The Phillies are showing interest in free agent shortstop Didi Gregorius, according to a report from Jon Morosi of MLB Network (via Twitter). Having not received a qualifying offer from the Yankees, Gregorius will not require draft compensation upon signing.
While the Phils don’t lack for options at shortstop — Jean Segura and Scott Kingery each remain on hand — the club is in need of infield improvements. We noted the Philadelphia org as a possible contender for Gregorius in our listing of the top fifty free agents, though we guessed he’d end up with the Reds on a strong, three-year deal.
The Cincinnati club is reportedly also in pursuit of Gregorius. It’s good news for him to have multiple suitors at this relatively early stage of the market. Despite a somewhat tepid 2019 showing after returning from Tommy John surgery, Gregorius stands out a great deal among the available shortstops for his relative youth and strong all-around track record. While there are some exceptional third basemen and other quality infielders available, teams that want a true shortstop will surely be interested first and foremost in Gregorius.
For the Phils, adding Gregorius would likely set up a chain reaction. Segura, who trailed off a bit in his first season in Philadelphia, could be dangled in trade. But he’d also be an easy fit as a heavy part of the second base mix and fill-in/insurance plan for Gregorius at short. If Gregorius and Segura form the primary double-play combo, that’d likely lead to the departure of second baseman Cesar Hernandez, who is as much a non-tender as a trade candidate. (Meanwhile, the team still seems likely to part with Maikel Franco and bring in a new option at third base.)
The original version of this post indicated that Gregorius had been issued a qualifying offer, when in fact he had not. We regret the error.
Gregorius didn’t get a qualifying offer
That is what I was going to say.
He is going to sign with the Reds anyway.
I am not sure how to explain that complete and total factual misstatement on my behalf, but it is now edited.
Gregorius did not get a qualifying offer
didi didnt get a QO from them…
NYY SS gets no QO
Didi didn’t, did ‘e?
Would Gregorius play 3b?
SS and Segura moves to 2B or 3B
I could see him moved to 2b. I wonder if they use Bohm and other prospects as trade bait for a SP.
With a farm system as light as the Phillies I think they’d be hesitant and foolish to move a prospect like Bohm.
I’d trade Bohm for Lindor in a heartbeat.
Yeah, but the Indians would laugh at that.
If this happens, Kingery is the obvious choice for 3B. Didi stays at SS and Segura goes to 2nd
Didi SS
Segura 2B
Kingery 3B
Beat me to it doug.daniel243
Yes, I agree with you both..Kingery showed last year when he played over there that he has a plus arm and would play well there..
Segura’s numbers don’t look substantially different from Cesar’s numbers… except for the salary. Why does everyone think that Cesar should be the one shipped out if Didi signs?
I think I would argue that Segura has greater upside and versatility, but even more important is simply the contractual difference. Segura is guaranteed money; Hernandez can simply be non-tendered.
You do realize your mistake in reporting that Didi received a qualifying offer, right? Sorry, but this just sloppy reporting – I expect better from this website.
It’s not reporting, but it was sloppy. Not really sure how that I allowed that to creep into my head.
But you have to love your editorial comments!
Didi didn’t turn down a qualifying offer because he was NEVER offered one by the Yankees!!! Or did I miss something?!
I think this article bears some editing. The Yankees never offered Didi a qualifying offer so there’s nothing that he could’ve declined. Zero draft pick compensation attached to him.
Yanks better bring him back. If Torres is the everyday SS, the Yanks’ already bad defense is only going to get worse.
Hahaha, obviously you know nothing about the Yankees because if you did you’d know that Torres was actually better than Didi at SS this past season.
Phills sign DiDi and trade Segura (to play 2nd base) and prospect(s) to Boston for Mookie Betts. Would significantly improve the team and hold true to their ‘stupid money’ commitment made last year. Then they sign one second tier and one third tier starting pitcher. Philly becomes the favorites to win the NL East with these moves!
Not a bad plan.
