During the Super Bowl, the Pirates announced they had signed free agent catcher Yasmani Grandal to a one-year contract. No Super Bowl parties for Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington!
Sources: Cuban catcher Yasmani Grandal is on agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s done deal. @ByRobertMurray was on it. pic.twitter.com/rwZXgbELY5
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) February 12, 2024
Pirates Sign Veteran Catcher Yasmani Grandal
The incentive-laced deal calls for a $2.5 million salary. Grandal, a 12-year veteran, has toiled for the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, and most recently, the Chicago White Sox. He gives the Pirates the experienced catcher they had been looking for since it was announced their projected starting catcher, Endy Rodriguez, would be lost for the season due to offseason surgery. The Pirates previously had shown interest in Gary Sanchez. However, when Sanchez signed with the rival Brewers, the Pirates had to turn their attention elsewhere.
For his career, the right-handed batting Grandal has slashed .237/.347/.426, 185 HR, 565 RBI, and 111 OPS plus. The two-time All-Star’s best years were 2016-21 when he hit at least 20 homers each year except for the COVID-shortened 2020. However, his offensive production declined in 2022-23. He was never one to produce high batting averages; during that time, he hit .219/.305/.306, 13 HR, and 60 RBI.
Grandal’s defense, once a strong suit, has also declined recently. He’s credited with 58 Defensive Runs Saved for his career, mainly due to strong numbers from 2016-18. For 2023, he was “worth” -7 Fielding Runs Above Average and -11 Defensive Runs Saved. Furthermore, the Fielding Bible gives him minus one Strike Zone Run Saved, a measure of his framing skills.
An Experienced Backstop
Even so, he gives the Pirates a veteran presence at the position and one who’s been through the postseason wars. Moreover, Grandal will be playing for the next contract and should be eager to prove 2022-23 were anomalies. It gives the Pirates’ 2021 number-one draft pick, Henry Davis, a chance to develop as a catcher. Drafted as a catcher, Davis has caught only two innings in the majors. 2023 Davis played right field while Rodriguez handled the catching duties when both were recalled. Whether Davis’s development as a catcher occurs at the major- or minor-league level remains to be seen. Jason Delay, who emerged as Mitch Keller’s personal catcher in 2023, seems assured of a spot on the team. Davis and Delay both have minor-league options.
Carrying three catchers in this modern era of inflated bullpens and deflated benches cannot be easy. However, it can be done if at least one of the catchers is versatile. Grandal has played first base 95 times in his career. With Davis also having played right field, the Pirates may be able to pull it off.
Main Photo Credits: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
