Fansided

Top 25 MLB free agents for 2019

By Joshua Sadlock

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 01: Yasmani Grandal #10 of the Milwaukee Brewers points to the sky and touches home plate after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during the NL Wild Card game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 01: Yasmani Grandal #10 of the Milwaukee Brewers points to the sky and touches home plate after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during the NL Wild Card game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

8. Yasmani Grandal

Across Major League Baseball, there has been a drastic shift in the way teams handle their catching duties. Only four catchers in the whole league accumulated enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title and only three played more than 140 games. There are a few reasons for this, but the overall lack of quality at the position is the biggest. Baseball is definitely in the midst of a shortage of competent offensive backstops.

Two-time All-Star Yasmani Grandal was the only catcher in the league to appear in more than 150 games last season, and the 30-year-old Cuban has certainly earned his position among the top free agents in the league. He is one of the best receivers and handlers of a pitching staff in the league and continues to throw well. Grandal hit .246/.380/.468 with 28 home runs and 77 RBI in his lone season with the Milwaukee Brewers after signing a one-year deal as a free agent last winter.

Grandal and the Brewers have a mutual option for 2020, but he should decline on the basis of seeking a multi-year deal that will match his $16-million salary past next season. With multiple teams needing a catcher and the value of Grandal’s ability to work with a staff, he will have no problem finding suitors.

Through eight seasons in the big leagues, Grandal is a .241/.348/.446 hitter with 141 home runs and 416 RBI. He has hit over 20 home runs four years in a row and has made consistent improvements in his approach at the plate. With such a dearth of offensive production at catcher around the league, Grandal is in the upper echelon at his position.

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