The Blue Jays have met with the representatives for free-agent catcher Yasmani Grandal, reports ESPN’s Marly Rivera (via Twitter).
It’s perhaps a curious fit upon first glance, given the Jays’ stated focus on adding rotation help, but interest in Grandal reflects both the Jays’ bulk of payroll flexibility and the uniqueness he brings to the free-agent market. One of the best-hitting catchers in the game (if not the best), Grandal also rates as an elite pitch framer, a quality pitch blocker and an average or better thrower. The switch-hitter, who turned 31 last week, has been an above-average hitter from both sides of the plate in four of the past five years and has clubbed 22 or more home runs each season from 2016-19.
Beyond his offensive acumen, bringing on a catcher with Grandal’s experience and framing abilities could be viewed as an important aspect of the Jays’ development of young pitchers. The Toronto rotation is teeming with uncertainty, but young arms like Anthony Kay, Trent Thornton, Sean Reid-Foley, Jacob Waguespack, Nate Pearson and T.J. Zeuch will all likely log some MLB innings in 2020, and the Jays have several intriguing arms on the horizon beyond that bunch. Newly acquired righty Chase Anderson is surely comfortable with throwing to Grandal as well.
Toronto already has Danny Jansen, Reese McGuire and Luke Maile on the 40-man roster, though the Jays have reportedly been receiving trade interest in some of their backstops. Jansen, in particular, rates out as a brilliant defender and was ranked among the game’s top 100 prospects as recently as last offseason. This year’s .207/.279/.360 batting line wasn’t much to look at, but Jansen is only is still just 24 and has another five seasons of club control remaining.
The Jays shouldn’t be considered any kind of favorite to win the Grandal bidding based on one early meeting, of course. GM Ross Atkins and his staff are surely casting a wide net in free agency and doing their best to gauge interest in a variety of free agents. Knowing Grandal’s asking price could also be important when discussing the Jays’ in-house catchers in trades with other teams and, more broadly, when trying to get a sense for how the rest of the league plans to approach the winter. But the meeting between the two sides is reminder both of the fact that Toronto could be more aggressive than some would expect from a 71-win team and that Grandal will draw interest from unexpected teams between now and his eventual signing.
I cannot imagine any premier free agent signing in Canada
$ talks.
The problem is Rogers cable being unwilling to imagine paying premiere free agents to play for the Blue Jays.
See Martin, Russell
That plus the high taxes.
True, but he was a special case for obvious reasons.
Wasn’t he eventually set adrift?
“See Martin, Russell” See Beeston, Pau;l.
JA Happ, Marco Estrada, Michael Saunders
Lol what do you have against Canada? 15&16 showed the jays have a fan base when they’re winning and they have a lot of finical flexibility
Look at Jays history. If they pay they will come. We had Roger Clemens for arguably two of the best seasons of his career.
You…you think Toronto is a downgrade after Milwaukee?
Boom
Frank Thomas, BJ Ryan, and AJ Burnett all wave
Jack Morris, Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor, Dave Stewart
Grandal makes any team better. I would think they’d have to go to a 5th year or guarantee over 80mil to acquire his services.
Are PEDs legal in Canada?
[Sarcasm]
Naw but weed is.
Please nothing more than a 4 year deal. Didn’t they learn with Martin!?
Martin’s deal was fine? He earned it.
3 years max, we don’t need another Russ Martin on our hands.
Zero sense. Nothing against Grandal but we have two great young catchers already. This would only hurt their development or mean that they’re being traded. Trading young, controllable catching in a rebuild for a win now piece doesn’t make sense unless the trade deals are overwhelming.
Neither McGuire nor Jansen are great. In their best seasons they may not approach Grandal’s productivity.
I don’t think you understand what great means
Jays…. ugh …. get out of here. Real contender only plz lol
What did Canadian’s ever do to you ..
He’s still mad about 1992.
loll ahh
Okay better get rid of that pesky ex jay GM of yours
Everybody’s meeting with everybody!
