December 29th, 2018 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka When former Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal turned down his $17.9 million qualifying offer from the Dodgers in November, opting instead to try his luck at landing what he hoped would be a multi-year free agent contract that would potentially rival the highest ever in MLB history, there was a collective sigh of relief among Dodger fans.
It’s not that Dodger fans wished anything bad upon the 30-year-old La Habana, Cuba native who had fallen from grace after his atrocious second half (.226 / .349 / .469), but rather because of his (perceived) smugness when interviewed about his struggles that eventually let to him losing his job to even more atrocious (.186 / .324 / .356) but far more amicable back-up catcher Austin Barnes late in the season and throughout the postseason.
Well guess what?
Yep, the Dodgers might actually be entertaining the idea of re-signing Grandal if he is willing to accept a one-year deal.
This from LA Times Dodgers beat writer Jorge Castillo on Friday:
“Yasmani Grandal, who turned down the Dodgers’ $17.9-million qualifying offer, remains a free agent after declining a four-year, $60-million offer from the New York Mets, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. But a Los Angeles reunion with the catcher is unlikely unless he is willing to sign a short contract. If [J.T.] Realmuto isn’t an option, the Dodgers, with catching prospects Will Smith and Keibert Ruiz nearing the majors, would prefer a one-year stopgap.”
Although Castillo clearly notes that a “…reunion with the catcher is unlikely” (if for no other reason than Grandal’s ego would not allow for it), the longer the Dodgers are without a legitimate starting catcher while awaiting the development of 23-year-old Smith and 20-year-old Ruiz, the more Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman might be pressed to ignore Grandal’s shortcomings – smugness notwithstanding.
Stay tuned…
Posted in 
If only Kyle Farmer was still in Dodger blue…
Ugh!!
I don’t mind “smugness” in my MLB players.
Twenty and Thirty year old kids making a minimum of $555,000 is going to cause some smugness. I have to admit, I would be feeling pretty smug making that kind of money playing baseball at that young age.
Resigning Grandal to a one-year deal is the “smart” move if he’d do it. Dodgers are now in a win/win with Grandal. We either get a draft pick if he signs somewhere else or the needed “cheap” one year bridge if he comes back.
I’d happily pay $20M to get one more year similar to one of Grandal’s last three.
2016, .816 OPS, 2.9 WAR
2017, .767 OPS, 2.2 WAR
2018, .815 OPS, 3.3 WAR
Sure Grandal sucked in the playoffs, but don’t forget, he wasn’t the only one.
Please NO! There are better defensive catchers available. Grandal did more harm with his glove than any good he did with his bat.
Grandal swallowing his pride and taking a one year deal with Dodgers — I think a snowball in hell has better odds. If it is true that he turned down a 4 year, guaranteed $60MM offer then he either has a comparable offer from another team, or he isn’t smart enough to catch for the Dodgers. Time for Grandal and Dodgers to go separate ways. Alternatives for Dodgers in 2019? There are plenty, starting with Realmuto but also include lesser known catchers like Toronto’s Luke Maile, Tampa’s Michael Perez or even Mike Zunino, one of Boston’s 3 catchers, or Tucker Barnhart if Reds sign Grandal, or even San Diego’s Austin Hedges. AND, according to Friedman, Will Smith will help Dodgers win games in 2019 so team may only need a 6 month rental.
I have to say that I found it quite surprising that Grandal turned down a 4 year offer from the Mets. I really thought that a multi-year offer was what he wanted. Amazing!!!
OldBrooklynFan, I concur and find it amazing that Grandal turned sown a 4 year deal (he wants a multi year deal) with the Mets at $60 million. What or should I ask how much more would be enough for him, considering he ended up on a real sour note late in the 2018 season.
It will be VERY INTERESTING to see just what kind of a contract he WILL sign.
@DodgerFanWeekly What I don’t understand is that he knows his Defense is Extraordinarily HORRIBLE yet… https://t.co/2LeWSVPGog