The San Diego Padres’ catcher problem was a hot topic heading into the summer, and understandably so.
The only catcher under contract was former top prospect Luis Campusano, who has struggled in limited Major League play. Ultimately, the Sox re-signed former All-Star catcher Elias Diaz to a one-year contract, while Brett Sullivan, who can play anywhere on the diamond, loomed as an alternative.
However, Diaz struggled terribly in spring, hitting.160 in 25 at-bats. He is also coming off a bad season in 2024, in which he hit. 265 with six home homers and 38 RBI in 325 at-bats. Which begs the question: Should the Padres be done addressing the catcher position?
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The Padres should examine Yasmani Grandal as a catcher addition.
With Yasmani Grandal on the free agency market, the Padres should seriously explore reuniting with their former catcher. Grandal, 36, joined the Padres in 2012 and spent three seasons in San Diego before being dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015.
In San Diego, his talent was obvious, despite hitting only.245/.350/.412 with 24 home runs and 94 RBI. It wasn’t until he joined the Dodgers that Grandal realized his full potential, making the All-Star team in 2015. In 13 Major League seasons with the Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, and Pittsburgh Pirates, he batted.236/.345/.424 with 194 home runs and 592 RBI.
Let’s be clear: Grandal is no longer the player he was when he made All-Star teams with the Dodgers and Brewers. He is coming off a season in which he hit.228/.304/.400 with nine home runs and 27 RBI across 72 games. But he’s a capable pitch framer, a veteran who understands how to operate with a pitching staff, and he can share time with Diaz.
Signing Grandal would either result in a low-guarantee Major-League contract or a Minor-League agreement. It’s a no-brainer for Padres CEO A.J. Preller, especially given Diaz’s troubles this spring. It would not be shocking if this happened in the near future.
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