Dodgers: Four players that may be traded this offseason

PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 24: Yasmani Grandal (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 24: Yasmani Grandal (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

1. C Yasmani Grandal

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired catcher Yasmani Grandal in the trade that sent Matt Kemp to the San Diego Padres. Grandal has been with the Dodgers for the last three postseason runs, taking over the every day catching role upon his arrival in 2015. Although A.J. Ellis was still used for Clayton Kershaw, Grandal was obviously favored by the Dodgers front office.

You cannot blame the Dodgers front office for falling in love with Grandal. Grandal, who hits from both sides of the plate, brought in a rare form of power that often is not seen in the catcher position. Grandal slugged as many as 27 home runs in 2016, and throughout all three seasons, slugged 65 long balls.

Everything seemed to be normal in 2017. Outside of an occasional left-handed pitcher platoon with Austin Barnes, Grandal was the everyday catcher. His .247 batting average was his best since playing 60 games as a rookie and his 22 home runs were formidable. Yet still, the Dodgers ignored Grandal in the postseason in favor of Austin Barnes.

Grandal only had eight at-bats the entire postseason. To be fair, Barnes was hot entering the postseason while Grandal went hitless in his eight tries. Barnes is an upgrade defensively and overall the Dodgers were leaning towards the young catcher.

With the likes of Kyle Farmer, Keibert Ruiz and Will Smith all in the farm system, the Dodgers are set on catchers for years to come. Therefore, we may see Grandal moved in a larger deal — such as a deal for Giancarlo Stanton or Chris Archer.