JUSTgottaBELIEVE

If he was a true 4-5 WAR talent as fangraphs portrays, why wasn’t he offered considerably more money than AJ Pollock (also rejected QO, extensive injury history, and signed by the same team that let Grandal walk)?

The beginning of the end for the Astros started last weekend with the Taubman incident. Karma is a b****. Houston has $150M committed to payroll next season and that doesn’t even include arb eligible players like Correa or resigning Cole. They have big money tied up in Grienke and Verlander for several years, both of whom could hit a Lester wall at any moment.

The question is...is Grandal truly a top option at the position worthy of significant years and dollars? Based on how other teams responded to his availability last winter I’d say the answer is no. Now If he’s willing to sign for 3/$40M or something along those lines sure bring him in but I think it would be a mistake to give him more than 3 years or more than ~$14M AAV over several years. I know many have but I also haven’t given up on Collins yet as the starting catcher from 2021 onward.

Yes

True stud catchers very rarely hit the open market in their prime. The top catchers of the past couple decades have all been extended before they hit free agency - Joe Mauer, Yadier Molina, Buster Posney, Brian McCann, Jorge Posada. Why would the Dodgers not extend Grandal if he’s truly a top 2 catcher in baseball? Why wouldn’t they bring him back at a cost equal to or greater than the relatively minimal offer by the Brewers (and not lose a draft pick in the process)? Why would teams be so deterred about signing a top 2 catcher in baseball because of a QO but look past the QO attachment quite easily for many other high profile free agents in recent years? It just doesn’t add up.

And THIS is a major red flag to me regarding Grandal. Also, if he’s as good as metrics seem to portray, why could he only muster a 1 year $16M deal (with 2nd year mutual option) last winter? That confirms to me that the rest of the league is just as skeptical of the guy as me.

Why?

Is Collins still on the team?

My offseason wish list: -Resign Jose Abreu (this is a given) -Sign JDM -Sign Madison Bumgarner -Sign Rich Hill -Trade for Cole Kalhoun (or sign if he hits FA) Tall task but I’d be thrilled with an offseason like that.

You said, “It would be foolish to think he's anything more than a backup for a competitive team moving forward.” McCann is as good or better than the catchers starting for the two World Series teams so clearly your statement is incorrect.

And the dude starting for the Astros was traded for nothing TWICE THIS SEASON. The other Nationals catcher besides after thought Kurt Suzuki, Yan Gomes, has been very ordinary since 2015 and yet has been the “starting” catcher for playoff teams every year since 2016.

Imo, Machado was the most overrated free agent player on this site last winter. This winter it is Grandal. Buyer beware.

Really? Have you seen the starting catchers for the two World Series teams?

Consider this...perhaps the White Sox view JDM as more than a DH and viable RF option. JDM played 41 games in the outfield this past season despite playing for a team with three average to well above average OF defenders. I’m not saying he’s a great option for RF but if he OPS close to 1.000 again, he will be their best available option for RF despite poor defensive metrics.

JDM for sure

I remember two months ago when some posters were like the Dodgers don’t even need Colome, he’d be lucky to be their 7th inning guy and wouldn’t see high leverage situations on that team or most playoff teams. He definitely wouldn’t setup over a guy like Joe Kelly! Welp...

They still need a RF even after they sign JDM. Signing JDM does not rule out an Avi signing.

Haha, yea I acknowledged the same day later in the thread that I just threw any name in there. Just imagine swapping Cordell with Harper. Good lord, that lineup would be a sight to behold.

Lets do this and we’ll be one step closer to my projected 2021 World Series lineup.

I would definitely prefer JDM but Castellanos isn’t a terrible backup plan either.

Regarding those two guys it’s an either/or, not both. You can’t bring both those guys in with Abreu coming back as well. Personally, I’d be fine with Puig in RF if they can ink JDM or Castellanos.

Moncada and Eloy might get there eventually but they don’t have the track record of JDM. Since 2014, JDM is the third best hitter in baseball by wRC+. Sox haven’t had a guy like that since the Big Hurt era. He’s tremendous even if he slips a bit over the next few years. He changed the entire look of the 2018 Red Sox lineup that’s for sure.

Is Juan Soto a superstar? Because I envision Eloy’s numbers next season looking very similar to Soto’s (wRC+, defense and baserunning).

When’s the last time the Sox had a hitter of JDM’s caliber? The Big Hurt? This dude is a monster at the plate and changes the entire look of the lineup. Sorry, but Grandal just doesn’t have the same effect (I know but the defense, and I don’t care because I think Grandal’s D is overrated).

You still haven’t answered my question...