Report: Mets, Astros interested in Grandal
Despite some struggles behind the plate during the playoffs, Yasmani Grandal appears to be drawing early interest on the free-agent market.
The New York Mets and Houston Astros are both showing interest in the catcher, sources told Jon Morosi of MLB Network.
One potential issue is the qualifying offer attached to Grandal, Morosi adds. The Los Angeles Dodgers tendered the $17.9-million offer to Grandal last week and he has until Monday to decide whether to accept it; if he declines, Los Angeles would receive draft-pick compensation should he sign elsewhere.
Both the Mets and Astros have a potential need behind the plate. The Astros declined veteran backstop Brian McCann's option shortly after the World Series, while Martin Maldonado also became a free agent, leaving youngster Max Stassi as their projected Opening Day catcher next year.
For the Mets, Kevin Plawecki and Tomas Nido are currently the only two healthy catchers on their 40-man roster. Travis d'Arnaud missed most of this past season due to Tommy John surgery, and his status for the start of 2019 remains unclear.
Grandal appeared in 140 games for the Dodgers in 2018, hitting .241/.349/.466 with 24 homers, 23 doubles, and 68 RBIs; defensively, he allowed only nine passed balls during the regular season and remains highly regarded for his pitch framing.
The playoffs were a different story for the 29-year-old, though, as he hit just .138 (4-for-29) during the Dodgers' run to the World Series, and had several defensive issues in the NLCS before losing his starting job to Austin Barnes.