Free-agent shortstop Didi Gregorius won’t be with the New York Yankees next year. The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a deal with Gregorius, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
So Gregorius is leaving the #Yankees to rejoin Joe Girardi with the #Phillies
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 10, 2019
The deal is for one year and $14 million, according to Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Confirming @Joelsherman1 Phillies have signed Didi Gregorius for 1 year, $14 million
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyNBCS) December 10, 2019
In Philadelphia, Gregorius will reunite with Joe Girardi, who was his manager with the Yankees. Girardi is a huge fan of Gregorius and is probably happy to have him on his team.
“I’ve always been a big fan of Didi and what he’s been able to accomplish,” Girardi said last week, per Peter Botte of the New York Post. “You have to remember, I got him when he first came over and he was replacing a legend [in Derek Jeter] and how difficult that was, and to see the growth that he made was really pleasing to me. He’s a real character guy and he’s a real hard worker that is a really important clubhouse presence. I felt that he was important to the clubhouse in New York in what he brought every day.”
Didi was acquired by the Yankees in 2014 and was Derek Jeter’s replacement. This season he played in only 82 games because of recovering from Tommy John surgery. He hit .238 with 16 home runs and 61 RBI this year.
Gregorius will be a great addition to the Phillies.
In a three-year span, from 2016 to 2018, Didi averaged over 20 home runs per season. In 2018, he broke his own club record for home runs by a shortstop with 27. In addition to hitting home runs and his performance on the field, Didi became a fan-favorite. He was also popular and a favorite among teammates, thus creating a hole New York needs to fill.
