Los Angeles Dodgers: The three best options to replace Yasmani Grandal
By Jason Reed
3. Wilson Ramos
In terms of pure talent, Wilson Ramos is not the third-best guy on this list and could even make the case of being the best catcher listed here. Ramos was an all-star in 2018 after all and hit .306 with 15 home runs, 70 RBIs and a .845 OPS in time split between the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies.
Ramos, like Grandal, is a free agent this season and at 31 years old is perhaps getting his last chance at a big contract in his career. But still, a big contract for a catcher is ralely very large, so the Dodgers can still be in the mix.
The only problem is the length of the contract. Ramos will likely get some three and four year deals in the $45 million to $60 million range that will be hard to compete with. The Dodgers best chance of securing him would be to sign him for one season, hope he thinks he can get another big contract next offseason, and pay him around $20 million.
That is only slightly more than the qualifying offer for Grandal but I do not see that happening, unless the team is able to free up Matt Kemp‘s contract this winter.
Otherwise, the possibility of getting Wilson Ramos is relatively slim. With such a small market, though, it may just force the Dodgers’ hand to overpay him.