I see a catcher on the wrong side of 30 in FA asking for big years and dollars, I’m running the other way unless it’s a 1-2 year deal (which he isn’t accepting again).
Wish the guy the best of luck though!
Even at a 4 yr deal, his production more than likely stays consistent through at least the first 3 yrs. That’s why he will probably get a front loaded contract.
If the Jays can get an elite young starter using a package containing one of the Jays young catchers and then sign Grandal, I say go for it, just be wise about term.
Yes, 100% yes
Grandal spending half his time catching and other half possibly playing first? Whoever we don’t trade from Jansen or McGuire can play the other half. That way keep Grandal somewhat fresh from his legs so he could continue catching later in a longer contract. That’s my take. Thoughts?
Plus a right handed hitter to play first instead of Tellez against tough lefties
2019 AL OPS against LHP: .773
2019 RT OPS against LHP: .830
The cheapest way to improve the pitching staff is to get an elite defensive catcher like Grandal.
Non tendering Drury, Law, Maile, Shoemaker would put around $7.5 mil towards a solid top end free agent. If that was Grandal I’d be good. If that went towards Cole I’d be better. Just spend it!!!
Cole is not a box of cereal on a shelf that you can buy if he have the money. He also has to agree to come.
Ok, this is interesting. Grandal/Maile combo over the next couple years would be fine so long as they can deal Jansen and Reese for a nice return. What they can get in-return is a huge question mark. Grandal would bridge the gap for Moreno or Kirk.
I’d rather take my chances with Jansen and Reese, go for broke and throw a ton at Cole and Strasburg. Yes, both.
It all depends on term for the pitchers. The term price fit in Boston is stupid. I would love to have Strasburg on the Jays but what term would it take? Beeston wouldn’t go longer than 5 years..
The Jays fans were all in for 2013 despite falling flat that season. If it takes 6 or 7 years for Strasburg and 8 or 9 for Cole, so be it. Give the team a 5-year window to win and rebuilding again near the end of those contracts.
Thinking out loud….could this Grandal story be a ploy to drive up the cost for Grandal AND gage the interest on Jansen and McGuire? I am curious if Jays management is attempting to leverage their own trade chip by speaking to Grandal’s camp and they have no interest in signing him whatsoever.
Or could it be Grandals camp is also the camp for another Free agenty that the Jays are interested in? The article does not state they were actually discussing Grandal
Yes it does. The tweet this article cites: “Count the BlueJays on the list of teams that have met with free-agent catcher Yasmani Grandal.”
At least you cant say they aren’t trying
Most of the FA rumors coming out are the Jays looking to add premium FAs
I was a little upset over the Sanchez/Fisher deal. I didn’t attend another game after that, but I’m feeling renewed by all the rumors at least.
I’m all for them trading both Jansen and McGuire if Grandal is signing here.
Get a young SP who’s a year away from the bigs in each trade and that’s a big win and we havent factored in the Giles return package either
Between Pearson, Kay, Zeuch, Thornton and Jacob W. (Not even trying to spell that last name) plus 2 or 3 more young AAA pitchers in hypothetical trades, you have to feel confident 2 or 3 will turn into rotation stalwarts.
S.R.F. can be turned into a late innings guy
That allows us to use future FA classes to pick out the final 2 spots as our window opens
Now if only we could figure out our OF mess, but on the plus side OF is the “easiest” position to fill as long as you have a defensive CF
Lol if all it takes is rumours you’ll find them all winter. This is just posturing.
No rumours are not “all it takes”. But it is an encouraging sign
Turner I’m ok with that method you mentioned. We can wait for another year, let Pearson and others acclimate themselves and then go all out in free agency in 12 months.
Or take the Cubs approach after 2014; sign Lester to big money and suddenly things turn. The reason now would be the time is because this year there’s better talent. Next year there is Stroman, Paxton, Quintana, Lester, Tanaka, Bauer, Minor, Ray, Samardzjia, a few others. The two top guys in Cole and Strasburg are a cut above.