Yasmani Grandal signs with Brewers - 1 year, $16 million. Mutual option for 2020.

[SeaBass]

Do we give up draft pick compensation for this? One year deal being reported.

love this, but if they have to give up a pick it sours it. I’d assume DS wouldn’t surrender a pick for a one year deal though.

I believe the Brewers will lose their third highest pick for signing Grandal.

That's what I'm seeing also. Dodgers comp pick will come after the 4th round since they paid the luxury tax.

 

https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2017/11/4/16604672/qualifying-offer-explainer-amount-mlb-free-agency

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Wow! Talk about an all-in move! This came completely and totally out of nowhere as well. Man I love how Stearns operates!

 

Also, this proves that the thought that the Brewers wouldn't spend this offseason is unfounded.

[Kelbysdaddy]

With this sizable increase in payroll, does this pretty much take us out of trading for a Bumgarner or Kluber?

[3and2Fastball]

So, for real, what was up with his defense in the postseason?

[topper09er]

So, for real, what was up with his defense in the postseason?

 

I know, hopefully there is nothing about Miller Park that made him unable to see pitches

[MNBrew]

If the price asked for one of those SPs is indeed Burnes, Woodruff, or Peralta, I'm not sure we were "in" with a legit chance of getting one of those starters, though I'd love to be proven wrong.

 

I do wonder if it makes it more likely a Thames or Anderson is traded for the best return offer the Brewers can get. I'd think gaining a bit of payroll wiggle room back might be valuable over the course of a season.

 

Grandal still doesn't solve 2B, but he sure seems to help the overall picture.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

If the price asked for one of those SPs is indeed Burnes, Woodruff, or Peralta, I'm not sure we were "in" with a legit chance of getting one of those starters, though I'd love to be proven wrong.

 

I do wonder if it makes it more likely a Thames or Anderson is traded for the best return offer the Brewers can get. I'd think gaining a bit of payroll wiggle room back might be valuable over the course of a season.

 

Grandal still doesn't solve 2B, but he sure seems to help the overall picture.

 

They aren't done making moves. This is an "all in" type of signing. They are going for it in 2019. They are going to find a solution at 2B. It wouldn't surprise me to see a big starting pitching move as well, whether that's Bumgarner, Kluber or some other front-line guy. Buckle up!!!

[Eye Black]

For those not thrilled about about the win projections generated by Steamer (hosted on FanGraphs) the good news is the Brewers just added a catcher that Steamer projects for 3.5 WAR next season.

[3and2Fastball]

A switch hitting catcher that is good both offensively and defensively will make this roster much better. Having Yelich, Shaw, and Grandal offers three potent lefties to stick into the lineup versus right-handers.

 

Grandal had an .844 OPS vs RHP in 2018, & a .790 OPS vs RHP in 2017...

 

Definitely an interesting & exciting move

[SRB]

My dream acquisition of the offseason!!!!! Stearns is a genius (aka he agrees with me )

 

One-year is a little a weird but probably in our favor.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Find a competent 2B (or 3B if the plan is to use Shaw at 2B), and there is no obvious holes in this lineup. I fully expect news of a 2B acquisition in the coming days.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Really like this move - I think the premium $ spent to bring in Grandal for just a year can and will definitely be offset a bit by another trade or two of guys like Thames, Anderson, Davies, etc before Opening Day to keep them in a position to add more talent to either SP, 2B, or both. There could very well be truth to the whole "using payroll savings from prior years to increase payroll in seasons where the team is in contention". Remember that their 2016 and 2017 payrolls were among the league's lowest.

 

Specific to Grandal, bringing him in effectively removes one of the offensive black holes in the Brewers' lineup for long stretches of the 2018 season. Assuming the postseason defensive ineptitude isn't a "yips" sort of thing, he's a great addition to the roster and drastically upgrades a position of need.

[StearnsFTW]

Find a competent 2B (or 3B if the plan is to use Shaw at 2B), and there is no obvious holes in this lineup. I fully expect news of a 2B acquisition in the coming days.