What prospects do the Phillies have that can make that happen? It’s a pretty weak farm system and I don’t think Bohm is an option, nor would he be an elite enough prospect to even center a trade around him. Poor drafting and a poor rebuild has left them in quite a predicament
I’ve been on here for a year stating that the Phillies rebuild may have gotten a lot of pub, but the fact is that it was awful. In no way did it justify 3-plus years of trading away all their marketable veterans for prospects, and pretty much tanking to get high draft picks.
Granted, while the tanking may stop, fruits of a standard rebuild remain in a teams farm system – usually in the upper minors – for a few years, as we see with the Braves. Those players that develop will be slowly matriculating onto the major league roster over the next few years. But right now, it’s questionable as to how many quality players, if any, are on their way up for the Phillies.
In reading this article and the one about the Phillies outlook, it’s good to see other posters have come to the same conclusion. If the owner’s aim was to have a half-dozen decent players and then throw money at free agents and take on salary dumps in trade, he did not have to wait 3 years to do that.
To be fair, a lot of the veterans they traded away either aged very poorly and they couldn’t acquire much, or had huge contracts that devalued the player. Carlos Ruiz, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Brad Lidge… I’m sure I’m forgetting a few
Fair point. That roster was a mess of overpaid veterans.
Unfortunately, it appears they’re determined to do the same thing again.
Either way, you’re 100% correct. The rebuild by the Phillies is by far the worst rebuild in recent years. I think the marlins will be better than the Phillies by 2021. But anyways, Cornelius Randolph, a first rounder, didn’t pan out. Doesn’t look like Jesmuel Valentin or Roman Quinn has worked out. What they got back for Ken Giles hasn’t really worked out. JP Crawford didn’t work out in philly. They got 6 players in the Hamels trade, and the only one that is a productive MLB player is Jorge Alfaro, who isn’t even on the team. They got nothing for Ruiz or Utley.
Can’t blame Klentac for everything. In fact you can blame Amaro Jr for most. But just a bad job it seems on the scouting department/front office, from the draft to the international signings all the way to the players acquired for the aging vets.
Queue the:
“I picked him to sign in _________” comments.
6 hours of silence. I’ll help you out. I picked him to sign in Cincy.
Mama June approves of this.
Love
Didi is a good fit for the Phillies at short, they move Segura to second. They will need to add 2 starting pitchers like Hamels and Porcello to be in the playoff hunt..
Maybe with this new contract he can afford a nose
That’s low bro
STOP IT! GO TO THE REDS….. I need more of my picks to be right… lol
Didi instead of Anthony Rendon just screams of:
“I want my trophy back!….unless I have to pay tax on the payroll.” – John Middleton
More like, “While 3B is clearly a need, We need to prioritize a TOR arm so our fans don’t have to see Vinny and Pivetta start a game ever again.”
The Phillies can absolutely afford both Rendon and Gerrit Cole.
That’s the priority, signing both of them. If not then stay in Clearwater. That’s exactly how the Phillies attendance will look. No one likes the 2019 Phillies so no one wants to see that garbage take the field again next year.
They can afford it but long term it’s not feasible that a team will keep a payroll that high and lack of flexibility. Yes, the Phillies lack of stocking the farm system and not developing guys has shot them in the foot. The return for Ken Giles, the drafting of Cornelius Randolph & Mickey Moniak, etc. has put them in a bad way. But I think that things aren’t as bad as they were before.
Joe Girardi hit it off with the fans, there will be significantly less malaise just by replacing Gabe. Secondly, I would trust JG and his staff with someone like Bohm more than Gabe. Having seen Bohm in person a few times, he gives off serious Kris Bryant vibes, it’s scary. He can’t be counted on to be the savior but if the Phillies don’t try to rush it, they have 2 keepers in Bohm & Howard. Cole would be the better get for the Phillies but if they end up with some combination of 2 of Bumgarner/Wheeler/Gibson/Hamels ok shorter term deals, it wouldn’t be awful. I think what was insulting was Klentak’s refusal to address the rotation. Cole and Moustakas would be more than enough in FA provided they make a couple waiver claims or smaller trades.
