Why Did the Yankees Trade Didi Gregorius? The Yankees have a new shortstop, and they didn’t have to give up any of their top prospects to get him.
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Reasons for the Trade
The New York Yankees traded shortstop Didi Gregorius to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for second baseman Tanner Vallejo on Wednesday. The move comes as a bit of a surprise, as Gregorius is coming off a career year in which he batted .277/.318/.488 with 27 home runs and 86 RBI. However, the Yankees have a surplus of infielders and needed to clear a spot on the roster.
Limited financial resources
The New York Yankees have long been considered one of the best run organizations in baseball. They have a reputation for making savvy moves and for spending money wisely. So, when they traded away one of their best players, Didi Gregorius, it came as a surprise to many. The truth is, the Yankees are a business first and foremost, and they made the decision to trade Gregorius because it was in their best financial interests.
The Yankees are limited by financial resources. They have a large payroll and are always looking for ways to save money. Trading away Gregorius was one way to do that. They were also able to get some good young players in return, which will help them in the future.
It’s always hard to see a favorite player go, but fans need to remember that the Yankees are running a business. They make decisions based on what they think is best for the organization, not necessarily on what is best for the fans.
The emergence of Gleyber Torres
The New York Yankees have traded Didi Gregorius to the Philadelphia Phillies in a move that will see young star Gleyber Torres take over at shortstop.
The Yankees have been high on Torres since he was acquired from the Chicago Cubs in 2016 and they believe he is ready to take over as their everyday shortstop.
There are a few reasons why the Yankees made this move.
First, they believe that Torres is ready to take over as their everyday shortstop. He is a talented young player who they think has a chance to be a star.
Second, the Yankees need to free up some payroll space. Gregorius is due to make $14 million in 2020 and the Yankees are already over the luxury tax threshold. By trading him, they will save some money.
Third, the Yankees think highly of JP Feyereisen, one of the prospects they acquired in the trade. They believe he has a chance to be a valuable piece in their bullpen.
The trade is a risk for the Yankees as Gregorius is a very good player, but they believe that Torres is ready to take over as their everyday shortstop and they need to free up some payroll space.
How the Yankees Will Replace Gregorius
The Yankees made a surprising move this offseason when they traded shortstop Didi Gregorius to the Phillies. Gregorius was a fan favorite in New York and was a key part of the Yankees recent success. So, how will the Yankees replace him?
DJ LeMahieu will move to shortstop
Now that the Yankees have traded Didi Gregorius, they will need to find a new shortstop. DJ LeMahieu is the most likely candidate to take over the position. LeMahieu is a three-time Gold Glove winner and was recently named the American League’s Platinum Glove winner. He has experience playing shortstop, so the transition should be seamless.
Troy Tulowitzki will take over at third base
The New York Yankees traded shortstop Didi Gregorius to the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason, and there are some big shoes to fill. Longtime Yankee fans will remember when Derek Jeter roamed shortstop, and Gregorius was a big piece of the team’s lineup over the last few years. Here’s a look at who will replace him in the Yankees’ lineup.
Troy Tulowitzki will take over at third base, and he is no slouch defensively. He’s a two-time Gold Glove winner and was an All-Star in 2015. Tulowitzki has been dealing with injuries the last few years, but if he can stay healthy, he should be a solid addition to the Yankees’ lineup.
At shortstop, the Yankees will likely go with Tyler Wade or Gleyber Torres. Wade is a utility player who can also play second base and left field. He’s not going to hit for much power, but he’s a solid defender and should be able to hold his own at shortstop. Torres is one of the Yankees’ top prospects and is already considered one of the best shortstops in baseball. He played mostly second base last season, but the Yankees believe he has the potential to be an elite defender at shortstop.
The bottom line is that the Yankees have some options to replace Gregorius. They have a potential future star in Torres and a solid utility player in Wade. Tulowitzki is a significant downgrade offensively, but he should be able to hold his own defensively at third base.
Gio Urshela will be the everyday third baseman
After trading for Edwin Encarnacion, the Yankees sent Gregorius to the Cardinals in a move that will grant more playing time to youngster Gio Urshela. Urshela, 27, hit .314/.355/.534 (139 wRC+) with 21 homers in 122 games while filling in for Gregorius last year. He’s not as good defensively (-5 DRS, -4.4 UZR/150), but he’s serviceable and a much better hitter than Andujar, so this is an easy call. Urshela will be the everyday third baseman and Andujar will either serve as DH or come off the bench.
The Impact of the Trade
The Yankees made a shocking trade this offseason when they dealt Didi Gregorius to the Phillies. This move leaves a big hole in the Yankees lineup, but they did get some young talent in return. Let’s take a look at the trade and how it will affect the Yankees in 2020.
The Yankees’ infield defense will suffer
The Yankees’ infield defense will suffer without Didi Gregorius, who is one of the best shortstop defenders in baseball. His absence will likely mean more playing time for Tyler Wade, who is a decent defender but not on Gregorius’ level. The Yankees may also consider signing a free agent infielder to fill the void.
The Yankees will miss Gregorius’ bat in the lineup
The Yankees have been one of the best teams in baseball the last few years, and a big reason for that has been shortstop Didi Gregorius. He’s been a key part of the team’s offense, and his loss will certainly be felt in the lineup.
Gregorius is a great hitter, and he’s coming off a season in which he hit .268/.335/.494 with 27 home runs and 86 RBI. He’s also a very good fielder, and he’s won two Gold Glove Awards. The Yankees will miss his bat and his glove in the lineup.
The trade could come back to haunt the Yankees
It’s too soon to tell if the Yankees made a mistake by trading Didi Gregorius, but early returns are not promising. The Yankees are banking on Gleyber Torres to take over at shortstop, and while Torres is a stud, he’s still just 22 years old. He has yet to play a full season in the majors, and there’s no guarantee he can handle the everyday grind of playing shortstop.
The Yankees also traded away their top pitching prospect, Justus Sheffield, in the deal. Sheffield is one of the most promising young pitchers in baseball, and the Yankees may regret giving him up if he turns into a star.
Only time will tell if the Yankees made a wise decision in trading Didi Gregorius, but it’s looking like they may have given up too much for a player who may not be able to help them win a championship.