 

Lowrie makes so much sense. When Hiura is up, Lowrie can play 3rd against lefties and 2nd against tough righties. Versatility, etc , etc

[long ball]

This is a great deal for the Brewers. I would’ve been nervous on a deal for Grandal longer than 2 years so I’m very happy about this signing.

 

Adding a huge offensive upgrade at catcher could give the Brewers the flexibility to roll with what they have at second base. Open with a platoon and move to Hiura at some point and let him develop in the big leagues.

[SRB]

Find a competent 2B (or 3B if the plan is to use Shaw at 2B), and there is no obvious holes in this lineup. I fully expect news of a 2B acquisition in the coming days.

 

Would be interesting if they could somehow land Dozier on a one-year deal. Potentially amazing lineup in 2019 with two spots opening again for 2020 (though one is presumably going to Hiura).

[3and2Fastball]

Grandal has also started 38 games at 1B in his career. There is that defensive flexibility that Stearns loves. Gotta think Thames is on the way out maybe, to help the payroll (in part).

 

Did Manny Pina just become the best backup catcher in Baseball?

[Eye Black]

Interesting angle from Eno Sarris of The Athletic...

 

“Odds of work stoppage rose with the Grandal deal, should’ve been one of the four or five biggest deals on the market this year.”

 

I don’t disagree with him. As the past two off-seasons have progressed it seems more likely than ever a work stoppage is going to occur in off-season prior to the 2022 season.

[StearnsFTW]

Yeah poor guy is only going to make $15,000 per inning.

 

Life is rough.

[MNBrew]

Or Grandal just grossly overestimated or just plain hasn't paid attention to the direction the market's been going the past couple winters.

 

Just because players feel they're worth megadollars & term doesn't mean owners are obligated to pay it.

[SRB]

Yeah poor guy is only going to make $15,000 per inning.

 

Life is rough.

 

Not the point at all, but probably a topic for another thread.

[Eye Black]

Find a competent 2B (or 3B if the plan is to use Shaw at 2B), and there is no obvious holes in this lineup. I fully expect news of a 2B acquisition in the coming days.

 

Lowrie makes so much sense. When Hiura is up, Lowrie can play 3rd against lefties and 2nd against tough righties. Versatility, etc , etc

Adding Lowrie would be another switch hitter that mashes right handed pitching. The lineup would be deadly against righties which is obviously the majority of starters they are going to face in the NL Central with the exception of the Cubs.

 

Here is how the projected rotation of initial out getters for the NL Central opponents currently stack up as far as righty/lefty...

 

Cardinals - 5 RHP / 0 LHP

Pirates - 5 RHP / 0 LHP

Reds - 4 RHP / 1 LHP

Cubs - 2 RHP / 3 LHP

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

This is a great deal for the Brewers. I would’ve been nervous on a deal for Grandal longer than 2 years so I’m very happy about this signing.

 

Adding a huge offensive upgrade at catcher could give the Brewers the flexibility to roll with what they have at second base. Open with a platoon and move to Hiura at some point and let him develop in the big leagues.

 

I don't think you make this type of move at the C position, only to leave the poo-poo platter at 2B. They are going for it, and the moves from here on out should reflect that I think. Sign a 2B, and let Hiura develop. Just a matter of who ...

[StearnsFTW]

Yeah poor guy is only going to make $15,000 per inning.

 

Life is rough.

 

Not the point at all, but probably a topic for another thread.

 

He's taking a calculated risk and betting on himself while making himself filthy rich.

 

There's not going to be a work stoppage. Players are making way too much money to risk losing it.

 

But yeah, thread hijack and all. I'll stop.

[trwi7]

This is like when the Indians signed Jack Parkman.

[owbc]

I like this move, it fills a big hole for 2019. I don't think this says much about future moves, Stearns is an opportunist and he just pulled off what looks like yet another smart FA signing. I assume the extra revenue from the deep postseason run played a role in making this happen.

 

The last couple moves have been for high OBP guys which is another big positive.