Happy Thanksgiving to everybody but Jacoby Ellsbury for theft. Well, we’ve gotten that out of the way, time to dive into the hot stove and conjure up some exciting New York Yankees’ scenarios to enjoy with some turkey!
The rumor mill has been active this season, as expected, but one idea has really sparked my interest. The return of shortstop Didi Gregorius, a player beloved in the clubhouse and within the fan base. Gregorius finished his 2019 season with the Yankees on a down note, missing half the year with Tommy John and finishing with a .238 batting average. However, he had 16 homers and 61 RBIs but backed up his lackluster performance with an incredible 2020.
Didi finished with a .284 average, including 10 homers and 40 RBIs over 237 plate appearances. He struck out 11.8%, the lowest in his entire career, and walked 6.3% of the time. He earned a 1.4 WAR, once again posting efficient defensive statistics.
He logged a .968 fielding percentage with seven errors and 33 double plays. While he suffered through some deficiencies, this can be considered an anomaly based on his past performances. Having spent the last five seasons with the Yankees, playing for a new team that struggled was likely a factor.
However, Didi returning to the Yankees would mean three things, Gleyber Torres would be moving back to second base, and DJ LeMahieu would be starting at first base.
Even if LeMahieu earns a significant contract and plays first base, his offensive capabilities are well worth the money. In addition, he’s capable of filling multiple infield positions and supplementing injuries, increasing his value. There is really no arguing what DJ brings to the team, so the third factor that would need to unroll for Gregorius to return is a Luke Voit trade.
George A. King of the NY Post stated in regard to a Didi Gregorious return:
However, there are no voices inside the organization screaming their displeasure when his name is brought up internally.
This is in context with the potential for the Yankees to bring back the beloved shortstop. Voit’s value is at an all-time high after a successful 2020 campaign where he had a league-high 22 homers and finished with a .277 average.
Defensively, he has improved significantly but still has a negative effect on the team. His offense is where he makes his money, and considering how well he has played and battled through injuries, the Yankees could sell high on him at this point. However, Voit is loyal and fought tirelessly to stay on the field when they needed him most last season, and I believe the Bombers will commit to him for that.
While the likelihood of the Yankees moving Torres back to second base is slim, anything can happen this off-season. The idea of having Gregorius at shortstop, Torres at second, and LeMahieu at first is certainly appealing. However, their current lineup is just as exciting aside from the fact that Torres had serious issues with routine plays at short in 2020.