With the departure of former All Star catcher and team leader Brian McCann, the catching position has been widely viewed as one of the leading areas of team need for the 2019 Astros. Earlier this winter they signed the former Rangers catcher, Robinson Chirinos, but many perceived him as more appropriate as a back up catcher for a team competing for another World Series
Probably the leading catcher free agent available this year was Yasmani Grandal, formerly of the Dodgers, one of the best hitting catchers in baseball for the last four years. With his signing last night by the Milwaukee Brewers on a one year, $18.