Los Angeles Dodgers: It’s just about time to trade Yasmani Grandal

Yasmani Grandal is in the midst of another solid season for the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the team in dire need of starting pitching, LA may need to deal their former All-Star and his expiring contract for a much-needed arm.

With an OPS over .800 and another 20+ homer season in sight, Yasmani Grandal of the Los Angeles Dodgers remains one of the top ten catchers in baseball. He provides good power against right-handed pitching and remains one of the elite pitch framers in the games.

The framing stat RAA (Runs Above Average) reveals that the Dodgers possess two of the top three pitch-framing catchers in baseball. Yasmani Grandal currently leads the majors with a 7.6 RAA, and super-sub Austin Barnes comes in at third with a 6.0 RAA.

For all of the value Grandal provides, Los Angeles does have a few drawbacks when it comes to their slugging catcher. Firstly, he is in the last year of his deal. The Dodgers possess perhaps the greatest catching depth of any system around, and will most likely be more interested in acquiring the likes of Manny Machado, Andrew Miller, and perhaps resigning Clayton Kershaw. (if he opts out)

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Also, in his career, Grandal has typically struggled in the second half of the season. While it’s not uncommon to see catchers break down a bit as the season progresses, Grandal typically struggles mightily in August and September. Those struggles have continued in the postseason, where Grandal is a career .087 hitter.

If the Dodgers figure to lose much of Grandal’s offense as the seasons continues anyways, why not try dealing him for an arm when his value is relatively high? With 80 percent of their opening day rotation still on the D.L., LA is in desperate need of a starter.

The team wouldn’t be losing much defensively by giving the starting job to Barnes. While he hasn’t produced the same offensive numbers as last year, Barnes could be rejuvenated with the bat if given consistent playing time.

There are a few contenders around the league that could probably use an upgrade behind the plate. The Red Sox, Brewers, and Angels come to mind. Perhaps the Yankees will want to switch the struggling Gary Sanchez to DH and send Stanton to the outfield in an effort to rest Sanchez and get his bat going.

While the team could lose a bit offensively, the emergence of Max Muncy, the re-awakening of Joc Pederson and Cody Bellinger, and the eventual return of Andrew Toles should provide LA enough left-handed production.

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With Yasmani’s contract set to expire, the future behind the plate for the Los Angeles Dodgers rests in the knees of Austin Barnes and Keibert Ruiz. Grandal figures to fetch a solid return which can be flipped for a reliever, or as a part of a deal for a starting pitcher. Chris Archer anyone? Basically, anyone with an arm would be welcome at this point.