The Milwaukee Brewers formally announced the signing of former Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal to a one-year contract worth a guaranteed $18.25 million.
The deal will net Grandal a hefty $16 million salary for the 2019 season. Per multiple reports, the contract also contains a mutual option for the following year worth $16 million, as well as a $2.25 million buyout should it be declined by either side.
With the signing officially marks the end of Grandal’s four-year tenure with the Dodgers. He took to Instagram to thank the organization and fanbase for what was a memorable stint:
In four seasons with Los Angeles, Grandal emerged as one of the best statistical catchers in all of baseball. He hit an overall .238/.337/.453 with 110 doubles, 113 home runs and 339 RBI over 2,660 plate appearances (510 games).
On the defensive side, Grandal routinely graded out as an elite pitch framer — a trait in which both the Dodgers and Brewers value significantly.
Despite his struggles in each of the last two postseasons which resulted in him being supplanted by Austin Barnes, Grandal still landed the third-highest average annual salary of any contract signed this offseason to date.
Only Washington Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin ($23.3 million) and Atlanta Braves third baseman Josh Donaldson ($23 million) have inked more lucrative deals thus far.
The Dodgers were said to be open to a potential reunion with Grandal on a short-term contract, but the club ultimately addressed their catching void with a trade for Russell Martin.
