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Chicago Cubs: Yasmani Grandal deal could mean a power shift in Chicago
Does Yasmani Grandal signing with the Chicago White Sox signify a shift in the balance of power in the Windy City or are the Chicago Cubs still on top?
Well, I can’t say I saw that one coming. On Thursday, the Chicago White Sox turned heads across the baseball world, announcing the signing of free agent catcher Yasmani Grandal. It marked the richest free agent deal in franchise history at four years, $73 million – edging out the deal the team gave Jose Abreu (six years, $68 million) ahead of the 2014 campaign.
Given the fact all news coming out of the North Side of the city regarding the Cubs seems to relate to budgetary limitations, trading franchise cornerstones and a changing-of-the-guard both in the dugout and in the front office, this is a move sure to turn heads in Chicago.
Grandal, who turned 31 earlier this month, chose to bet on himself last winter after turning down a four-year, $60 million offer from the New York Mets. He instead signed a one-year, $18.25 million deal with the Cubs’ rival to the north, the Milwaukee Brewers – turning in a career year in the process.
The veteran backstop represents a multi-dimensional asset the Sox will undoubtedly look to as the team seeks to emerge from its multi-year rebuilding effort. He’s an above-average offensive player (evidenced by his 114 OPS+ since 2014 and 121 wRC+ last season) and one of the game’s best backstops.
Chicago Cubs will face competition for the city’s attention
By no means do I expect the Chicago Cubs to take a major step in the wrong direction in 2020. At the very worst (I hope), they’d be a .500 team in the hunt for a Wild Card spot. That being said, the White Sox are clearly trending up after a 2019 campaign that saw several guys take big steps forward.
Last week, longtime first baseman and DH Jose Abreu accepted the team’s qualifying offer, so he’ll return next year – along with his 123 RBI and 119 OPS+. Tim Anderson won the batting title somewhat quietly, while emerging as a passionate face of the franchise alongside fellow middle infielder Yoan Moncada, who ripped 25 home runs to go along with his .367 on-base percentage.
Of course, former Cubs top prospect Eloy Jimenez, who headed to the South Side in the Jose Quintana deal back in 2017, made his long-awaited debut, as well, hitting 31 home runs in his first taste of the bigs.
Given the fact the Sox could call up the likes of Nick Madrigal (#40 on MLB Top 100) and Luis Robert (#3 on MLB Top 100) – this is a lineup that has the potential to be downright lethal in 2020. But where this team will decide its fate is on the mound.
Lucas Giolito emerged as an ace this season, finishing sixth in AL Cy Young voting thanks to his 176 2/3 innings of 3.43 FIP ball. But where the team turns from there remains to be seen. Michael Kopech will return from injury next year – and former Cubs prospect Dylan Cease seems likely to play a part, as well. But the long and short of it is this: this team needs more proven, dependable arms if they want to make a run at the American League Central.
Chicago Cubs could see improved market for Contreras
Now, there’s no way the Cubs were going to trade Willson Contreras to the White Sox. Well, almost no chance. But the Sox signing Grandal could mean that the interest in Contreras could be picking up on the trade market, as teams who had interest in Grandal begin to look elsewhere behind the dish.
Of course, we know what the two-time All-Star brings to the table. A well above-average bat with plus blocking skills and a cannon of the arm. There’s room for improvement when it comes to pitch framing, to be sure – he is not the same type of catcher that Grandal is. That being said, he’s undoubtedly among the most valuable catchers in the game today.
The Cubs lose nothing by holding onto Contreras heading into 2020. But they may stand to gain more by trading him given his inherent value and multiple years of team control. Without Grandal in the picture, that’s one less name out there for teams to consider.
As far as the balance of power in the Windy City, things still tilt in the Cubs’ favor. The White Sox have all kinds of potential with that lineup – but a lot of those guys are largely unproven, especially some of those up-and-coming names we talked about earlier.
dark. Next. Cubs should go with Schwarber over Castellanos
Without reinforcements for the pitching staff, the Sox will face a tall task even reaching the postseason in 2020. Then again, if Theo Epstein doesn’t hit on his moves, we might be saying the exact same thing about the Cubs once again next year. One thing’s for sure: the Crosstown Classic just got a whole lot more interesting.