Los Angeles Dodgers: What must happen for a J.T. Realmuto trade

1. Yasmani Grandal rejects the qualifying offer

Well, duh. Can I get any more obvious than this? Probably not, but it is still the first step in the Dodgers trading for Realmuto this winter.

Yasmani Grandal has to reject the qualifying offer that the Dodgers offered him in order to create the need for Realmuto to begin with. The offer is for one year, worth $17.9 million. Los Angeles also extended the qualifying offer to Hyun-Jin Ryu.

This is a case with Grandal where it could really go both ways in whether or not he agrees to the offer. On one hand, Grandal can make $17.9 million, far more than he would make as a free agent. However, if he tests the free agency pool, he can secure a long-term, three to four year deal in the $40-50 million range.

Personally, I think that Grandal will accept this offer. While a potential long-term deal is exciting especially for a catcher, I think that Grandal bets on himself this season after such a woeful postseason that undoubtedly lowered his value.

Grandal can accept a qualifying offer, make nearly $8 million more than he would have otherwise and will still only be 31 next offseason and, if all goes to plan, can at least get the same contract as he would have this season.

For Realmuto to even become a thought for the Dodgers, Grandal has to pass on the money for a long-term deal.