Los Angeles Dodgers: The three best options to replace Yasmani Grandal
By Jason Reed
2. Francisco Cervelli
If the Los Angeles Dodgers are going to make a trade for a catcher it is going to have to be someone that has an expiring contract either after this upcoming season or the following season. The problem is, there are not many viable options with those requirements that the Dodgers can pick from.
Perhaps the best catcher with an expiring contract to target is none other than Pittsburgh’s Francisco Cervelli. Cervelli, a former New York Yankee, has experience winning the World Series and has been consistent throughout his career.
Cervelli has spent the last four seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and has been good as a platoon option for the team. Over the last four seasons, Cervelli has played in 416 games and is batting .270 with a .752 OPS.
Cervelli will not turn many heads with the bat but consistently works good at-bats and gets on base. Cervelli had the second best walk percentage (12.6 percent), only behind Yasmani Grandal. In terms of FanGraphs WAR, a mix of good offense and good defense made him the third-best catcher in baseball.
Cervelli would not cost and arm and a leg and would be a good option for the Dodgers to platoon alongside Austin Barnes. Both guys are familiar in that role and could build off each other.