Grandal: Get paid what you deserve
Yasmani Grandal turned down the Mets on principle. The catcher did not deny reports that the Mets had made a strong four-year offer which reportedly could have been worth as much as $60 million, but without naming teams, he explained that he didn't want to bring down the average annual salary of elite catchers.
Grandal, who was introduced by the Brewers on Tuesday morning, instead agreed to a one-year, $16 million deal with a $2.25 million mutual option.
Grandal said that it was a statement on the value of catching and that he didn't want to let down the top-tier catchers that had gone into free agency before him.
“A lot of teams made good deals and I am grateful for that, but I felt like part of my responsibility as a player was to respect the guys who went through the process before I did — Brian McCann, Russell Martin and Yadia Molina,” Grandal told the MLB Network after his introductory press conference at Miller Park. “Those guys who established pay levels and markets for upper tier catchers like me. So I felt like I was doing a disservice if I were to take some of these deals being thrown around.
"I wanted to keep the line moving especially for these younger guys.”
At best, Grandal would have earned $15 million a year with the Mets. His point is that he is keeping the annual average income for the catchers higher. The Mets instead signed 31-year-old catcher Wilson Ramos to a two-year, $19 million deal.
Grandal, who will be 31 and able to hit the free agent market again next year if he so chooses, also sees this as a chance to bet on himself. He was considered first in pitch framing among big league catchers last season, and he led all backstops in on-base percentage (.349) and hit .241 (5th among catchers last season) with 24 homers and 68 RBI.
Grandal also struggled behind the plate in the playoffs. He was charged with three passed balls and three wild pitches.
Grandal said Tuesday that the one-year deal is also an example to younger players.
“You should get paid what you deserve,” Grandal said was his message to the next generation of catchers.