MLB Rumors: Grandal Agrees 1-Year $18.25M Brewers Deal, Braves Re-Ignite Realmuto Talks

Yasmani Grandal has agreed a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers worth a guaranteed $18.25 million in 2019, according to Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown. The one-year deal is marginally more than the qualifying offer of $17.9 million he turned down from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 30-year-old, according to the MLB expert, is the best free-agent catcher that was available on the market. He has attracted interest from a number of teams during the winter, but reportedly no team was willing to offer Grandal a multiple-year deal.

Grandal had a poor post-season with the Dodgers appearing just seven times during the five-game World Series against the Boston Red Sox. Despite the catcher’s poor season, he is considered above average in his position with his offensive production and defensive framing ability said to have convinced the Brewers to sign him on a one-year deal, Brown reports.

According to MLB Rumors, Grandal was not short of suitors earlier in the offseason with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Cincinnati Reds, the Los Angeles Angels and the Chicago White Sox showing interest in the catcher.

However, despite landing the $18.25 million deal with the Brewers, the veteran catcher could regret his decision to reportedly turn down a four-year offer worth over $50 million from the New York Mets earlier in the winter with some reporting that it was closer to the $60 million mark.

“Grandal turned down 4-year deal in excess of $50 million from the #Mets earlier this winter,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote on his official account.

Grandal can still come out on top if he has a strong 2019-20 campaign with the Brewers. He will enter free agency again at the end of the upcoming campaign without a qualifying offer and that could earn him a lucrative multi-year deal with another franchise.

Meanwhile, the JT Realmuto saga continues to rumble on at snail’s pace with SiriusXM’s Craig Mish now reporting that the Atlanta Braves have again held talks with the Miami Marlins about a move for the catcher.

“Sources indicate Braves and Marlins have talked again about Realmuto. Braves appear to be waiting Marlins out. Rays remain a possibility,” Mish wrote.

According to CBS Sports, the Houston Astros, Dodgers, San Diego Padres and the Reds could be potential destinations for Realmuto, but the Marlins’ demands are said to be holding up any potential deal.