Grandal couldn't reach deal with Brewers but believes they will find way to stay competitive

SAN DIEGO – Catcher Yasmani Grandal, who left the Milwaukee Brewers to sign a lucrative four-year deal with the Chicago White Sox, understands why the team's fans are freaking out over the mass exodus of free agents but expressed faith that president of baseball operations David Stearns will figure out a way to stay competitive.

"It's the Brewers; they get it done," said Grandal, who took part Tuesday at the winter meetings in the introduction of the inaugural all-MLB team for 2019 as the second-team catcher. "They know how to get it done. They've been in the postseason two years in a row. They know what it takes to get there.

"They still have a young core. They have guys who are coming back like Corey Knebel (returning from Tommy John surgery), who was missed last year. They believe in the talent they have, and they know exactly what they want and what they're doing to get to where they want to be. So, we'll see."

Beyond Grandal, the Brewers have seen infielder Mike Moustakas sign with Cincinnati, reliever Drew Pomeranz go to San Diego and starting pitcher Jordan Lyles reach a deal with Texas. Others have come off the roster as well through various means, leaving only 12 players from the team's 25-man roster for the NL wild-card game against Washington.

"Every offseason, when you don't sign a certain free agent, or someone the fans want, they get a little scared, just because they want to get back to the postseason," Grandal said. "I think you've got to give a lot of credit to David when it comes to putting a team together and knowing exactly what he wants them to get.

"The way that baseball is trending, there are different ways to get the wins you need when you let those guys go. They obviously have a plan and know what they want to do, and how they're going to do it. So, it'll be interesting to see what team they're going to come up with."

Grandal, 31, signed a one-year deal in January with the Brewers for $18.25 million after not getting multi-year offers he liked on the market last winter. He gambled on himself and won with a big season (28 HRs, 77 RBI, .380 OBP, .848 OPS), leading to a four-year, $73 million deal with the White Sox.

Grandal said he wanted to return to the Brewers "but it had to be for the right price." He indicated the Brewers made initial offers but it became evident they weren't going to match Chicago's offer.

"I enjoyed my time as a Brewer," he said. "They came in as the first ones (to bid). We just weren't able to get where we wanted to be, both on their side and my side.

"The White Sox came through and approached me right away. It seemed I was a guy they really wanted and really needed. That's just the way it played out. They were able to meet exactly what we wanted."

Yelich, Hader make all-MLB team: Outfielder Christian Yelich and reliever Josh Hader were elected to the all-MLB first team, which was selected in voting by fans as well as a panel of members of the media, broadcasters and baseball executives.

Yelich was in the first team outfield with Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels and the Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger, who came out ahead of him for 2019 NL MVP. Despite missing the final 18 games with a broken kneecap, Yelich won his second consecutive batting title with a .329 average and also led the league with a .429 on-base percentage, .671 slugging percentage and 1.100 OPS while slugging 44 homers, driving in 97 runs and stealing 30 bases.

Grandal said it certainly didn't surprise him that Yelich was recognized as one of the top outfielders in the game.

"I got way more than what I was expecting," Grandal said. "He's a special player. There's no pitcher in the big leagues who's going to tell you he's an easy (at-bat). The things he did made me laugh. It was crazy to see him play like that. He had even better numbers (than in 2018); he just couldn't finish it off. 

"If you want to build a team around a player, he's the right guy to do it."

Hader, who has been rumored to be available in trade, joined San Diego's Kirby Yates as one of the two relievers on the first team after posting a 2.62 ERA over 61 appearances with 37 saves and 138 strikeouts in 75 2/3 innings. 

Knebel avoids arbitration: The Brewers announced they signed Knebel to a one-year deal, avoiding arbitration. He made $5.125 million in 2019 when he missed the entire season and will draw that same salary in 2020.

Knebel, 28, had Tommy John surgery on April 3 and will be monitored closely in spring training. He might not have time to get ready for opening day but the Brewers expect him to return shortly afterward.

Knebel was 4-3 with a 3.58 ERA and 16 saves in 2018. In four seasons with the Brewers, he has posted a 3.02 ERA in 216 appearances with 57 saves and 310 strikeouts in 214 ⅓ innings.