The Pittsburgh Pirates are adding two-time All-Star catcher Yasmani Grandal, according to multiple reports.
The club and Grandal, 35, have agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth $2.5 million, according to the reports.
Pittsburgh is searching for depth at catcher with Endy Rodriguez — who started 57 games in 2023 as a rookie — already ruled out for 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in December. He got injured while playing winter ball in his native Dominican Republic.
Grandal would join a catching situation that includes 2021 first overall pick Henry Davis, Jason Delay and Ali Sanchez. Grandal is a career .237 hitter while playing for four teams across 12 seasons, including the past four years with the Chicago White Sox. Grandal hit .234 with eight home runs and had 33 RBIs in 118 games with the White Sox in 2023.
The Pirates have remained bullish that Davis can become an every-day catcher even though he spent the vast majority of his rookie season playing right field. Adding Grandal gives the Pirates a little bit of flexibility as Davis continues to refine his work defensively.
Grandal provided power at the plate during his prime. He has topped 20 home runs in a season five times, most recently with Chicago in 2021. He made a pair of All-Star teams earlier in his career, first in 2015 while playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers and again in 2019 while with the Milwaukee Brewers.
On Monday the Pirates announced minor league contracts with a trio of pitchers — Wily Peralta, Connor Sadzeck and Brent Honeywell — in search of depth.
The 34-year-old Peralta is 56-61 with 16 saves and a 4.29 ERA in 258 games across 10 seasons in the majors, most recently with the Detroit Tigers in 2022. The right-hander — who has bounced from the starting rotation to the bullpen — spent 2023 with the Washington Nationals‘ Triple-A affiliate, going 3-8 with a 6.31 ERA in 24 starts.
Sadzeck, 32, is 0-1 with a 2.75 ERA and one save in 35 games between the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee, last pitching in the majors with the Brewers in 2022.
Honeywell, a 28-year-old right-hander, is 2-4 with a 5.08 ERA in 43 appearances with the Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego Padres and the White Sox.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: www.espn.com