'We'll see': With a May 1 opt out in his contract, veteran catcher Yasmani Grandal stays put with Triple-A Worcester

WORCESTER — Yasmani Grandal is staying put with the Boston Red Sox organization.

At least for now.

Grandal, who signed with the club on April 13 five days after Red Sox catcher Connor Wong went on the injured list with a fractured left pinky, had the choice to opt out of his minor-league deal with the Red Sox May 1.

Instead, the two-time MLB All-Star is sticking with Triple-A Worcester.

“The Red Sox were a desirable destination for me,” said Grandal from inside the WooSox dugout ahead of their game against the Toledo Mud Hens on May 1. “So, I’ve only been here for a few weeks, so there’s plenty of work to do. I think leaving and going somewhere else and just leaving and going home, I mean, I don’t think that was ever an option for me.”

'We'll see': With a May 1 opt out in his contract, veteran catcher Yasmani Grandal stays put with Triple-A Worcester — Veteran catcher Yasmani Grandal inside the WooSox dugout at Polar Park on April 13, 2025. Grandal signed a minor-league contract with the Boston Red Sox earlier that day.

The 36-year-old catcher, with 13 years of experience in the big leagues, has played in seven games and made 29 plate appearances — hitting .250 (6 for 24) with a HR and three doubles — for Triple-A Worcester since signing with the organization.

A former first-round selection of the Cincinnatti Reds in the 2010 MLB Draft, Grandal broke into the majors with the San Diego Padres in 2012. While playing with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2016-18) and Milwaukee Brewers (2019), Grandal averaged 25 homers across four seasons.

After signing with the White Sox in 2020, Grandal hit 20 homers once in four seasons in Chicago prior to playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates last year. He went unsigned in the offseason before inking a minor-league deal with the Red Sox last month.

“The Red Sox (have) been a desirable destination for me for a long time,” said Grandal, who grew up idolizing former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek. “So, I just took the chance.”

Grandal, who lives in Chicago, had to barter with his two sons to come to Boston. He bought them a PlayStation and a puppy.

“It wasn’t much of a talk,” Grandal said. “It was a negotiation, and it came down to a PS5 and a dog, so I took it as it went. It was the best that it was going to be. So good thing they didn’t ask for more.”

Across Grandal’s few weeks with the Triple-A club, WooSox manager Chad Tracy has raved about the veteran catcher’s presence both in game and in the locker room. Rising Red Sox prospects — like Marcelo Mayer — have enjoyed picking the brain of the former All-Star.

“Better man than me, to be honest, if I had (13) years under my belt, I probably wouldn’t be in Rochester with 30-degree weather when its damn near snowing,” Mayer, 22, said. “So, it just shows how much he loves the game and how much he’s still willing to get better and learn and stay in the big leagues.”

Grandal has embraced his role of being a veteran presence in the WooSox clubhouse. But he’s hopeful to get another crack at the big leagues, either in Boston or elsewhere.

“What I need is playing time (and) games under my belt,” Grandal said, “(and to) make sure I get my legs underneath (me), and we’ll revisit that decision in the near future. We’ll see.”

—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Yasmani Grandal stays with WooSox after chance to opt out of contract