Los Angeles Dodgers: What a perfect offseason would look like
By Jason Reed
1. Yasmani Grandal rejects qualifying offer, Dodgers trade for J.T. Realmuto
If you go through my articles you will see that I have said before that Yasmani Grandal should return to the Los Angeles Dodgers. This is with the idea in mind that the Dodgers would not be willing to trade for J.T. Realmuto. If the front office can work out a realistic deal for Realmuto, I am all for that.
Grandal has reportedly drawn a lot of interest already and that could influence him to reject the $17.9 million the Dodgers offered him and sign a four-year deal in the ballpark of $60 million. I would assume that is the contract he would have in mind if he rejects the deal.
Meanwhile, in a deal for Realmuto, the Dodgers have the farm system to offer more than any other team without it being a huge sacrifice. Catching prospect Will Smith would have to be included. He is the eighth-best catching prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, but is blocked in the Dodgers system by third-ranked catching prospect, Keibert Ruiz.
Smith, outfield prospect D.J. Peters (who is a prolific power hitter but might not find space in a crowded Dodgers outfield), starting pitcher Alex Wood and a lesser minor league player should be enough for Realmuto.
What makes this so smart for the Dodgers is they are getting a catcher who, at his worst, is as good as Yasmani Grandal and is much cheaper. Realmuto is under team control for two more seasons and is still in arbitration.
Last year he made $2.9 million. Let’s say the Dodgers bump that up to $3.9 million and the team would still be saving $14 million in salary.