Two of the most significant signings so far in the MLB off-season have both been catchers.
Yasmani Grandal, who spent 2019 with the Milwaukee Brewers after four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, signed a four year, $73 million contract with the Chicago White Sox on November 21st. Then yesterday Travis d'Arnaud, who was cast aside by the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers after a single game found his footing with the Tampa Bay Rays, signed a two year deal with the Atlanta Braves worth $16 million.
Both Grandal, who turned 31 earlier this month, and d'Arnaud, 30, came off the best seasons of their careers. Grandal earned his second NL All-Star Team selection hit a career high 28 HR and drove in a career high 77 runs in a career high 153 games. Grandal declined his mutual option with the Brewers and opted to test the free agent market. The White Sox liked Grandal's post-season experience as he has played in five straight post-seasons. If the Chisox are to make a move in the AL Central then they will need a veteran catcher like Grandal to guide their young pitching staff.
Meanwhile, d'Arnaud slammed 16 HR with 67 RBI in only 92 games with the Rays. His highlight of the season was a 3 HR game, the third of which was walk off shot off New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman to start the second half of the season. The Braves sought d'Arnaud to replace Brian McCann who retired after the Braves were eliminated in the NLDS by the St. Louis Cardinals.
I suspect d'Arnaud signed with the Braves to get a measure of revenge against the Mets. Although not originally a Met, d'Arnaud had been a member of the Mets since coming to the organization along with Noah Syndergaard in the deal which sent 2012 NL Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays. After finishing seventh in NL Rookie of the Year balloting in 2014, d'Arnaud struggled to stay healthy missing significant portions of the 2015, 2016 and nearly all of the 2018 season due to Tommy John surgery. His return to the NL East will give d'Arnaud ample opportunity to take out his motivation out on the Mets. This is, of course, provided that d'Arnaud can stay healthy. I suspect this is the reason why d'Arnaud's is more than four times smaller than that of Grandal.
Still, I suspect that both Grandal and d'Arnaud will make significant contributions to their new teams in 2020.
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