that Ryu, who posted a 7-3 record and an outstanding 1.97 ERA in his 15 regular season starts in 2018, is a huge favorite among Dodger fans.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the just-turned-30-year-old Grandal, who had an awful second half of the 2018 regular season and a horrendous postseason, during which he was charged with four passed balls, committed two very costly errors, and had three wild pitches get past him that he absolutely should have blocked.
But perhaps of even bigger concern was the fact that the La Habana, Cuba native and former 2010 first round draft pick (by the Cincinnati Reds) was a bit of a malcontent in the Dodgers clubhouse and routinely dissed members of the media wishing to interview him. In other words, DLTDHYITAOTWO, Yaz.
Grandal was a bit too quick to dismiss his shoddy play during the just-concluded 2018 postseason. He also rarely missed an opportunity to criticize fans and the media for calling him out on his less-than-stellar defense.
(Photo credit – Jae Hong
In all honesty, Ryu’s medical history probably had more to do with him accepting the Dodgers qualifying offer than anything else. As Dodger fans know all too well, the popular Incheon, South Korea native and Scott Boras client underwent season-ending left shoulder surgery for a torn labrum in May of 2015. He then suffered a left groin injury in 2016 for which he spent a month on the disabled list.
But the crushing blow came during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 2, 2018 when Ryu again suffered a left groin injury, this time tearing the muscle completely off the bone and landing him on the DL for nearly half of the 2018 regular season.
Although there has been no mention of it whatsoever – not yet at least – if Ryu can put up numbers similar to those that he did in his 15 starts in 2018 and if he can remain injury free, don’t be surprised if the Dodgers do indeed end up giving him a two or perhaps even three-year contract extension before he becomes a free agent at the conclusion of the 2019 season.
Welcome back, Hyun-Jin!
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
Play Ball!
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I too thought if any one of the two would’ve accepted the QO it would’ve been Grandal, after his poor showing, especially in the 2nd half but I guess it was his power as a left handed hitter that gives him hope that there are enough teams out there that will be willing to take a chance on him.
I was surprised and truly happy that Ryu accepted the offer and will be back in Dodger blue next year.
Hello there! And I actually thought similar as to who would accept or reject the QO. I am glad for Ryu, because as ya say if healthy, could be a solid rotation piece, and as a LHP still does well enough against RHB. Wood should be dealt for sure. As o Grandal, I figured he would reject the QO to come back to Dodgers if for no other reason that with his performance you mentioned in 2018 2nd half and the PS, he was literally booed off the field by many Dodger fans and that I believe has a bit to do with his not going for the QO.
I had it right on Ryu and hoped for the Grandal outcome although I thought there was a small chance he would take the QO. I believe there may have been a couple of factors that influenced Grandal’s decision; being boo’d unmercifully by Dodgers fans during post season AND for the second year in a row being benched by Roberts in the WS. My guess, Grandal’s agent has found at least one team that is willing to give him a 3 year deal worth $30+MM that he preferred over working for Dodgers.
Next order of business, clearing spots on 40 man roster for prospects who will otherwise be subject to the rule 5 draft at the end of the Winter Meetings. No doubt Tom Koehler will be released/non-tendered and then there are the players with injuries (Cingrani, Fields, Goeddel, and Garcia), catcher Rocky Gale, and utility player Tim Locastro.
Hey there SoCal! Concur with protecting those players that may be of service for 2019 from the Rule 5 Draft. I certainly would say maybe Garcia,and Gale for sure might be let go, then of course decisions on the others. JT Realmuto was talked about this AM on MLBN as being a good fit for Dodgers, considering the possible trade chips that may be available. But wss.
Love to have Realmuto, but only for a reasonable price. Joc Pederson, Yadier Alvarez, Ed Rios?
You, me and everybody else in baseball would love to have Realmuto.
Unfortunately, I think we’d have better odds of Broward County, FL vote counter Brenda Snipes doing an honest count, than getting Realmuto for Pederson, Alvarez and Rios.
I think one of Verdugo/Lux, with Dustin May and both Will Smith and Diego Cartaya would be a lot closer starting point to getting it done.
Paying big for Realmuto doesn’t seem like the Friedman way. Looks to me that offense at the catcher position will be sacrificed for defense on the 2019 Dodger team.
Another fearless prediction, Grandal signs somewhere for 3yrs/$45M-$50M and we’ll be wishing we had him back by August (but not on that contract).
I am OK if Verdugo goes rather than Pederson, but not Lux or May — that package falls into my “unreasonable” zone. Grandal? Never been a fan, IMO one of the most over-rated players in MLB. I would not want him for 3 years and $30MM
I think the only hope the Dodgers have of getting Realmuto is offering a strong package and taking Starlin Castro and his $11M, and that might not be enough.
That may be the asking price by Marlins, but makes it easy for Dodgers to say no.
Yes,I could expect the marlin’s asking price to be high but if the deal has to include all or most of those names mentioned, then i see Dodgers having no issues with saying no. Not sure what Grandal will get but teams have to be considering his PS and WS performance. It was just bad, no 2 ways about it.
Early indications are that Gale will serve as Barnes backup in the early goings of the season, with Smith and Ruiz possibly getting called up after the break.
No way the Dodgers will be in on Realmuto. That would take them dangerously close to the tax threshold again (IMO).
Hard to believe the Dodgers with a CBT threshold of $206MM would go into the 2019 season with Rocky Gale as the backup catcher. Dodgers may not be willing to part with the players the Marlins will demand in a trade, but Realmuto is only projected by MLBTR to receive ~$6.1MM, roughly $1.8MM less than Grandal was paid in 2018. If Marlins will accept a reasonable (to the Dodgers) package of players then I am certain that Dodgers will find a way to pay Realmuto without exceeding the 2019 CBT threshold. More likely that the Dodgers will sign or trade for a better catching option than Gale before ST.
Bring back AJ.
Much better option than Gale. Brooks Baseball assessment of Gale (very small sample size of 135 pitches); whether it is fastballs, breaking pitches, or off speed pitches the same opinion — “disastrously high likelihood to swing and miss.” AJ on a low cost, one year deal would be a good option IMO.
A king’s ransom for Realmuto????
Soon to be 38 yr old Ellis??? Total of .5 WAR for the last three years. Total of 28 extra base hits over the last three years. That Ellis??
Soon to be 31 yr old Gale??? Total of 2 MLB hits Gale?? Total of 15 minor league home runs and 120 extra base hits in NINE minor league seasons Gale??
Suddenly my “Fearless Prediction” that we’ll be wishing we had Grandal back by August, doesn’t seem so Fearless.