Brewers Say Goodbye to Yasmani Grandal

Yasmani Grandal got paid big time this morning, unfortunately not with the Milwaukee Brewers.

It broke this morning that catcher Yasmani Grandal would be signing a four-year, $73 million dollar contract with the Chicago White Sox. This means he will be receiving $18.5 million per year, the total amount the Milwaukee Brewers paid Grandal in the 2019 season between his $2.5 million buyout and the $16 million dollar salary after he turned down the mutual option.

Grandal elected to choose free agency once the 2019 season was over, upsetting Brewers fans everywhere.

In just his single season with the Brewers, Grandal made a huge impact to the franchise. He quickly became the best catcher in the league and bashed a career high of 28 home runs. He also posted .246/.380/.468 slash line this season, and had the second-best fWAR right behind the Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto.

Not only did Grandal crush it at the plate in the regular season, but he helped the Brewers clinch another postseason berth. Smashing a two-run home run off of Max Scherzer in the first inning of the October 1st Wild Card game, the Brewers were on their way to the playoffs. But, due to unforeseen circumstances, they would soon lose that hype after losing to the Nationals, the now 2019 World Series Champions.

Who will catch for the Brewers?

The Brewers did pick up Manny Pina‘s $1.85 million option in the beginning of the off season, so there’s Pina as an option for starting catcher But, in comparison to Grandal, Pina was weaker in the counting stats, making it hard to rely on him to be a strong catcher that would post numbers like Grandal did in a single season. Which is why Pina is seen more as a backup catcher, not a starting catcher. The challenge now is who will be the next starting catcher for the Brewers going into the 2020 season.

Hopefully GM David Stearns can make the right decisions and spend the money wisely when it comes to agreeing on the 40-man roster and move to their second plan, whatever that may be. Losing Grandal was a huge blow to the crew and the fans, we can only hope that Mike Moustakas makes a return in the 2020 season. Grandal will be missed in the navy and gold, but fans and Brewers wish him nothing but the best as he travels down south to the American League to join the White Sox.