Yasmani Grandal to Milwaukee on one year deal

The Milwaukee Brewers and free agent catcher Yasmani Grandal are in agreement on a one year deal for $18.25 million, per multiple reports. Grandal had rejected at the beginning of the offseason the qualifying offer the Los Angeles Dodgers made to him, which was worth $17.9 million.

Grandal, 30, was in a tricky spot this offseason. He had a rough postseason that cast some doubts on his defense (although he is considered one of the better pitch framers out there), and with the qualifying offer attached, a signing team would have to forfeit a draft pick. He was rumored to have been offered $60 million over four years by the New York Mets, but once they signed Wilson Ramos, that avenue was closed off. Now, Grandal will re-enter the market next year with no draft compensation attached.

The Brewers, meanwhile, get a first division starting catcher on a short-term obligation as they continue to build on last year’s division title winner. Former Ranger Manny Pina (dealt by the Rangers to Kansas City in the Danny Gutierrez trade a decade ago) was Milwaukee’s top catcher last year, so this gives them a clear upgrade.