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Prediction Sees Cubs Sign Two-Time All-Star Catcher

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Conor Liguori | Last updated Apr 9, 2025 7:00 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs seem set at the catcher's position with Miguel Amaya and Carson Kelly. Still, it never hurts to add depth, especially since injuries will likely happen during a 162-game season.

Yasmani Grandal, 36, remains a free agent after failing to find a suitor during the offseason and spring training. The 13-year MLB veteran spent 2024 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, slashing .228/.304/.400 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs in 72 games.

While Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller believes a reunion with the Pirates is possible for Grandal, he also identified the Cubs as a potential landing spot for the two-time All-Star.

Would Grandal be a better option behind the plate than Amaya or Kelly?

"Grandal caught only 8.3 percent of stolen base attempts last season and allowed more than one for every nine innings played," Miller wrote on Tuesday. "He turned things around with the bat, though, slugging .400 and homering once for every 27 trips to the plate. (Compared to once every 60 plate appearances in 2022-23)."

Offensively, Grandal is a switch hitter, so that would allow Cubs manager Craig Counsell to balance the starting lineup slightly more. Amaya and Kelly both hit from the right side of the plate.

As Miller mentioned, Grandal's defensive ability at this point in his career is a significant question mark. In 2024, he had one of the worst pop times among MLB catchers, taking an average of 2.09 seconds to receive a pitch and throw down to second base.

Otherwise, Grandal ranked in the 86th percentile in pitch framing but still makes solid contact at the plate, with an average exit velocity of 91.1 mph last year.

The Cubs could consider Grandal a catching option, but they'd probably sign him to a minor league contract. He would need at least a handful of games and at-bats in the minors to be ready to face MLB pitching.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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