Nothing has changed in regard to the Phillies talent evaluation for stocking their farm. The same people have been there for more than two decades.
Every few years they appoint someone new as farm/scouting director but that person presides over the same people and they turn that new guy into a Phillies Way guy.
Rendon not going to Philly, either he stays with the Nats or goes out West.
I’m not a fan of this move from a Phillies perspective. Kingery should be the 2B, and I think he would hit better not worrying about which glove he was going to use every day. Unless they have some potential trades lined up involving Segura, I think they should be using their resources on pitching and a 3B.
Didi at short, sign Brock Holt to play 3B until Bohm is ready .Holt then becomes the Swiss knife all around . Hernandez and Segura are moved in separate deals landing a pitcher and possibly a CF. Kingery then plays 2B regularly. If not Holt resign Bamboo Miller for 3B…
agree with most of what you wrote, but they also have a need in center field..will they let Odubel suit up again in Philly?
Phillies & Harper want Kris Bryant…….but the Phillies have no talent to trade back to the Cubs.
Boras is working his magic to come up with various trade options.
Meanwhile, the Twins, Dodgers & Padres are checking in on Bryant.
Adonis Medina, Enyel de los Santos & Bryson Stott nets Bryant. The Phils have the talent to get him it’s just a matter of will another team offer more. In that case they may have to offer up Bohm or Howard, which they probably wouldn’t be willing to do.
He is a FA, he will not require any talent, just money
Bryant is not a FA.
Stott is the only guy you mentioned who is a top 100 guy. And he’s way down at that around 80…And you think that gets Bryant? What universe is that happening in?
I think it will be Didi at short, Segura at 2B, Moose at 3B, Kingery in CF. Cesar and Franco get non-tendered and they go after some pitching.
That has some legitimacy to it pp81………then they can spend a draft pick for Wheeler and then. sign Cole Hamels to that 1 year plus a team option on a 2nd year…
The Yanks will regret letting him go.
Yanks really like Didi, and so do the fans, but they are pretty restricted in terms of payroll unless they decide to blow out the bank (unlikely). And since they have inexpensive and capable infielders they can move around (Torres, DJ, Urshela, Voit, a returning Andujar, and Wade as depth) the QO money they would have had to spend to bring Didi back is probably better spent going after a big starting pitcher fish.
Stanton biting them again. They should never have signed him. Ells 2.0.
Stanton is a 35/100 player, they don’t grow on trees.
>> “Stanton biting them again. They should never have signed him. Ells 2.0.”
If history repeats, they won’t be paying Stanton his final year.
He plays 35 out of every 100 games?
White Sox’s???????
Good news hope he get 3 year contract in philly and take Gardner along with you .
I’m not really sure I see the fit for the Phillies unless they have some other move planned. I mean Gregorious might be a marginal improvement over guys the currently have I don’t think it’s a significant enough gap between Segura, Hernandez and Kingery that they should commit a huge amount of salary to signing him. I suppose if the price is right – why not but otherwise idk it just seems like the $ could be better spent elsewhere
Honestly… Phil’s need to be super active via trade. Time to move on from Cesar, Franco, Quinn, Velasquez, Eflin, Pivetta, Eickhoff.
The Cincinnati club. Is that the Reds?
Yankees need to sign Gregorius. Coming off TJ you’re going to have issues the first year! I think he came back too soon. Next year he’ll have a fabulous year and the Yankees need to bring him back! Give him a 2?year contract and an option for a third!!
Granted the scouting department whiffed for the last 6+ years. They need at the very least need Bohm and Howard to hit. And at least either get a significant #1/2 SP out of Medina/Garcia/Stott/JoJo/anyone else via trade.
Trade Hernandez & Franco , sign Moustakus, keep segura at shortstop and move scotty to second full time, maybe sign Galvis.